Animation Basics in PowerPoint

An animation is a visual effect applied to an object on a slide. It controls how that object appears, moves, receives emphasis, or disappears during a presentation.

Example: Make a heading appear before the paragraph below it.

The Animations tab is available on the PowerPoint ribbon. Select an object first, then open this tab to apply animation effects and configure their timing.

1. Open your PowerPoint presentation.
2. Select a text box, image, or shape.
3. Click the Animations tab.
4. Choose an animation effect.

Entrance animations control how an object first appears on a slide.

• Appear: Displays the object immediately when triggered.
• Fade: Makes the object gradually visible.
• Fly In: Brings the object onto the slide from a direction.
• Zoom: Makes the object appear with a zoom effect.

Use: Reveal a title, bullet point, or image.

Emphasis animations highlight an object that is already visible on the slide.

• Pulse: Briefly emphasizes an object.
• Spin: Rotates an object.
• Grow/Shrink: Changes the object's size.
• Teeter: Makes an object tilt from side to side.

Example: Apply a Pulse effect to an important figure.

Exit animations control how an object disappears from a slide.

• Disappear: Removes the object from view.
• Fade: Gradually makes the object invisible.
• Fly Out: Moves the object off the slide.
• Zoom: Can make an object shrink away, depending on the selected effect.

Example: Make an old point disappear before showing the next point.

Motion paths move an object along a specified path on a slide. Depending on the available options, you can use preset paths or draw a custom path.

Examples:

• Move a car from left to right.
• Move an arrow along a process diagram.
• Move an icon along a curved path.

1. Select the object you want to animate.
2. Open the Animations tab.
3. Choose an effect from the animation gallery.
4. Click Preview to see the effect.
5. Adjust the effect options if necessary.
6. Save your presentation.

PowerPoint provides three common start options:

• On Click: Starts when you click during the presentation.
• With Previous: Starts at the same time as the previous animation.
• After Previous: Starts automatically after the previous animation finishes.

These options help you control the order and timing of animated objects.

Duration determines how long an animation effect takes to complete.

• A shorter duration creates a faster effect.
• A longer duration creates a slower effect.

Example: A duration of 2 seconds makes an animation take approximately two seconds to complete.

The exact result also depends on the animation effect you choose.

Delay specifies how long PowerPoint waits before starting an animation after its trigger condition is met.

Example: Set a delay of 3 seconds to make a picture appear three seconds after its animation is triggered.

Delay is useful when you want objects to appear in a planned sequence.

The Animation Pane displays the animations applied to objects on the current slide.

You can use it to:

• View the animation sequence.
• Change the order of animations.
• Adjust timing and delay.
• Open effect options.
• Remove an animation.

Open it from the Animations tab by selecting Animation Pane.

Previewing lets you check an animation before presenting your slides.

1. Select the animated object.
2. Open the Animations tab.
3. Click Preview, if available.
4. Check the effect, speed, and order.

Run the slide show as well to test click-based and automatic animations.

To remove an animation from an object:

1. Select the animated object.
2. Open the Animations tab.
3. Select None from the animation gallery.

You can also select the animation in the Animation Pane and delete it. Be careful to remove the animation effect, not the object itself.

Create a presentation with one slide containing a title, paragraph, and picture. Then complete these tasks:

1. Apply Fade to the title.
2. Apply Fly In to the paragraph.
3. Apply Zoom to the picture.
4. Set different start options for the objects.
5. Adjust duration and delay.
6. Open the Animation Pane and change the order.
7. Run the slide show and test the results.