Kim Avery Coaching

My Secret Weapons: PowerPoint Graphics

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Powerpoint graphics? Absolutely! PowerPoint has become my secret weapon for quick and easy graphic elements for reports, websites, and even Pinterest. Who knew?

Creating Powerpoint Graphics

There are a lot of things you can do with your graphics in PowerPoint. For example, you can remove a background and then put your cut-out image on another picture, like I did with the bull.

Not the image in Monetโ€™s mind, Iโ€™m sure. But you get the idea.

Another thing you can do with PowerPoint is format text boxes with some nifty effects.

Here are some examples of a plain text box with different formatting options applied. Pretty cool, huh?

You can change the shape, the background type, add gradient blends, shadows, perspective, bevels, and glows, among other things. And of course, you can use any of the fonts that you have loaded on your computer.

Creating PowerPoint Graphics for Pinterest

Are you on Pinterest yet? You can make some really nice graphics to pin with PowerPoint. I created this one as a single slide inside the program. You can change the size of your slide (this one is 10 inches by 10 inches), and choose any of a bejillion slide themes or backgrounds that are available. Then all you have to do is add text, and save it as a JPEG file instead of a PowerPoint.

Click on the image to see it larger.

At a loss for cool quotes? Try websites like QuoteGarden.com.

Info-Products with Powerpoint

Hereโ€™s another pretty cool thing you can do with PowerPoint. You can create info-products! You can set your page size to 8.5 X 11 inches, choose a design (or not), add your content and graphics, and save the finished presentation as a PDF file (instead of a PowerPoint presentation). If you are going to do this, I would highly suggest that you DO save it as a Powerpoint first, in case you want to go back in and edit it.

Screen Shots with PowerPoint

If you have PowerPoint 2012, you have the ability to take screen shots built in. On the Insert tab, in the area where you can add an image, you should see an option for Screen Shot. When you click that option, it gives you the option of choosing any open window on your desktop, or if you choose the Screen Clipping option, you can choose the area you want to take a screen shot of.

So, for example, I took this screen clipping of some images in my graphics folder and then saved it as a JPEG image.

I hope I’ve given you some ideas to work with, and I can’t wait to see what you are going to create. Let me know in the comments!

8 Comments

  1. Renee

    Hi Susan,
    Would it work to make a background image for a FB page or the top of a web page (whatever that part is called ๐Ÿ™‚ ) using ppt page, images, call-out etc., and then taking a screen shot in proper proportions (or editing it to right size after screen shot)? Would sure be easier than learning Photoshop or GIMP, at least in the short term. Thanks!

    • Susan Fleming

      Hi Renee,
      You have to do a little math and trial and error, but yes, you can create a FB banner with PowerPoint! If you check my FB page (search for VA in a Box), you will see the cover I created with PowerPoint just now. I probably won’t leave it up very long ๐Ÿ™‚

      The page dimensions I used in PowerPoint are 8.9 inches by 3.3 inches, and I just grabbed one of their standard themes.

      If you set the page width to 10 inches, that will give you a 960px wide image that you can use for a header — choose your own height.

      Hope this helps, and have fun!!

  2. Lisa Thompson

    Thanks Susan! I have powerpoint but never thought of using it for graphics! Graphics and I don’t get along very well so I’m happy to find easy solutions. The remove background is something I’ve been trying to figure out how to do forever, but it didn’t work very well for me when I tried it. Would be great if did a demonstration video of these things (hint, hint ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Susan Fleming

      Hi Lisa ~ Using the background-remove tool in PowerPoint works best if the image you are trying to isolate has well-defined edges, and if there is pretty good contrast between it and the background. Doing a video demo is a great idea, though, and I’ll work on it! Thanks for the suggestion.

  3. Renee

    Wow — Thanks, Susan. This will be fun. I’m guessing it’s ok to use ppt standard themes for this purpose (copyright) since ppt is meant to be used in public??

    • Susan Fleming

      I’m not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV, but it would seem reasonable since you are not selling it that it would be okay to use what you generate with the themes provided by Microsoft when you purchased the product. I’m sure, however, that they have that covered in their Terms of Service, so I would definitely advise checking on that. Great question!

  4. Pam Taylor

    I love that you enjoy teaching us how to create things for our blogs, FB, etc. But my preference personally is for you to do it FOR me. I am so grateful for my VA (Virtual Assistant) Susan Fleming! ๐Ÿ™‚ I now have more time to do the parts of the business that I LOVE!

  5. Lisa Thompson

    Oh so glad you liked my demo idea Susan! I tried it on a pic of me … it took off my blue shirt and left my black jacket … LOL! Love all your tips!