transitions for powerpoint presentation

How to make sensational slide transitions in PowerPoint

• Written by: Kate McGrady
• Categories: PowerPoint design

Underwhelmed by the built-in slide transitions in PowerPoint? Or just completely baffled? PowerPoint has almost 50 transitions to choose from. A few of them are tasteful, like the classic Fade or a personal favorite— Push . But many of them are rather strange; the famous Origami folds your slide into a paper crane which turns out to be living and flies off screen, revealing the next slide and distracting your audience for the next few minutes as they ponder your poor transition choices instead of your stellar content.

Credit where it’s due, PowerPoint does subtle transitions well. But on the other end of the spectrum PowerPoint’s “exciting” transitions are downright cheesy and, for most use cases, distracting. PowerPoint lacks solid options in between. When you want to impress your audience, transitioning between an intro slide and a key slide, like a value proposition stating what you can offer a potential customer, adding a slick transition provides that extra polish and that illusive it-doesn’t-even-look-like-PowerPoint quality. We’re hoping slide transitions in PowerPoint get slicker in the future, but until that happens, we’re using this DIY method to add good-looking transitions in ourselves. Take a look at this smooth, colorful transition we built between an agenda slide and the first slide of the deck.

First, let’s set some ground rules. This DIY method to creating slide transitions in PowerPoint is easier to implement while you’re building out your slides. It’s still doable if you have a fully designed deck that you want to spruce up, but it’ll be easier if you add the transitions in while you’re building the slides first time round.

• Once you’ve built your first slide, start by duplicating Right click the slide in the side panel > Duplicate
• Click on the duplicated slide and group all objects together CTRL + A to select everything on the slide and CTRL + G to group it

This will be your bottom layer, and you’ll create the transition on top of it

• On the second slide, draw several rectangles the width of the slide. Make them different heights for a distinct look.

• Recolor the rectangles to colors from your template or brand guidelines and remove the default outline if there is one.
• Next, let’s animate! The Fly in animation works well for this transition. Select each of the rectangles, apply the Fly in animation from the Animation tab, and under the Effect options , set to come in from the left.
• If you haven’t opened your Animation pane yet, now’s a good time to! On the Animation tab, about halfway down the ribbon you’ll see a green icon labeled Animation pane . This will give you a more detailed timeline of when your animations are happening. In the Animation pane, hold down Shift and select all of the animations then Right Click > Effect Options.
• In the pop-up box, slide the Smooth End slider all the way to the right and click OK . This will make the animations a little sleeker

• Now you’re going to stagger the entrance of each rectangle. Above the Animation pane are a few options for timing animations. The box labelled Delay allows you to manually enter the time you want your animation to start. Select the first animation in your list and in the delay box type .1 Select the second animation in the list and type .2 , and so on and so forth with the rest of the animations. Click Play all to see your handiwork in action!

This process can be a bit time consuming, especially if you have lots of objects to animate. Our free PowerPoint add-in, BrightSlide , has a brilliant Waterfall Delay tool that allows you to add a cascading waterfall delay to all animations applied to selected objects. Simply select all your objects, add an animation, then select Waterfall Delay in the BrightSlide tab. Our handy add-in automatically staggers your animations for a smooth, professional look. Settings give you control over timings and which animations the effect applies to.

• Select all of the rectangles and Copy then Paste them onto the same slide. Next, recolor all of the new rectangles to white (or if the color of your slide background if it is different). These rectangles will build on top of the colorful rectangles, creating a clean slate for the content on your next slide. Move the rectangles in line with the color rectangles below them.
• Take a look at the Animation pane again. You’ll see that the animations were copied over as well. Now you just need to adjust the delay on them. Select the top white rectangle, and this time, start with a .5 second delay. Then a .6 second delay for the next rectangle, and so on. When you’re finished, your Animation pane should look like this:

• There’s your transition done! All that’s left is to build out the rest of your slide on top of the beautiful transition you just built.

If you change up the shapes, the same concept can be used to create many different slide transitions in PowerPoint.  What can you come up with?

There are some fantastic tutorials for creating slide transitions in PowerPoint on YouTube if you are eager for more. And if you want to learn more PowerPoint wizardry, check out our bank of PowerPoint design blog posts .

Kate McGrady

Managing design consultant, related articles, how to make an infographic in powerpoint.

• PowerPoint design / Visual communication
• Comments: 2

The use of infographic is on the rise, however if you're not a graphic designer, or you don't have the budget for one, turning raw data into something visual can be a daunting task. This guide will show you that creating a beautifully visual infographic in PowerPoint is much easier than you think.

A beginner’s guide to PowerPoint’s morph transition

• PowerPoint design / PowerPoint animation / Presentation technology

For those of you with PowerPoint 2016 and an Office 365 subscription, you may have noticed that the latest update bestowed upon you a new transition—Morph. Though unassuming, this feature possesses great power. Let's take a look at what it can do.

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BrightCarbon has created several animations for us. The result was always the same: a very clear “wow” effect. I highly recommend BrightCarbon for making complex topics come to life on screen! Isabel Figge Intergraph

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2 Easy Ways to Add Transitions to a PowerPoint Presentation

Last Updated: November 29, 2023 Fact Checked

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This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 213,632 times. Learn more...

