PowerPoint 2010 Tips

  • To create a picture slide show, you can insert several pictures at once by using the Photo Album tool on the Insert menu. 
  • Double click a picture to automatically bring up the Picture Tools Menu. Use the Color option (to the left) to use features such as Washout, which fades the picture a little so text is easier to read. 
  • Use the Design menu to choose a template. Scroll your mouse over the options to preview them.
  • Don’t forget to use the small arrows and scroll bars on the menus at the top to see more options. 
  • To insert a new slide, right click where you want the slide on the preview pane on the left. You can also change the order of slides by selecting and dragging them. 
  • Add clipart by using the Clipart tool on the Insert menu. Double click the clipart to bring up the Picture Tool to edit. 
  • Insert a text box from the Insert menu. Double click to bring up the Format menu. You can change the shape of the text box and the way the text looks from this menu. 
  • To animate a text box, highlight the textbox and choose the Animations menu. 
  • To change the transitions between slides, use the Transitions menu. You can preview the transition by scrolling your mouse over the boxes at the top. Click Apply to All on the Transitions menu to make one transition apply to every slide. 
  • Make slides advance automatically by choosing After on the far right of the Transitions menu. Type in the number of seconds you want the slide to display. Choose Apply to All if you want each slide to display that number of seconds. 
  • To create a background that applies to all slides, go to the "View" menu, choose "Slide Master," then click the arrow next to "Background." On the "Fill" menu, choose "Picture or texture fill." To insert a picture, choose "Insert from file" and then apply to all.  
  • Press F5 to automatically start the slideshow and preview any changes. 

Adding Music
  • IMPORTANT: Any music file (mp3, wav, etc.) MUST be saved in the same folder as the powerpoint and THEN inserted into the presentation. Music files are only linked, not embedded. 
  • Add music by clicking on the Audio button from the Insert menu. It works best to choose Audio from File and add your own file (such as an mp3) or the sample music in the Music folder on your computer. 
  • To make the music play throughout your slideshow, use the Audio Tools menu. Choose the Playback tab. Change the Start drop-down menu from "On Click" to "Automatically Across Slides." 
  • If you want to add more than one song to a powerpoint, edit the first song to the desired length. Add it to your powerpoint, and then add the second song onto the slide where you want it to start. 
  • To hide the sound icon while the show is playing, click Hide During Show on the Audio Tools: Playback menu.  
  • To adjust the volume of just the music, click on the sound icon and choose the Audio Tools: Playback menu. Click the arrow underneath "Volume" and choose the best setting. 
  • If you drop the powerpoint into your teacher's inbox, you MUST include both the powerpoint file AND any music files. 

Adding Your Voice
  • You can check out a headset with microphone in the media center. 
  • You can record yourself talking by going to the "Slideshow" menu and choosing "Record Narration." 
  • Choose to "Set Microphone Level" so that your voice records at an appropriate volume. 
  • Back on the "Record Narration" window, click "OK." Begin speaking. You narration will be attached to that slide. 
  • Click the Escape button when you are done recording. 
  • Repeat for each slide you want narration.
  • NOTE: If you go to "Insert" and choose "Sound," then "Record Sound," and record yourself speaking, you will NOT be able to hear your voice AND any music you insert at the same time. Powerpoint will not play two sounds at the same time - only sound and narration. 
  • To adjust the volume of just the narration, click on the sound icon and choose the "Sound Tools" menu. Click the arrow next to "Sound Options" and adjust the volume. 

Merging two Powerpoints
  • Open one of the Powerpoint files. Click the down arrow next to "Insert Slide."
  • At the bottom of the window, click "Reuse Slides."
  • On the right side menu, browse to find the other Powerpoint and click on the slides you want. 
  • NOTE: To keep the formatting of the inserted Powerpoint, click "Keep Source Formatting" before adding those slides. It's at the bottom of the menu on the right side. 

Turning it in
  • If you drop the powerpoint into your teacher's inbox, you MUST include both the powerpoint file AND any music files. 
  • If you are turning the powerpoint in on a CD, choose the "Publish" feature from the ribbon button. Then choose "Publish to CD." This will burn the powerpoint and any linked files (such as music).
  • If you are turning the powerpoint in on a flash drive, choose the "Publish" feature from the ribbon button. Then choose "Copy to Folder" and navigate to find your flash drive. This will save all linked files (such as music.)