Using the Drawing Toolbar to Create Objects
You can use the toolbar to add a variety of visual objects to your PowerPoint presentation, such as rectangles, ovals, AutoShapes, WordArt, and clip art. You can also modify existing objects using the toolbar buttons to apply shading, 3D, color, and other effects.
To open this toolbar, choose View, Toolbars, Drawing. Table 14.1 lists all the buttons on this toolbar.
| Button | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Draw | Displays a menu with a variety of drawing options such as placement and formatting |
| Select Objects | Activates a pointer that enables you to select drawing objects |
| AutoShapes | Displays a menu of AutoShape types from which to choose |
| Line | Enables you to draw a line |
| Arrow | Enables you to draw an arrow |
| Rectangle | Enables you to place a rectangular shape on your slide |
| Oval | Enables you to place an oval shape on your slide |
| Text Box | Enables you to place a text box on your slide |
| Insert WordArt | Opens the WordArt Gallery |
| Insert Diagram or Organization Chart | Opens the Diagram Gallery from which you can insert a diagram or org chart |
| Insert Clip Art | Opens the Insert Clip Art task pane |
| Insert Picture | Opens the Insert Picture dialog box from which you can insert a picture, such as a GIF or JPEG, on your slide |
| Fill Color | Displays the Fill Color palette from which you can choose a fill color or pattern |
| Line Color | Displays the Line Color palette from which you can choose a line color or pattern |
| Font Color | Displays the Font Color palette from which you can choose a font color |
| Line Style | Displays a series of line styles you can apply to a selected line |
| Dash Style | Displays a series of dash styles you can apply to a selected line |
| Arrow Style | Displays a series of arrow styles you can apply to a selected arrow |
| Shadow Style | Displays a Shadow palette from which you can choose a shadow to apply to a selected object |
| 3D Style | Displays a 3D palette from which you can choose a 3D effect to apply to a selected object |
This chapter covers the functionality of all these toolbar buttons with the exception of Insert WordArt, Insert Diagram or Organization Chart, Insert Clip Art, and Insert Picture. Separate chapters exist to cover each of these PowerPoint features.
→ For more information on inserting diagrams and organization charts, see Chapter 12, “Working with Diagrams and Organization Charts.”
→ To learn how to use clip art and pictures in PowerPoint, see Chapter 13, “Working with Media Clips and the Clip Organizer.”
→ For details on using WordArt, see “Understanding WordArt” later in this chapter.
Adding Lines and Arrows
You can add lines and arrows to your presentation for emphasis. For example, you might want to add a line beneath a word or phrase to draw attention to it. You might also use an arrow to point to text or an object of special importance.
Note
To underline selected text, you can also click the Underline button on the Formatting toolbar. The line drawing feature, however, provides more flexibility in terms of the color, position, and width of line you use.
Creating a Line
To draw a line on your presentation, click the Line button on the Drawing toolbar. Use the mouse, whose pointer becomes a plus sign, to draw a line in the exact location you want to place it. If the line looks crooked or is the wrong length, select it and adjust the ends.
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Press the Shift key as you drag the mouse to create straight horizontal or vertical lines. This enables you to draw lines at angles evenly divisible by 15 (0, 15, 30, 45, and so forth), which makes it much easier to create a straight line. Press the Ctrl key as you drag the mouse to draw a line from a center point, lengthening the line in both directions as you drag.
To specify line style, select the line and click the Line Style button on the toolbar. The Line Style palette displays, shown in Figure 14.1.
Figure 14.1. Create thick or thin, single, double, or triple lines in your presentation.
You can choose from a variety of single and double lines as well as one triple line from 1/4 point to 6 points in width. You can also change your line to a dashed line by clicking the Dash Style button. For additional options, select More Lines, which opens the Format AutoShape dialog box where you can set additional line options. You can also open this dialog box by right-clicking on the line and choosing Format AutoShape.
→ To learn more about this dialog box, see “Using the Format Dialog Box” in this chapter.
→ For more details about coloring lines, see “Specifying Line Color” in this chapter.
You can use the Line Style palette for more than just formatting lines. You can use this palette to format lines associated with arrows, rectangles, ovals, AutoShapes, and other objects as well.
