Potential for impactful storytelling through animation exists within presentations. However, for many, the process of effectively utilizing these creative tools remains elusive, prompting the question: How can animations be seamlessly incorporated into PowerPoint to enhance your message?
With its thorough and approachable guide to PowerPoint animations, this article aims to be your beacon of light, ensuring that your presentations leave a lasting impression.
Part1: Basics of Animations in PowerPoint
What Are Animations Effects
Animations in PowerPoint are dynamic visual enhancements that bring elements of your presentation to life, adding movement and transition effects to text, images, shapes, and other objects. These effects can make your slides more engaging and aid in conveying your message effectively
Basic animation effects in PowerPoint include:
Entrance Effects: These effects control how an object appears on the slide, such as "Appear," "Fade," or "Fly In."
Exit Effects: These determine how an object exits the slide, like "Disappear," "Fade," or "Fly Out."
Emphasis Effects: These effects draw attention to an object already on the slide, including "Grow/Shrink," "Spin," or "Colour Pulse."
Motion Paths: You can define a custom path for an object to follow, creating effects like "Curve," "Line," or "Circle."
These are some of the basic animation effects in PowerPoint, and you can combine them to create engaging and visually appealing presentations.
Pros and Cons of Using Animations in PowerPoint
Pros of Using Animations in PowerPoint:
Engagement: Animations can captivate your audience's attention, making your presentations more engaging and memorable. For example, in a business presentation, an animated chart can visually illustrate a sales increase over time, making the data more compelling and easier to comprehend.
Visual Clarity: Animations can help convey complex ideas by breaking them down into manageable steps, improving understanding.
Focus: You can direct your audience's attention to specific points on the slide, emphasizing key information.
Storytelling: Animations can be used to narrate a story or guide the audience through a sequence of events, enhancing the narrative quality of your presentation.
Clarity and Comprehension: Complex ideas can be simplified with animations. In a technical presentation, a step-by-step animation can elucidate a complex procedure, aiding audience comprehension.
Professionalism: Thoughtfully used animations can make your presentation look polished and professional.
Cons of Using Animations in PowerPoint:
Overuse: Excessive animations can distract from your message and make your presentation appear unprofessional.
Technical Issues: Animations may behave unpredictably when shared on different devices or software versions. In a conference presentation, technical glitches could disrupt your flow.
Time-Consuming: Creating and refining animations can be time-consuming. In a project status update, if you spend too much time perfecting animations, it might impact other essential tasks.
Complexity: Elaborate animations might confuse the audience or be challenging to execute flawlessly. In a medical presentation, intricate animations might hinder understanding rather than enhance it.
Part2. How to Use Animations In PowerPoint
#1.How to Use Animations In PowerPoint (Mac)
Using animations in PowerPoint on a Mac is a great way to enhance your presentations. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use animations in PowerPoint for Mac:
Step 1: Select the text box that contains the slides you want to animate.
Select the text box with the bullets you want to animate
Step 2: Click the Animations tab, and then choose a motion effect like Appear or Fly In.
Choose one of the motion options to animate text or an object
Step 3: The slide displays the animation sequence in a box to the left of each point.
Each bullet in the list show the order of animations in a small box to the left
Step 4: Select Slide Show
on the status bar to preview your animation.
#2.How to Use Animations In PowerPoint (Windows)
Using animations in PowerPoint on a Windows computer allows you to create engaging and dynamic presentations. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use animations in PowerPoint for Windows:
Step 1: Select the object or text you want to animate.
Select the object or text you want to animate.
Step 2: Select Animations and choose an animation.
Select Animations and choose an animation
Step 3: Select Effect Options and choose an effect.
Select Effect Options and choose an effect
Recommendations:
For quick and simple animations, especially if you're a beginner, PowerPoint on Mac is a great choice. The clean interface and basic animations are user-friendly and efficient.
If you require more advanced animation control and have experience with PowerPoint, the Windows version is preferable. It provides a wider range of features and customization options.
