Spiff Up Your PowerPoint

Add Bullets

AutoNumber Bullets

You're probably familiar with the Automatic bullets in Word.  PowerPoint automatically inserts bullets in the textboxes in the AutoLayouts.

You can delete these, of course, but you can also alter them.

1. Select the text lines or text box you want to add or alter the bullets in.
2. Click Format menu, Bullets and Numbering.
3. Click Bulleted tab.
4. Select bullet style.
5. Click Size and Colors from the arrowed windows at the bottom.

Graphic Bullets

You can get fancier and use many different graphic bullets to customize your presentation.

1. From number 4 above, where you select the bullets,
2. Click the Character button.
3. In the Bullets from: drop-down window, select a symbol font.  You should see fonts like Monotype sorts, Symbol, Webdings, Wingdings, and others depending on what fonts are loaded on your computer.
4. In the large window with all the characters displayed, choose the character you want for you bullet and click it.
5. Click OK.

You can add pictures, sounds, videos, and text to a PowerPoint presentation. Some of the features are set up with the program, and some require the program's CD-ROM if you don't have a full install.

Using AutoShapes to add pre-designed objects

PowerPoint has many standard objects that can be added to presentations, including objects with and without text, just like you learned in Word.

Adding an AutoShape to a presentation

1. First, have a presentation open.  This can be anything, one you've done before, or start one using the wizard.
2. On the Insert menu, click on Picture, then click AutoShapes
   -or-
   Click the Drawing toolbar button, and click AutoShapes.
   
3. Click the Stars and Banners button, and click one of the stars.
4. Click towards the upper-right corner of the slide, and drag the object as it appears down leftward diagonally.
5. Click another star, or find other objects, and place them elsewhere in the slide.

  Note To resize the object, click it, and drag a corner. To move the object, click it, and drag it to its new location.

6. Repeat steps 1–2, and place other objects on the slide.
7. Click the yellow diamond present in most of these objects and drag it to see what happens.
8. Click an AutoShape you want to delete, and then press backspace.

For more information, check out the very similar uses of AutoShapes in Word HERE.

	With some AutoShapes you can automatically add text.
	With others, you can click the Textbox button, then click in the AutoShape object itself, and then add your text.
	You can also create a flowchart. Flowcharts are handy for such things as Mind Maps and Webs, used in brainstorming exercises. Suggestion: To become familiar with AutoShapes, try using different objects with the text.

Adding an AutoShape with text to a presentation For more information, check out the very similar method of adding text to AutoShapes in Word HERE. -OR-
Place Text inside a Shape using a Text Box - A convenient PowerPoint-Only Method     Right-click on the shape you want to add text to:   Choose Add Text from the menu that appears.
Enter the text. (Note the Cursor is in the middle of the AutoShape Arrow to the right)   Click anywhere on the slide when you are finished.

Using WordArt

For more information, check out the very similar method of adding WordArt in Word HERE.

Working with Graphics and ClipArt You can't beat cute or clever graphics for making your presentation more enjoyable and interesting, as long as you're judicious in your use of them and don't go overboard.
Insert ClipArt Click the Insert ClipArt button on the Drawing Toolbar. -or- On the Insert menu, click Picture, and then click Clip Art. Click the Media Tab (Pictures, Sounds, Motion Clips) you want.   Click the button of the category you want.   Click the clip you want to insert.   Click the Insert Clip button on the little pop-up menu that appears. The next buttons down on that menu are: Preview Clip Add Clip - to add it to your Favorites category or another. Find similar clips - to search for clips with a similar theme. Click Close to exit the gallery. The Clip Gallery has a lot of features.  Explore it and find out what all it can do.
Search for Clips with a particular theme Click the Search for clips text box. Type the word or phrase that are Keywords that will tell PowerPoint what you need. Press Enter.   In the example image to the right, you type flags into the search box and the program will return a number of clips that fit that keyword. There may already be a category for what you want in general, like flags, but you might just want to see "US flags" and that will limit the returns to flags that have been catalogued in the gallery under those keywords.
Import a file into the Clip Gallery You can import images you found elsewhere for future use from the Clip Gallery. Click the Import Clips button. It's above the Search for clips text box. Follow the procedure, which you should have used before, to browse for a file that you have previously saved. Copy or Move the file, or use the Let Clip Gallery find this clip in its current folder or volume option (Only use the last one if your presentation will not be used on another computer!) Follow the options and choices presented to you to Create a Category or add a Keyword or Remove a Keyword as needed.
Download ClipArt from the Web You can add clip art to your gallery (or simply use it the one time) that is on the Microsoft web site for your convenience.  They add new ones from time to time and have many more there than are on your computer from your initial installation of the software. Click the Clips Online button. It's above the Search for clips text box. Click OK. Follow the instructions on the webpage. Warning: Wait for the download dialog box.  Click Open, not Save to disk.
Recolor Clip Art After you have inserted your Clip Art: Select the Clip Art. Click the Recolor Picture button on the Picture toolbar (it will appear when you click the picture). Select Fills to change only the fill color, not the lines. Select colors as appropriate.
Group objects Click an image. Hold down Shift while clicking others. Right-click on the objects and click Group, or click Draw on the Drawing toolbar then click Group. Ungroup works in a similar process. Regroup allows you to ungroup and make a change to one member of the group, then easily regroup without having to click on all of them.  Handy if you have grouped a large number of objects!
Rotate or flip an object Select the object to flip or rotate. Click Draw on the Drawing Toolbar. Click Rotate or Flip. Select the command to use. Experiment to find out how to rotate or flip to control the object the way you want to in any situation.
FILL with color or Fill Effects Select the object to alter. Click the Fill Color button on the Drawing Toolbar. Click a color, -or- Click More Fill Colors, -or- Click Fill Effects. You can choose textures, special effects like gradients, or browse to an image file of your choice.
Make an object, or parts of it, see-through. Click Format, Colors and Lines. Select the Semitransparent check box. Click OK.