Creating an Arrow
To draw an arrow on your presentation, click the Arrow button on the Drawing toolbar. Use the mouse (the pointer becomes a plus sign) to draw an arrow in the location you want to place it.
To specify an arrow style, select the arrow and click the Arrow Style button on the toolbar. The Arrow Style palette displays, shown in Figure 14.2.
Figure 14.2. Arrows can point to areas you want to emphasize.
You can choose from a variety of arrow types—both single and double arrows. For additional options, select More Arrows, which opens the Format AutoShape dialog box.
→ For details on the available options in this dialog box, see “Using the Format Dialog Box” in this chapter.
Figure 14.3 shows a slide that utilizes both lines and arrows.
Figure 14.3. Use lines and arrows to add clarity and visual effect.
Adding Rectangles and Ovals
You can draw rectangular and oval shapes directly on your PowerPoint presentation. Using shapes enables you to emphasize important information (contained in your shape) or to illustrate other ideas or concepts.
To draw a rectangle, click the Rectangle button on the Drawing toolbar and use the mouse (the pointer becomes a plus sign) to draw a rectangular or square shape.
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To draw a square, press the Shift key while drawing your shape.
To draw an oval or circular shape, click the Oval button on the Drawing toolbar and use the mouse (the pointer becomes a plus sign) to draw the desired shape.
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Pressing the Shift key while creating an oval shape forms a perfectly shaped circle.
Figure 14.4 shows the use of rectangular and oval shapes in a slide.
Figure 14.4. You can add images such as squares and circles to your presentation.
You can then reshape and resize these images or apply other formatting to them.
You can add text to a rectangular or oval shape. If you only want to add a word or two, select the object and type in the text you want to enter. Or click the Text Box button on the Drawing toolbar and create a text box inside the original object. Be sure, however, that the text box fits into the object without overlapping its borders.
Adding Text Boxes
You can create a text box to add text to your slide other than in your original text placeholders or to frame special text. Note that you can't add text to a slide other than in a text placeholder or text box. Click the Text Box button on the Drawing toolbar, click where you want to place the text box on the slide, and start entering text to create the box. Figure 14.5 illustrates the use of a text box.
Figure 14.5. A text box calls attention to something you want to say in your presentation as well as enables you to place text exactly where you want it.
You can format the text in a text box as you would any other text, including formatting the font, font size, color, and style.
→ For more details on ways to format text in PowerPoint, see “Formatting Text” in Chapter 3, “Working with Text.”
→ To learn how to make changes to a text box you add, see “Formatting a Text Box” in this chapter.
Adding AutoShapes
An AutoShape is a drawing object such as a hexagon, triangle, or star. Rectangles and ovals are also referred to as AutoShapes. AutoShapes make creating callouts, flowcharts, block arrows, and other special objects much easier and provide additional flexibility and creativity within PowerPoint.
To insert an AutoShape, click the AutoShapes button on the Drawing toolbar and choose the type of AutoShape you want from the menu. Options include the following:
Lines Includes special line forms such as curves, scribbles, and freeform.
Connectors Offers three different kinds of connectors to connect objects—straight, elbow, or curved. Even if you move one of the connected objects, its connector stays attached and moves with it.
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To ensure that the connection between two objects is the shortest possible distance, you can reroute connectors. To do this, click the Draw button from the Drawing toolbar and choose Reroute Connectors.
Basic Shapes Includes shapes such as a hexagon, moon, triangle, box, arc, and plaque.
Block Arrows Offers large block arrows similar to regular line arrows, but much thicker.
Flowchart Offers flowchart images such as process, document, input, and terminator.
Stars and Banners Offers waves, scrolls, explosions, and pointed stars.
Callouts Includes several types of callout images that you can use to call attention to a particular part of the slide.
Action Buttons Includes several action button options, such as beginning, forward, and next.
Choose the specific AutoShape you want from the palette that displays when you select a menu option and place it on the slide by dragging the mouse. You can then format the AutoShape as you would any other object. Figure 14.6 shows some sample AutoShapes.
Figure 14.6. Callouts are just one example of an AutoShape.
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Choose More AutoShapes from the AutoShapes menu to display the Insert Clip Art task pane, which offers even more options.
→ To learn how to insert clip art images, see Chapter 13.