Emphasizing specific information is an like shooting fish in a barrel way to draw attending to information technology. You could merely say, "Profits are up past thirteen%," but highlighting the value in a table or graph is more meaningful. Because so much of our text is black on white, applying color is an easy and constructive mode to draw attention to specific pieces of data. I'll show you three creative and easy ways to use color to emphasize information in Microsoft PowerPoint.

I'thou using (desktop) Office 365 on a Windows 10 64-fleck system, but all of these methods will piece of work in before versions. Y'all tin can work with your own information or download the .pptx and .ppt sit-in files. This commodity assumes y'all accept bones PowerPoint skills. The Brush Color entrance effect isn't available in the browser.

Larn More than: Office 365 Consumer pricing and features

How to apply a moving highlight in Microsoft PowerPoint

When it comes to emphasizing data momentarily, mayhap nothing is more effective or familiar than a highlight. Viewers are used to seeing this kind of visual pinpointing, so it's friendly and not-intrusive. You can employ this highlighting in Microsoft PowerPoint to emphasize all data at dissimilar times or to highlight a single detail.

Figure A shows a highlighted item in PowerPoint. Although you can't run into the movement in the figure, the highlight moves from left to right. To implement this technique, follow these steps.

  1. Draw a rectangle over the outset line of text, "Lose weight." To do and so, click the Insert tab and choose Rectangle from the Shapes dropdown in the Illustrations group. You could utilize this technique to emphasize a word or phrase past limiting the rectangle's size and position. For our purposes, cover the unabridged text.

  2. Right-click the rectangle and choose Send To Back from the resulting submenu.

  3. With the rectangle selected, choose yellow from the Shape Fill dropdown; choose no outline from the Shape Outline dropdown. Both options are in the Shape Styles group on the contextual Shape Format tab.

  4. With the formatted rectangle selected, click the Animations tab.

  5. In the Animation gallery, click Wipe. If it isn't in the top line, click the More button to the right (circled in Effigy A). You'll find it in the Archway section.

  6. From the Upshot Options dropdown (to the right), choose From Left (Figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

To see the highlight at work, press F5 and click the slide. Printing Esc to return to Normal view. Y'all can utilize whatever shape and any colour–y'all can fifty-fifty utilise this technique to highlight areas in a diagram or graph. If the text isn't as visible every bit you lot like, lower the rectangle's transparency setting.

SEE: 20 pro tips to brand Windows x work the way you desire (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

How to change the font colour in Microsoft PowerPoint

In the first technique, y'all used a colored rectangle to highlight text; we're going to use color again, merely this time, we'll modify the font colour with a moving stroke, like to the highlight. To practice so, select the text, Purge closet, and practise the following:

  1. With the text box selected, click the Animations tab.

  2. Click the animation gallery'southward More button (the dropdown to the right of the gallery) and choose Brush Color in the Accent section (Figure C).

  3. From the Effect Options dropdown, choose vivid red.

Effigy C

Press F5 to run the evidence and click twice to sentry both items. In this case, the font changes from left to right. Press Esc to return to Normal view. Y'all can use any color, but this animation works with the entire text box. If you desire to change the font colour of a unmarried word or phrase, you must apply a carve up text box for that text.

Depending on the colour you choose, this effect tin can really pop.

How to apply a subtle font color modify in Microsoft PowerPoint

The Brush Color effect changes the font colour with move, which might be more than emphasis than you want; if you need a flake more subtlety, employ the Font Colour accent instead. The steps are identical to those in the last section, except for the following:

  1. In step ii, choose Font Color.

  2. In step 3, cull blueish (or whatever colour yous adopt). Retrieve, you're going for subtle.

On-screen, you'll watch the colour change slowly. It'southward impressive and subtle. Figure D shows all three colour changes (without the motion, of course).

Figure D

Stay tuned for more Microsoft PowerPoint tips

If you desire viewers of your PowerPoint presentation to remember something, find a manner to emphasize it. We used color to emphasize text. In a future article, nosotros'll explore more than advanced techniques for emphasizing information.

How do you utilize colour to impact your audience? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Ship me your Microsoft Part questions

I reply readers' questions when I can, but there'southward no guarantee. Don't send files unless requested; initial requests for assistance that go far with attached files will exist deleted unread. You lot tin can send screenshots of your data to help clarify your question. When contacting me, be as specific as possible. For example, "Please troubleshoot my workbook and set what's wrong" probably won't go a response, only "Can you tell me why this formula isn't returning the expected results?" might. Please mention the app and version that you're using. I'one thousand not reimbursed by TechRepublic for my fourth dimension or expertise when helping readers, nor do I ask for a fee from readers I aid. Y'all can contact me at susansalesharkins@gmail.com.