Because your audience can read 30 times faster than you talk. they'll scan ahead if you show all your bullet points at the same time; then tune out. Unless you display them one-at-a-time.

Keeping audiences tuned in:
Animating text in PowerPoint

Here's a step-by-step guide to animating bullet points, one-at-a-time.

We'll also show you how to diminish the color of each point so you audience
only sees what you're discussing.

Learn more with a hands-on PowerPoint Master Class.
Would you like to know more?

< back to PowerPoint tips

> Display the text slide
 in Normal view (full size)

1 - Highlight the textbox you wish to animate.

2 - Open the Custom Animation window

In PowerPoint 2003: From the Slide Show pull down menu, click Custom Animation.

In PowerPoint 2007, click the Animation tab at the top; then click the Custom Animation box to the right of Preview (see below.

3 - The Custom Animation window appears
to the right of your slide.

> Entrances make text appear

When you click the Add Effects box,
PowerPoint asks you what kind of animation you wish to create:

> Entrance is how text will first appear.
> Emphasis option changes the text
   AFTER it appears.
> Exit is how you make text disappear.

The white "Motion Paths" are often used to move objects and images after they appear.

Pick an Effect; PowerPoint will automatically preview it on your slide.

Notice that the new animation now appears in your animation window with a mouse icon.
(For this example, we chose Ascend.)

> Customizing the animation

The "(1) Object2: Golden P..." (highlighted
in a box below the Speed) now appears
in the window to tell you that all bullet points will appear at once when you click the mouse.

But we want to animate each separately.

Click the down arrow on the right side
to display the following options (blue box).

> Start On Click requires a mouse click.

> Start With Previous joins 2 or more
   animation functions.

> Start After Previous waits for the
   previous animation to conclude

> Effect Options allow you to separate
   the bullets and time their appearance.

> Timing is provided in the Effect window.

> (Show Advanced Timeline not addressed.)

> Remove deletes the animation entirely.

Click Effect Options.

^  top  | question?

> To animate EACH bullet
    to appear separately

Under the Text Animation tab,  click
1st level paragraphs. A gray bar appears
under the animation with a down arrow
on the left. Click it and the 4 bullets
will appear in sequence as they appear
on the slide. (#3 in the first image above.)

Tip: You can change the order of display
by highlighting one of the bullets,
and clicking the Re-order arrows
at the bottom of the animation window

Under Effect tab, After animation, change
the "Don't Dim" to a lighter color (such as medium gray; see the image below under "Eliminating the double click" topic below)
by clicking the down arrow.

Select a color (a medium gray is often best).

Under Timing tab, keep the "On click"
start option, but reduce the speed to either Fast or Medium (Very Fast seems too fast
for the eye).

You can display your slide and each bullet point will come up with a click of the mouse.

^  top  | question?

> Eliminating a double click
   on the final bullet point

You've now got each of the 4 bullets to change to gray when the next bullet is displayed.

But that also means the final bullet will change to gray too. Let's remove the double click
needed to advance to the next slide.

As shown below, highlight only the final bullet on the slide (top blue arrow). Use the down arrow to access the Effects window, and change the "After animation" color to
"Don't Dim" (bottom arrow below).

Congratulations!

Now the first 3 bullets will change to gray EXCEPT the "Revenue Forecast."
When you click after the final bullet, you'll advance to the next slide.

The fun in PowerPoint is experimenting with the various Entrance, Emphasis, Exit,
and Motion paths to enhance and keep audiences focused on the point you're making.

In PowerPoint, all animation and slide transitions are purposeful. The effect should aid readability and comprehension.

Click here for more animation techniques.

^  top  | question?

© 2010 Steve Toms.  All materials posted on the webpage are for educational purposes,
intended for the exclusive use of Steve Toms' clients and students.