PowerPoint and Presenting Stuff

Formatting Arrows (Arrowheads) in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows

PowerPoint provides two types of shapes: open and close shapes. Shapes, such as rectangles, circles, etc. are closed shapes. Regular line shapes, such as straight lines, curves, scribbles, etc. are open shapes. Arrowheads can be added only to open shapes. That’s because an arrow needs a pronounced, visible beginning and end.

Learn how to format arrowheads for lines in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2016
Tagged as: Arrowheads, Arrows, Line, Microsoft Windows, Office 2016, Outline, PowerPoint 2016, Tutorials

PowerPoint and Presenting News: June 21, 2016

Janet Giesen of discusses the new Shutterstock plugin for PowerPoint that lets you find and insert pictures right within PowerPoint. On our Timelines that are Different series, we look at our fifth different timeline graphic from PresentationLoad. Nova Fisher of Xara talks about the new Photo & Graphic Designer 365 product.

PowerPoint 2016 for Windows users can learn about nudging shapes, and also how you can convert text to shapes via the Intersect and Fragment options. We also explore the Eyedropper option that lets you copy fill colors. And then we show you how you can merge shapes and pictures together. Finally, do not miss the new press releases and templates of this week!

Read Indezine’s PowerPoint and Presenting News.

Filed Under: Ezine
Tagged as: Ezine, Indezine, News, PowerPoint

Formatting Line Dashes for Shapes in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows

We have already explored how to format shape outlines and change their weight. In this tutorial, you will learn how to apply a Dash style to shape outline. A dashed line can have plenty of variations: from a line with fewer dashes to ones with longer or smaller dashes, or even alternating small and long dashes.

Learn how to apply the Dash attribute to shape outlines in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows.

Filed Under: PowerPoint 2016
Tagged as: Dashes, Lines, Microsoft Windows, Office 2016, Outline, PowerPoint 2016, Shapes, Tutorials

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