PowerPoint

Wouldn’t be amazing if a shape or vector art could have a video fill it, like the previous posts showcased the Picture Fill? Although the capability of inserting a video into a custom shape isn’t possible just yet, there is a work around!

• Start with inserting the video file in the slide.
  
• Select the video > in the animation pane select “play” and start “with previous”. Double click on the layer in the animation pane to open the  video dialog box with more options.
• Under the “Timing” tab > “Repeat” > select “Until Next Click”. This will allow the video the loop play until the next click to end the slide.
  
• Next is to create a rectangle shape that is the same size as the video. In layer order, video (bottom), rectangle (middle), 2024 graphic (top).
  
• Selecting the 2024 graphic first then the rectangle. Shape Format tab, “Merge Shapes” then select combine. This will cut the 2024 graphic out of the rectangle, making the video visible underneath.
• Adjust the color of the rectangle as needed.
  
• Now there are 2 layers and the video file underneath is still accessible.
  
• And here is the final slide with a “video fill” image. Download the editable slide here.
  

Troy @ TLC, with Christie on the TLC Creative presentation design team

This is the last week of 2023 and we used the rapidly approaching start to 2024 as inspiration for another how-to on using PowerPoint’s Picture Fill feature.

• The key to getting a seamless image inserted to the shape is choosing artwork that is connected or merged into one shape. (the smaller NEW YEAR text will not be affected)
  
• To make a stylized image, replacing the black with something more dynamic is to select the 2024 shape > use the INSERT or CLIPBOARD buttons > fill the shape with the image.
  
• The inserted art will be default “squish” to the size of the art. Click the CROP tool > adjust the width of the fill image in your and adjust the position of what part is displayed in the shape.
  
• And the final slide, which can be downloaded here.
  

Troy @ TLC, and Christie on the TLC Creative design team for the slides and screen capture!

One of the hidden design features within PowerPoint is the PICTURE FILL option. I use this in combination with PowerPoint shapes and inserted vector art to create custom art elements for slides. Because it is Christmas time, my example is a Christmas Tree slide.

• Add the Christmas Tree “icon”/vector art (I recommend .svg file format) to the slide
  
• Vector art can have different effects added; color fill, gradient fill, pattern fill (ugg – do not use any PowerPoint provided pattern!). For example, 1^st is a gradient fill that can be adjusted to any color, direction etc.
  
• Or here, the second tree is updated from the black art to a solid green fill.
  
• Or, here is an example with the third tree using a PowerPoint pattern fill. Note: on pattern fills, the lines and background colors can all be customized to make them less horrible…
  
• But the real trick is using the PICTURE OR TEXTURE FILL option! Select the tree shape > open the FORMAT SHAPE dialog > select  PICTURE OR TEXTURE FILL > locate the image to use
  
  TIP: you can also paste an image in by using the CLIPBOARD button – if you have the image you want inserted already copied.
• Important: The inserted image is distorted to the size of the tree. The solution is the CROP tool. Select the tree > click the crop tool > adjust the width of the fill image with its size/shape points. I made the fill shape much wider and positioned to show some of the real tree branches in the fill image.
  
• And here is the final slide, which can be downloaded here.
  

Troy @ TLC (with special thanks to Christie on the TLC Creative team for the screen captures!)