Methods to add a flashing star to a PowerPoint slide

So as to add a bit of enjoyable to a Microsoft PowerPoint slide, mix a couple of animations to a star form to create a flashing star.

You’ve in all probability seen the gum industrial by which enamel are so shiny that they flash stars when the particular person smiles. It’s a enjoyable impact, and also you create it in Microsoft PowerPoint utilizing a couple of timed animations with one star form. When you add a star, you may need to add extra—though, one is actually sufficient. Extra stars simply add to the enjoyable. On this article, I’ll present you how one can add one star that hangs round for a second or two after which disappears. In a future article, I’ll present you how one can add a number of flashing stars.

SEE: Workplace 365: A information for tech and enterprise leaders (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

I’m utilizing Microsoft 365 on a Home windows 10 64-bit system. I like to recommend that you simply maintain off on upgrading to Home windows 11 till all of the kinks are labored out. To your comfort, you may obtain the .pptx and .ppt demonstration recordsdata. This text isn’t applicable for the net.

Collect the items

To keep away from copyright infringement, we’ll use an illustration from Microsoft 365’s Image possibility. Then, we’ll insert a four-pointed star. That’s all you’ll want. Utilizing Determine A as a information, obtain that toothy unicorn right into a clean slide:

1. Click on the Insert tab, click on Photos within the Photographs group, and select Inventory Photographs from the dropdown.
2. Within the ensuing dialog, click on Stickers within the menu, after which enter the search time period, smile.
3. Click on the unicorn (Determine B) after which click on Insert to insert the sticker into the clean slide.
4. The background is darkish blue so you may see the star animations simpler. It isn’t vital that you simply take these things, however if you wish to, right-click the background of the slide and select Format Background. Within the Format Background pane, select a darkish contrasting coloration from the Shade dropdown.

Determine A

Determine B

Subsequent, insert the four-point star as follows:

1. On the Insert tab, click on Shapes within the Illustrations group.
2. From the Stars and Banners part, click on the four-point star.
3. Click on contained in the slide and drag to dimension. Drag to place the star partially over the enamel (Determine A). Use the rotation deal with to show the star a bit to the left or the correct to provide it a little bit of character.
4. With the star chosen, click on the contextual Form Format tab.
5. From the Form Fill (within the Form Kinds group) dropdown, select white.
6. From the Form Define dropdown, select a vivid orange that appears a bit like gold.
7. With a darkish background, you don’t want the define—you may attempt it each methods and see which you like. From the Form Define dropdown, select Weight after which 2 ¼ pt (Determine C).

Determine C

After you have the 2 items so as, you may add the animations. We’ll add three timed animations to the star.

Methods to animate the star in your PowerPoint slide

We would like the star to look, appear to develop and alter colours a bit after which disappear with a little bit of flare. We are able to full this with three timed animations, all to the star. The animation timings will management when and the way the three animations seem and disappear.

So as to add the primary animation, the one which shows the star, do the next:

1. Click on the Animations tab and select Seem from the Animation gallery within the Animation group. You might have to click on the Extra button and select it from the Entrance part.
2. Within the Timing group, select With Earlier from the Begin dropdown. Enter .50 because the Period setting. Enter 00 because the Delay setting.

These settings set a one-second delay from the time you present the slide earlier than the star seems. As well as, PowerPoint takes practically a full second to show the complete star. This a part of the animation is versatile as a result of you may change the timing to suit into your dialogue. You may enhance the delay or change With Earlier to On Click on so the animation begins instantly.

The second animation shows a slight pulse and adjustments the star’s coloration. Let’s add that subsequent:

1. With the star nonetheless chosen, click on the Add Animation dropdown within the Superior Animation and select Shade Pulse within the Emphasis group.
2. From the Impact Choices dropdown (within the Animation group), select orange—once more, one that appears like gold. Now, the star will pulse a bit between white and “gold.”
3. Within the Timing group, select After Earlier from the Begin dropdown.
4. Enter 50 because the Period setting.
5. Enter 00 because the Delay setting (if vital).

This animation will begin after the doorway impact (above) is full. Over nearly two seconds, the star will pulse and alter colours between white and orange.

We’ve one final animation so as to add—one which removes the star:

1. With the star nonetheless chosen, click on the Add Animation possibility and select Shrink & Flip from the Exit part.
2. Within the Timing group, select After Earlier from the Begin dropdown.
3. Enter .50 because the Period setting and 00 because the Delay setting, if vital.

Though, you may’t see the complete impact of all three animations in a nonetheless determine, Determine D exhibits a couple of stills so you will get the concept of what you must see if you click on F5 to see the present.

Determine D

More often than not settings are sluggish, which I did on goal so you may simply see all of the transitions. When making use of this to your individual slide, you may velocity issues up or sluggish issues down, or you may even use a distinct star.

Keep tuned

This enjoyable animation is easy and versatile. In a future article, I’ll present you how one can add a number of stars, flashing randomly.