In summary, both Mac and Windows versions of PowerPoint are capable of creating impressive animations. The choice depends on your familiarity with the operating system and your specific animation needs. As a recommendation, for beginners and quick, straightforward animations, PowerPoint on Mac is the most user-friendly option. However, for advanced animations and precise control, the Windows version is the preferred choice based on my experience.
Part3. How to Remove Animation from PowerPoint
You can remove a single animation effect or all animations from a PowerPoint slide. Here is how to do it:
Remove a Single Effect with the Animation Pane
Step 1: Click the Animation Pane on the Animations tab in the Advanced Animations group.
Step 2: Click the animated object on the slide you’d like to remove the effect from. The effects applied to the object are highlighted in the Animation Pane.
Step 3: In the Animation Pane, click the down-arrow for the effect, and select Remove.
Removing an animation effect
Remove All Animations from a PowerPoint Slide
Step 1: Click an object on the current slide then press Ctrl + A.
All objects on the slide are selected.
Step 2: On the Animations tab, in the Animation group, click None.
All animations are removed for the current slide.
The Animations tab
Part4.How to Use Animations in PowerPoint for Free with WPS Office
1.What is WPS Office and Why Choose it?
WPS Office is a free, versatile office suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet program, and presentation software, similar to Microsoft Office. Here's a brief introduction to WPS Office features and a list of three advantages related to PowerPoint editing or features not offered for free in Microsoft Office:
Free of Cost: WPS Office is entirely free, making it an attractive alternative to Microsoft Office, which often requires a subscription or purchase.
Built-in Templates Store: WPS Office boasts a vast selection of built-in templates for presentations, documents, and spreadsheets. This feature allows users to quickly access and utilize professionally designed templates, saving time and effort in creating visually appealing presentations. Microsoft Office's free version doesn't offer as extensive a library of templates.
Co-editing and Collaborative Features: One standout advantage of WPS Office is its co-editing functionality, available for Word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Multiple users can collaborate on the same document or presentation simultaneously, similar to Google Docs. This feature is not readily available for free in Microsoft Office, making WPS Office a preferred choice for collaborative work.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: WPS Office is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, providing a consistent user experience across different devices. Microsoft Office, while offering cross-platform compatibility, often requires a paid subscription for full access to its mobile apps and cloud services.
2. How to add animation to WPS Presentation?
Step 1: Use WPS Office to open the slide and select the text or object that needs to be animated.
Step 2: After clicking the Animation tab, click the drop-down button on the right side of the preset animation.
Step 3: As is shown in the figure, we can view all the preset animations and select them according to our needs.
Step 4: Now click the Play button at the bottom of the task pane on the right. Then we can preview the effect of the animation.
3.How to make an animated video in WPS Office PowerPoint?
Creating an animated video in WPS Office PowerPoint is similar to how you would do it in Microsoft PowerPoint. Here's a step-by-step guide to make an animated video in WPS Office PowerPoint:
Step 1: Prepare for the animated video in WPS Office
To make an animated video, you need to design the effects in your mind first. Then add the elements to the slides according to your thoughts.
Background
1. Click the Design tab > Background, and an Object Formatting pane pops up.
2. There are four types of background: Solid fill, Gradient fill, Picture or texture fill and Pattern fill.
3. Choose a desired one from them and set more details for it.
(Here we choose Picture or texture fill for demonstration.)
Objects
1. Head to the Insert tab, click Picture, Shapes or Chart to insert them according to individual needs.
2. You can change its size or position freely.
(Here we choose Picture for demonstration.)
Text
1. Head to the Insert tab, you can insert text by clicking the Text Box button or WordArt button.
2. Text Box: To insert a text box and input text into it.
You need to set the font style, font size, font color, font effects and so on for it.
(Here we choose Gill Sans Ultra Bold, font size 96, black, and reflection for demonstration.)Click here to watch a video tutorial in WPS Academy to learn more about how to format text in WPS Presentation.
3. WordArt: To insert the text with wordart effects.
You can choose the effect from presets. You can also continue to change some detail settings for the text.
(Here we choose Gradient Fill-SteelBlue for demonstration.)
Then you can repeat these steps to prepare all your slides. If you want to perfect your slides, you can learn more skills about designing slide by clicking here (WPS Academy) to search for more video tutorials in WPS Academy.