Animating slides

Using animation in your slide show can increase interest and attention.

A Word of Caution:  Animation is fun, and so can be overused. Be stingy with its use, and it will have a greater effect.

Animating the title of a slide

1. Open a presentation to the title slide.
2. On the View menu, position the pointer on Toolbars, and click Animation Effects
   – or –
   On the Formatting toolbar, click the Animation Effects button (the yellow star on the right):

3. On the Animation Effects toolbar, click Animate Title button (upper left).
4. Click the Drive-In Effect button.
5. On the Animation Effects toolbar, click Animation Preview.

The Animation Order box (the drop-down window) automatically displays 1 to indicate that this is the first animation on the slide. Should it be the second it will, of course, display a 2.

Animating the body of a slide

1. On the second slide, click the body text.
2. Click the Animate Slide Text button.
3. Click the Flying Effect button.
4. On the Slide Show menu, click Animation Preview. Click the Camera Effect button, and on the Slide Show menu, click Animation Preview.
5. Close the Color box.

NOTE of CAUTION: The preset effects have sounds associated with them.  If you don't have speakers, you will need headphones to hear the sounds.  If you use this presentation on a strange computer, the sounds could be louder than you anticipate. If you don't want to take that chance, choose No Sound in your animation.

Placing video clips into your presentation

You can add video into a presentation quickly and easily with PowerPoint. A video clip, such as a tour of Congress, increases the effectiveness of a presentation on congressional information.

Note You may need the program's CD-ROM to insert video into your presentation and to show any presentation with video inserted in it. Be sure the CD is in the CD-ROM drive before you select Clip Art.

Adding a video clip to a presentation

1. In your presentation, insert a New Slide.
2. Double-click the Title Only layout (bottom row, second from right).
3. Click Click to add title, and type This is the title.
4. On the Insert menu, click on Picture, and click Clip Art.
5. On the Motion Clips tab, click a subject (like Academic) then click a clip, then the Insert Clip button at the top of the menu that shows up.
   • If you don't have a complete install of Office 2000, you may need to insert the Office CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive in order to proceed.
6. Close the Insert ClipArt box.
7. Back on the slide, click the Slide Show button to see the animated video work.

Using sounds to enhance your presentation

Sounds can be selected and added to your presentation quickly. Sounds can be in the form of voice recordings or actions.

A Word of Caution:  Sound is fun, and so is easily overused.  It can become very annoying and distracting to your audience.  Be stingy with its use, and it will have a greater impact.  Use it to draw your audiences attention back to important points.

Adding sounds to your presentation

1. Click the Slide Sorter View button.
2. Double-click any slide but the title slide.
   Note you've opened the slide for editing in Slide View.
    
3. Click the Animation Effects button.
4. Click the Custom Animation button.
   -or-

3. Pull down the Slide Show menu.
4. Click the Custom Animation button.
    
5. Check the box next to the element (title, text, etc.) to which you will add the animation in the window upper left.
6. On the Effects tab, choose an animation and sound.
7. Click Preview to see and hear the results.

Activating action sounds in your presentation

1. Open a slide showing a clip such as an arrow or cartoon figure, or insert one from Insert ClipArt.
2. Right-click it, and click Action Settings.
3. Click the Mouse Over tab.
4. Select Play sound, and in the drop-down box click Camera or another sound you like.
5. Select the Highlight when mouse over check box, and click OK.
6. Back on the slide, click the Slide Show button to see the animated video work.  Move the Mouse Over the object and see it change its look and play a sound.

Note Order of animation can be tricky.  If you have multiple animations on the same slide, you may find your automatically starting sound doesn't work.  You may have to fiddle with the order, or you may have to eliminate something to simplify your slide so a desired sound works right.  SIMPLER IS BETTER anyway.  Your audience can get very tired with too many "special" effects going off all the time.

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UPDATED 11/14/05