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Here are creative ideas for layering effect in PowerPoint. Apply this useful technique to create some interesting visual effects for your business presentations.
Quick word about layering in PowerPoint:
Layering is a technique used predominantly in video production. The technique is used to create visual effects like – double rolls, ghost scenes etc.
When you overlay one object over the other on a slide – it is referred to as ‘Layering’ in PowerPoint. There are some useful applications of this technique in business presentations. We will discuss a few in this article.
Apply partial ‘recolor’ effect to a photo
Take a look at the following picture:
The flower buds in the picture seem to be in true color while the rest of the picture is in ‘blue tone’. Here is how we achieved the effect:
- First, we created a rectangle with a circular hole by placing a circle shape inside a rectangle and applying ‘Shape subtract’ option in PowerPoint 2010.
- We then filled the new shape with the picture of flowers.
- We applied ‘Recolor’ option to the image to get the blue tint.
- We then overlaid this image on top of the original picture to the get the result you saw above.
Tip: To learn more about this technique, please refer to ‘Picture layering technique in PowerPoint 2010’.
Create interesting text effect in PowerPoint
Take a look at the text below:
The letters of the word ‘Beach’ seem to be filled with the image of a beach. Here is how we achieved the effect of layering in PowerPoint:
- We wrote the word ‘BEACH’ on a white rectangle
- We selected both the rectangle and the text while holding the ‘Shift’ tab and ‘Cut’ them
- We then pasted them back as PNG image using ‘Paste special’ option
- We removed the black letters using ‘Set transparent color’ option. This gave us a white rectangle with ‘BEACH’ punched out as a hole
- We stuck the picture of a beach at the background
Tip: To learn more about this technique, please follow the article –’Transparent text in PowerPoint 2007’
Erase part of a picture
Let us say, you want to remove the upper row of singers in the following choir:
You can’t use the ‘Crop’ tool because the tool will cut portions of the first row members too. A simple solution is, to draw a freeform shape covering the unwanted parts of the clipart and fill it with the color of the slide background.
Create designer charts
Take a look at the following pie chart which uses layering in PowerPoint:
Instead of presenting the same old boring pie charts, you can use ‘designer pie charts’ in your business presentations. All you need to do is, to overlay the chart with a ‘Donut’ shape from auto shapes menu and fill it with a gradient preset.
Tip: To learn more about this technique, please refer to the tutorial on creating Designer PowerPoint Pie charts.
Let your icons shine
Take a look at the icon of a shining globe here:
We achieved the sheen on the object by overlaying a 3D transparent sphere on a flat 2D image as shown below:
Smarter option for Business Presenters
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