PowerPoint and Presenting Stuff

Formatting Outlines for Shapes in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows — Weight

We have explained the basics of formatting shape outlines in PowerPoint 2016. Now we take you further ahead to explore how you can change line weight to make the outlines thinner and thicker. So why would you want to alter the weight of an outline? There are many reasons — more often than not, you may want a line that’s almost invisible or very thin — this lets your audience focus on other areas. At other times when you want the attention of your audience to focus on a particular line, then you can do so by thickening its weight. In this tutorial, we will also cover compound lines such as those that encompass double or triple lines.

Learn how to change the weight attribute of shape outlines in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2016
Tagged as: Line, Microsoft Windows, Office 2016, PowerPoint 2016, Thickness, Tutorials

Infographics and the Presentation Revolution

By Vikas Agrawal

A picture says a thousand words is perhaps a hackneyed truism, but infographics are proving it right all over again in the digital age.

Infographics transform complex facts and figures into simple images and depictions which enable viewers to grasp difficult concepts instantly and make easy comparisons. These colorful, mesmerizing visual tools masquerading as work actually make learning fun.

If you want to engage the audience with creativity and flair at your next presentation, you should consider using infographics.

If you aren’t entirely convinced, here is some information to consider.

People are seeing – and sharing – more infographics than ever before.
Image Courtesy: FreeImages

Massive Uptake

Infographics may have been a long time coming, but now that Pandora’s Box has been opened, the overwhelmingly positive response is stimulating an increase in their production of an amazing 1% every day.

This means that if you haven’t enlisted the services of an infographic designer to showcase your content, the odds are your competitors have, and are reaching more potential clients than you are because of it.

It’s Simple Math

Research shows people respond better to visual images over text by a margin of 40% and that 90% of what the brain registers in any given period is visual.

Do you see what I see?
Image Source: Pixcove

The takeaway from these figures is that if you are failing to convert your text and data into captivating visuals that fascinate people, you are losing viewers and potential investors and clients in droves. Along with the revenue that they would have generated.

Instant Authority

It seems that infographics have the ‘white lab coat effect’ and wear the coat for you.

Take two infographics and call me in the morning!
Image: StockUnlimited

Just like TV commercials convince us that actors in white coats playing the roles of doctors and dentists give us good advice, an infographic puts a stamp of authority on otherwise unremarkable text and voice.

Of course, you are not being dishonest with your audience (that never ends well); you are simply attracting their undivided attention for some time to get your message across.

Audience Appeal

Which do you think would be shared more – a picture of the world, the word ‘world’, or the image below?

Image: StockUnlimited

The right infographic creator can replace pages of text and reams of data with a series of images just like this.

The imagination, creativity, and effort that was invested in such a graphic are immediately apparent, even to a layperson.

Displaying an infographic during your presentation does not have to be an act in isolation. Platforms like Slideshare allow you to share your material with the world, and for them to share it with their own social circles.

We have created this highly informative infographic to help you get the most out of SlideShare.

Here is The A to Z Guide to Slideshare: Your Cheat Sheet for Mastering the World’s Largest Business Content Community!

Image Courtesy: Infobrandz

Besides these 26 amazing capabilities of Slideshare, there are several strategic reasons it is strategically indispensable to every business. To discover those reasons, you have to click here.

Riding the Social Media Wave

Image: StockUnlimited

When you give a presentation, it is not just an insulated event – it is the opportunity to exponentially magnify your reach through your audience and their associates.

It may be argued that every single social media marketing tactic has one aim – to create viral content. A presentation that includes a share-worthy infographic can be exactly that.

Remember to always link to your online and social media presence, if not prominently then at least unambiguously; every screen your presentations and infographics appear on is another foot in the door to new clients and investment.

It has taken some time into the digital age for content creators to unleash the power of the infographic upon the world, but the tremendous audience response has made them the must-have ingredient of a powerful presentation. Discover why with one of your own.

Vikas Agrawal is co-founder of the infographic design agency Infobrandz that offers creative and premium graphic solutions like infographics, ebooks, presentations, and pitch decks.

His infographics have secured high rankings in many lists of best infographics of 2015.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.

Filed Under: Guest Posts
Tagged as: Design, Graphics, Guest Post, Infographics, Opinion, Vikas Agrawal

Shutterstock Plug-in for PowerPoint: Conversation with Janet Giesen

Janet Giesen is Senior Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Shutterstock. She runs integrated partnerships, co-marketing initiatives, and data deals for the company. Before joining Shutterstock, Janet managed affiliate and digital media partnerships for American Express OPEN. Janet holds an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business, a Professional Certification in Publishing from Columbia’s School of Journalism, and a BA from Boston College.

In this interview, Janet talks about the Shutterstock Plug-in for PowerPoint.

Geetesh: Janet, can you tell us more about why you created the Shutterstock plug-in for PowerPoint?

Janet: Most PowerPoint presentations are made up of two elements: images and text. We wanted to create a plug-in for PowerPoint that would provide immediate access to high-quality, professional images and also solve the blank canvas (or ‘blank slide’) problem. We know that one of the most common ways business professionals use Shutterstock images is to enhance presentations, and with hundreds of millions of users, PowerPoint is one of the most successful presentation tools in the world.

In creating the plug-in, we wanted to create a way for users to easily search our collection of over 80 million images directly within PowerPoint to create more impactful presentations. This brings time-saving functionality to professionals who can choose images they love and preview them in a slide before buying.

Geetesh: What feedback have you received from users of the Shutterstock plug-in for PowerPoint – can you share some thoughts?

Janet: Our customers have been very receptive to the new plug-in and its functionality. We’ve had a considerably high visit-to-install rate and lots of positive feedback in the first week. Users have been particularly excited about the ability to preview images inside a presentation before purchase. We’ve also had users express interest in making the plug-in available for Mac, as well as access to their lightboxes / saved images on Shutterstock inside the plug-in.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.

Filed Under: Interviews
Tagged as: Add-in, Graphics, Images, Interviews, Janet Giesen, Pictures, Plug-in, PowerPoint, Shutterstock

Merge Shapes with Pictures in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows

PowerPoint takes the Merge Shapes command to a whole new level. You can merge shapes with other shapes and text, and you can also merge shapes with pictures! First you may wonder what’s so awesome about merging shapes with pictures? But play a bit and you’ll realize that this opens up huge possibilities. We will start simple in this tutorial and explore how you can create cookie cutter shapes with this option.

Learn how to merge shapes with pictures in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2016
Tagged as: Merge Shapes, Microsoft Windows, Office 2016, Pictures, PowerPoint 2016, Shapes, Tutorials

Eyedropper Fill in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows

Although PowerPoint allows you to choose almost any color you want, it is often difficult to choose the same color for text as the grass or the sky in a picture on the same slide! PowerPoint 2016 for Windows Eyedropper option enables you to pick an exact color from anywhere, sometimes even from somewhere outside PowerPoint! Even better, when you are picking up the color from a source, you get to see the color preview as well as the RGB value of the color you are picking.

Learn how the Eyedropper fill option works in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2016
Tagged as: Eyedropper, Fills, Microsoft Windows, Office 2016, PowerPoint 2016, Tutorials