The impact and effectiveness of PowerPoint presentations increases more when they incorporate visuals as well as design components that help and engage with the content. In this article, I will cover how to effectively use SmartArt, pictures, and videos so that the quality of your PowerPoint slides is improved without compromising any Standard.
Using SmartArt to Arrange Ideas in a New Way.
In PowerPoint, SmartArt graphics are powerful tools for visually organizing and communicating your thoughts. To illustrate and remember your concepts more effectively, SmartArt makes it easier by taking the text and giving it a graphical representation.
How to add SmartArt:
- Open your PowerPoint presentation.
- Click on the Home tab and select New Slide.
- From the options, select Blank to create a blank slide.
- Select the Insert tab and Click the SmartArt button in the Illustrations group.
- Choose a style of SmartArt graphic, such as List, Process, Cycle, Hierarchy, etc., and click OK.
Below are some of the types of SmartArt graphic options provided by PowerPoint:
- List
- Process
- Cycle
- Hierarchy
- Relationship
- Matrix
- Picture
These options allow users to effectively and inventively arrange their concepts.
Modifying SmartArt Graphic Styles
When you add a SmartArt graphic to your presentation, you can modify it to better fit your preferences. Once the SmartArt graphic is selected, a new tab called SmartArt Design will appear with options to:
- Alter the design (e.g. , apply styles in 2D or 3D)
- Change the colors
- Adjust the shapes and positions
These options allow one to personalize the graphic to match the message and the audience’s needs.
Adding and Editing Images
Images incorporated in slides provide additional beauty and also help to deliver the information in an easier way. To include an image:
- Launch your PowerPoint program.
- Go to the Insert tab, then click on Pictures.
- A new window will appear where you can browse through your computer files and select an image.
- Once you have selected, click on Insert.
After the image is inserted, formatting can be done using the Picture Tools tab. The image can be cropped, styles adjusted, and even the color can be altered to match the theme of the presentation.
Removing Backgrounds of Images
With PowerPoint, you can remove the background of inserted images making them cleaner and neater. To remove the image’s background:
- Click on the picture you want to edit in your slide.
- After clicking on the Picture Tools tab, select Remove Background.
This feature allows for highlighting particular areas of an image so that it can appear more professional.
Adding Videos
Videos also encourage an active interaction with the content which can improve presentation significantly. To embed a video in PowerPoint, do the following:
- Launch your PowerPoint presentation.
- Click the Insert tab and select the Video button in the Media group.
- Select the appropriate video file and click Insert.
When the video is added, you may resize it, and under the Video Tools tab, you can adjust the volume and other playback controls.
Editing Videos in PowerPoint
If your video is too long or contains irrelevant information, PowerPoint makes it easy to trim the video. To perform PowerPoint trimming, do the following steps:
- Select the video you wish to edit in your slide.
- Click the Playback tab and select Trim Video.
- Set the start and end points of the video by explaining the green and red tabs.
This feature makes it easier for you to modify the information that you will be presenting while staying focused on the major points during the meeting.
Important Points:
- SmartArt can design the content for you, which allows intricate ideas to be easily understood.
- The effectiveness of conveying information and capturing attention is doubled by images.
- Videos make a presentation more dynamic and interactive.
- For a sharp and professional look, images can be edited by removing their backgrounds and videos can be cut down to a suitable length.
PowerPoint presentations can be made illustrative and informative by incorporating SmartArt, images and videos.