Step 2: Create animations for the animated video in WPS Office
An animated video requires animation transition effects. Now we need to create animation and transition effects for each dynamic element in the slide. And remember to pay attention to the speed, timing, entrance order and direction, etc.
Animation
1. Select an object and click the Animation tab.
2. Choose animation effects from the window on the ribbon. You can click the more icon to show more effects.
(Here we choose Draw Custom Path for the plane for demonstration.)
3. Or you can click Custom Animation to pop up a Custom Animation pane, and click Add Effect to choose an effect.
(Here we choose Zoom for the text for demonstration.)
4. Then set more details like Start time, Direction, Speed and Sound effects for it.
(Here we set Slow speed for the plane and With Previous for the text, and in terms of the effect options of the plane, we set Wind at Sound for demonstration.)
Transitions
1. Head to the Transitions tab, and choose from the preset transitions.
(Here we choose Comb for demonstration.)
2. You can set the Speed and Sound as needed, and check Click to change slides or Auto and set interval.
(Here we set Auto, interval: 00:02 for demonstration.)
Repeat these steps to set animation and transitions for all objects and slides. Here are some tips for you:
Click here to watch a video tutorial in WPS Academy to learn more about how to create wonderful animation effects in WPS Presentation.
Click here to watch a video tutorial in WPS Academy to learn more about how to create attractive transitions in WPS Presentation.
Step 3: Insert sound effects to the animated video in WPS Office
A piece of nice music makes a video more appealing. First, you need to download the audio on your computer, and then insert it into the slide.
1. Head to the Insert tab, and click the Audio drop-down button.
2. Here are four options: Insert Audio, Link to Sound, Background Music and Link Background Music.
Insert Audio:Only played in the current slide.
Background Music: Played as background music for the whole presentation.
Note: Link to Sound and Link Background Music mean the audio is linked to the file in your computer, but once your slides are showed on other devices, the audio may fail to play.
Tips: You can click the audio icon and set more details in the ribbon.
(Here we choose Background Music for demonstration.)
Click here to watch a video tutorial in WPS Academy to learn more about how to insert audios in WPS Presentation.
Step 4: Export the animated video in WPS Office
This distinctive function provided in WPS Presentation is extremely helpful, enabling users to export an animated quickly and expediently.
1. Head to the Tools tab, click Video Exporting.
2. Input the Document Name and set the save position, and then click OK.
3. Now you can click Open Video or Open file to check your final animated video!
FAQs
How do you make Animations move in PowerPoint?
Step 1: Click the object you want to animate.
Step 2: On the Animations tab, click Add Animation.
Step 3: Scroll down to Motion Paths, and pick one.
Tip: If you choose the Custom path option, you will draw the path that you want the object to take.
To stop drawing a custom path, press Esc.
How do I make things appear one at a time in PowerPoint?
Step 1: On the slide, select the box that contains your text.
Step 2: Select the Animations tab, and then pick an animation, such as Appear, Fade In, or Fly In.
For some animations, such as Fly In, select Effects Options, as you’ll need to pick a direction for the bullets to fly in from, such as bottom, top, left, or right.
Step 3: Select Effect Options, and then select By Paragraph to make the paragraphs of text appear one at a time. (The other option, All at Once, makes all the lines of text appear at the same time.)
By default, when you present it in Slide Show, each paragraph appears in response to a click. That way, you control when each paragraph appears. You can modify this setting by using the Start, Duration, and Delay controls on the far right end of the Animation tab of the ribbon.
Summary
The Ultimate Guide on "How to Use Animations in PowerPoint" provides a comprehensive overview of how to create captivating and engaging presentations. It highlights the various animations available in Microsoft PowerPoint, and also emphasises the cost-effective alternative of using WPS Office for free. The guide explains how to apply animations, customise effects, and even shares tips for both Mac and Windows users. With a focus on simplicity and practicality, it ensures that both beginners and experienced users can leverage animations effectively in their presentations. Moreover, the guide serves as a valuable resource for users looking to save costs and utilise powerful co-editing and collaborative features offered by WPS Office.
