Datasheet

Images and text always work together — collectively, they achieve more than
the sum of each other’s potential. However, images need to be relevant to the
subject and focused; using an unsuitable visual is worse than using no visual
at all. The same rules apply to info-graphics, as well.
PowerPoint provides many ways to present images — from recolored styles,
effects, and outlines to animations and builds.
Shapes
Simple objects such as circles, rectangles, and squares can help you explain
concepts so much better. PowerPoint looks at the entire shape concept in a
different way through its Shapes gallery. The shapes within the Shapes
gallery seem like regular lines and polygons, but that’s where the similarity
ends; they are very adaptable in editing and creation. Shapes can also
function as building blocks and form the basis of complex diagrams and
illustrations.
Fills, lines, and effects
Shapes, pictures, and even info-graphics in PowerPoint can stand out from
the slide by using as assortment of fill, line, and effect styles. Most styles are
found in galleries on the Ribbon tabs.
Sound and video
PowerPoint provides many ways to incorporate sound: inserted sounds,
event sounds, transition sounds, background scores,
and narrations.
PowerPoint was perhaps never intended to become a multimedia tool — nor
were presentations ever imagined to reach the sophisticated levels they have
attained. Microsoft has tried to keep PowerPoint contemporary by adding
more sound capabilities with every release. This version finally makes it
easier to work with sound in PowerPoint by adding a whole new Ribbon tab
containing sound options.
As computers get more powerful and play smooth full-screen video, viewers
expect PowerPoint to work with all sorts of video formats. But that’s a far
cry from reality. In Chapter 11, I look at workarounds that keep PowerPoint
happy with all sorts of video types.
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Part I: Powering Up PowerPoint
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