Next is an easy step, because I just use the previous gradient again. Here are the steps:
1. Select gradient
2. Duplicate
3. Go to DRAW >> ROTATE OR FLIP >> ROTATE RIGHT 90′
4. Position at bottom of slide
5. Stretch left/right to width of slide
With another layer a nice effect has been achieved leaving a lighter area in the top left, which creates a subtle visual motion with the darker streak (from the first autoshape)on the opposite axis:
– Troy @ TLC
On a recent project the specs were to develop a visually dynamic presentation, but maintain an extremely small files size (goal = under 2MB for 75-100 slides – with images!).
The first place was to begin with the template backgrounds. Because native autoshapes are vector based, they have the smallest files size – especially when needed as full screen images.
Here is the content slide developed using just autoshapes:
Over the next few posts we’ll build the background one autoshape at a time.
– Troy @ TLC
Jeff Koke of PointClips recently emailed me a few samples of their PowerPoint images. Pointclips offers “hand-crafted artwork and icons, built in PowerPoint.”
What impressed me was that not only did I see good quality, but that all were made of grouped vector images (autoshapes) and could be resized and even re-colored as needed! Sure you could (maybe) create all of these images yourself, but why spend hours doing so…
The left image is from PointClips free downloadable sample. On the right is a number of the elements ungrouped – all editable autoshapes!
Individual images for $5 and collections of 50 images for $99. Check them out here.
– Troy @ TLC
Here are the steps to solve the two usability problems with Vista and PPT 2003 described in the previous two posts:
1. Locate the actual .exe for PowerPoint 2003 (C: >> Program Files >> Microsoft Office >> Office 11)
2. Right click the POWERPNT.EXE
3. Go to the COMPATABILITY tab
4. Check the DISABLE VISUAL THEMES option
5. Click OKAY and launch PowerPoint 2003
So I can pass along others experiences with Vista, send me an email (link is on the right) letting me know if things do, or do not, work on your computer – or if things work with earlier versions (PPT 2000, XP, etc.).
– Troy @ TLC
This one almost had me uninstalling Vista. this one invovles the Custom Animation pane open and set to view the Advanced Animation view (where the animations are shown on the timeline).
The problem (seen on multiple computers) is when you click and drag the animation bar to a new position, it basically disapears until you unclick. The result is loosing all ability to easily and accurately fine tune animations.
Again, there is a solution which is in the next post 🙂
– Troy @ TLC
If you have installed PowerPoint 2007, you know the User Interface with its new Ribbon layout is very different! Keep this Microsoft website handy as you begin to relearn how to do everything.
This interactive Flash page allows you to click and choose almost any feature in a PPT 2003 simulation and then it shows where to find the same command in PPT 2007. Click here to try it.
– Troy @ TLC
For the best quality layout and graphics when converting an existing presentation to widescreen I go through several steps. Note: 1-4 assure that new widescreen presentation maintains all formatting such as fonts, custom bullets, default color scheme, header/footer, etc.
1. Open existing presentation
2. Save As (name)_WideScreen.ppt
3. Delete all slides
4. Change page size to needed widescreen size
2. If background artwork is developed in Photoshop, modify in Photoshop to create new version of artwork that is setup for new widescreen aspect ratio
3. Update the master slide(s) with modified artwork and adjust formatting to fit widescreen layout
Now I have a widescreen template of my presentation.
– Troy @ TLC
So you have an existing presentation, created as a standard 4×3 aspect ratio (10″x7.5″). But you have a wide screen for your next meeting. EASY, from the previous post you know to go to FILE >> PAGE SETUP and modify the size — DOHHH, everything is messed up now!
Here is a standard 4×3 presentation (10″x7.5″)
After changing the Page Setup to 16″x9″ you end up with this
Note:
– Imported graphics and autoshapes all distort
– Standard PowerPoint text keeps its aspect ratio
There is no instant or easy way to do this… but in the next post I will give a few suggestions.
– Troy @ TLC
The era of the wide screen presentation is here. Computer monitors are wide screen, plasma and lcd TVs are wide screen, and wide screen projectors have dropped in price. So how do you create a widescreen presentation to use all of this great “realestate”?
1) Open a new presentation
2) Go to FILE >> PAGE SETUP
3) Here is the standard, 4×3 aspect ratio, presentation
4) Change the 10″ x 7.5″ to 16″ x 9″
Now you have a wide screen presentation set to fit the industry standard 16×9 aspect ratio.
– Troy @ TLC
There are times when it looks like PowerPoint is to blame, but in reality it is a computer OS setting that is making PowerPoint appear to behave badly. An example of this that comes up often is running a presentation on a widescreen monitor.
Recent Post on the PowerPoint Forum:
I have a widescreen monitor powerpoint distorts graphs. The font becomes much larger and squished together. How do I stop the powerpoint from changing things?
My Response:
(on a pre-Vista OS) Go to START >> CONTROL PANEL >> DISPLAY >> SETTINGS tab >> ADVANCED button >> depending on which video card, find setting for MAINTAIN ASPECT RATIO. Now 4×3 presentations will display with black bars on the left/right so nothing is distorted on a widescreen monitor.
– Troy @ TLC