Spicing Up Your Presentation with PowerPoint Animation
Putting different versions of Microsoft PowerPoint side by side, say 2002 and 2016, shows you an entirely different perspective: there have been so many changes not only in the user interface but also in functionality and options. One great improvement is how easy it is to animate elements in your slides to make it livelier and more entertaining. Best of all is that the improvement has made the software competitive when it comes to the depth of and strategies with your effects. Sure, it may be a lot to take in at first, but take the time to study them. Your time won’t be wasted.
What are you in for? A lot of menus and micromanaging your animations, from sizes to waypoints down to time length and triggers (more on that later), but those are small prices to pay for a great presentation.
But there’s a catch, and it’s a big one. Caveat presenter. Use too many animations and you won’t get the desired effect. Not on your slides (because that’s within your full and total control) but on your audience. They will either be distracted by the many happenings on the screen or be put off by pretty much the same. Either way, it doesn’t spell good for you. So don’t overdo it.
Two Types
Overall, there are two types of animation: Transitions and Animations (with a capital A). Simply put, Transitions dictate effects as you move from slide to slide, and Animations are for whatever you have on your slide.
Transitions have more than forty options (at least for PowerPoint 2016) and differ from the usual/standard (or as Microsoft labels it, “Subtle”) to the “Exciting” and “Dynamic Content.” Animations, however, cover more options and are dictated by more actions. The former adds dramatic tension as you jump from section to section of your talk, while the latter gives a breath of fresh air to otherwise static elements on your slides.
Going deeper into Animation, there are multiple settings to discover still. You can:
· set the entrance and exit of different objects, i.e., how they appear on your slide and exit;
· set waypoints for where they move and stop;
· determine how fast or slow they go;
· add other effects to highlight certain points, like a star around a certain object; and
· set trigger points to start a chain reaction (yes, exactly like a domino).
You just need to dig far enough.
What’s Next
Since you’ve got a basic knowledge of what you can work with, you don’t just do whatever with it. Don’t abuse knowledge. As above, you need to be careful not to overdo your slides. With people’s short attention spans, you’ll either provide them a distraction away from your points or an excuse to just stop listening.
One point an awesome PowerPoint design agency always emphasizes is that it’s okay to use animations if they serve a purpose and are not there because of a whim (or because you thought that a certain one just fits the object). If they can be used to drive a point stronger than plain text or image, then do it — there’s no reason not to, especially if it helps you and your cause. If they don’t, however, or if the object can stand on its own and make a bigger impact by just being still, you don’t have to add anything; doing so may just undermine the overall message of your point and may end up being a distraction.
Choose what to animate and where to put them. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should, as is often said. That’s another caveat that runs with the whole “being able to animate” prospect. If it doesn’t need an animation, then just leave it alone.
Some Reminders
Of course, when you’re livening up your presentation, there’s also planning to do. To repeat, it’s not about your whim; it’s about what strengthens your point and fully impacts the audience. Keep that in mind. It takes preparation and thought to chain animations together and harmonize with each other.
One way you know you’ve nailed this down is by taking notice of where your sight goes after any movement. Like good cinematography, guiding your audience’s eyes to the next point they should look at will help immensely. This kind of consideration won’t take away their focus on your points, and the experience will be seamless.
Another way to keep attention is by keeping everything simple: slides, animations, and the like. Doing so will reduce strain and stress on your audience. A simple yet appropriate background. Plain typography (none of those fancy cursive fonts that are too difficult to read). Easy effects that don’t distract. Bursts of texts, powerful and concise, that leave an impact — instead of walls of text that take time and focus to read. Lastly, simplicity will keep your file size to a more manageable level, so there’s that too.
All in all, animating your slides operates on the same principles of images, text, and slides: keep it short and simple, and necessity dictates availability. Just because it looks good for you doesn’t mean everyone will think the same. Remember: your audience will be the one looking at your slides, so it’s best to tailor it to and for them. Amaze them. Wow them. Educate them.
Resources:
Cournoyer, Brendan. “PowerPoint Animation Tips: Dos and Don’ts for Business Presentations.” Brainshark. March 7, 2012. www.brainshark.com/ideas-blog/2012/March/powerpoint-animation-tips-for-business-presentations
Finkelstein, Ellen. “Combine Animation Techniques to Create Stunning PowerPoint Slides.” EllenFinkelstein.com. March 15, 2000. www.ellenfinkelstein.com/pptblog/combine-animation-techniques-to-create-stunning-powerpoint-slides
Harkins, Susan. “10 Tricks for Working More Effectively in PowerPoint.” TechRepublic. November 13, 2007. www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-tricks-for-working-more-effectively-in-powerpoint
Hindy, Joseph. “10 Tricks that Can Make Anyone a PowerPoint Expert.” Lifehack. n.d. www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/10-tricks-that-can-make-anyone-powerpoint-expert.html
Lenaerts, Sven. “10 Simple PowerPoint Animation Tips and Tricks.” Envato. November 17, 2016. business.tutsplus.com/articles/powerpoint-animation-tips-and-tricks — cms-27552
Lerner, Kevin. “7 Powerful PowerPoint Animation Tips.” PresentationTeam.com. n.d. www.presentationteam.com/presentation-tips/powerpoint-tips/powerpoint-animation-tips
McSpadden, Kevin. “You Now Have a Shorter Attention Span Than a Goldfish.” Time. May 14, 2015. www.time.com/3858309/attention-spans-goldfish
Murray, Katherine. “Five Tips for Creating Animations in PowerPoint 2010. TechRepublic. September 29, 2010. www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-tips-for-creating-animations-in-powerpoint-2010
“71 Compelling & Surprising PowerPoint Tips from the Pros.” AlleyWatch. August 15, 2013. www.alleywatch.com/2013/08/71-compelling-surprising-powerpoint-tips-from-the-pros
“PowerPoint Tips & Tricks — Part 4: Animations and Transitions.” Buffalo 7. January 7, 2016. www.buffalo7.co.uk/powerpoint-animations-and-transitions