Is your PowerPoint presentation boring? Spice it up by adding transitions between your slides! Slide transitions are effects that happen when you move from one slide to the next during a presentation and can make your presentation a little more interesting. This wikiHow article shows you how to add transitions to PowerPoint on your PC or Mac, and using the mobile app using an Android, iPhone, or iPad.

Things You Should Know

• Add a transition from one slide to another by selecting an option from the "Transition" tab.
• Click or tap "Apply to all" if you want that transition to appear on every slide throughout your presentation.
• If you don't apply a single transition to all your slides, you can use different ones on each slide.

• Click a transition to see a preview of it.
• For example, if you have slide 3 picked and choose a "Fade" transition, slide 2 will fade out to reveal slide 3.

• There is also "Sound" so you can set a specific sound to that transition and "Duration" so you can adjust how long the transition effects last.

• If you want to remove a transition, click None under the Transitions tab. Repeat this and click Apply to all to remove all the transitions in your presentation. [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
• Slides that have a transition display a star icon in the slide panel.

• This method works for Android, iPhone, and iPad.

• If you're using a phone, tap the "Edit" icon (it looks like an "A" next to a pencil) at the top of your screen, then tap Home and Transitions .

• If you want to remove a transition, tap None under the Transitions tab. Repeat this and tap Apply to all to remove all the transitions in your presentation. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source

Community Q&A

• Use transitions that fit the tone of your presentation. If you are creating a professional slideshow to show your boss, adding goofy effects or excessive and irrelevant sounds will take away from your presentation. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• You do not have to add a transition between every slide in order to create a flowing outcome. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Once you save your presentation and download it , the transitions that you've applied will also download with the PowerPoint. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-change-or-remove-transitions-between-slides-3f8244bf-f893-4efd-a7eb-3a4845c9c971#OfficeVersion=Windows
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-change-or-remove-transitions-between-slides-3f8244bf-f893-4efd-a7eb-3a4845c9c971#OfficeVersion=Android

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How to Add Animations and Transitions in PowerPoint

In this tutorial, you’ll learn the basics of adding animations and transitions to your presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint. These visual effects will help you make your slides more dynamic and will keep your audience engage.

Adding an Animation to a Text, an Image, a Shape or Other Elements of a Presentation

Adding transitions to a slide.

• Select the object that you want to animate.
• Click the Animations tab.
• Select the animation that you want from the list.
• If you want to see which animations are applied to an object, click Animation Pane. You can also rearrange the animations as you see fit.
• Use the timing options to set the timing of the animation. You can choose when you want the animation to start: on click, with previous or after previous. You can also set the duration and even set a delay before the animation begins.

• Select the slide you want to apply a transition to.
• Click the Transitions tab.
• After you select any transition from the list, you’ll see a preview of the resulting effect.
• If you want to adjust the direction of the effect, among other settings, click the Effect Options drop-down arrow.

• To remove a transition, on the Transitions tab, click None.

• You can change the animations or transitions at any time. To do so, select the animated object or the slide with a transition applied to it and choose a different option from the list.

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Mastering Slide Transitions in PowerPoint Presentations

Matthew Chase

Slide transitions are not simply eye candy; they’re vital factors in PowerPoint that keep your audience hooked and beautify the interpretation of your message. Throughout this text, we’ll explore the importance of slide transitions and provide sensible insights that will help you master them successfully, whether you are a scholar gearing up for a conference presentation or a professional preparing for an enterprise pitch.

Understanding Slide Transitions

Slide transitions are the special elements that smoothly navigate your audience from one slide to the subsequent one for the duration of a presentation. They serve diverse purposes, along with signaling a topic shift, emphasizing key points, or including visual emphasis . In PowerPoint, you have a plethora of transition alternatives at your disposal, including functional entry and exit animations, emphasis transitions, and motion paths, every presenting unique approaches to engage your audience.

Best Practices for Using Slide Transitions

To make the most of slide transitions, it is critical to adhere to certain nice practices. First and fundamental, make certain that your transitions align with the tone and content material of your presentation. Avoid the temptation to head overboard with flashy elements; as an alternative, choose smooth transitions that will improve the overall presentation and coherence of your slides. Timing is also key — pairing transitions with your speech to keep your speech flowing and engaging.

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying Slide Transitions

Applying slide transitions in PowerPoint is a straightforward process, but it requires careful consideration to ensure they enhance rather than detract from your presentation. Here’s a comprehensive step-by-step guide to help you navigate the transition settings with ease:

• Access the transitions menu: Start by navigating to the “Transitions” tab in PowerPoint, where you’ll find a range of effects to choose from.
• Choose the appropriate transition for each slide: Consider factors such as the slide’s content and your presentation style when selecting transitions.
• Adjust transition settings: Customize transitions by adjusting settings like speed and direction to achieve the desired effect.
• Preview transitions: Before applying transitions to your entire presentation, preview them to ensure they align seamlessly with your content and presentation style.
• Apply transitions: Once you’re satisfied with your selections, apply transitions to individual slides or the entire presentation.

By following these steps thoughtfully and strategically, you can effectively apply slide transitions that elevate the flow, engagement, and overall impact of your PowerPoint presentation. Remember, the goal is not just to impress your audience with flashy effects, but to enhance their understanding and retention of your message.

Tips for Mastering Slide Transitions

Experimentation is key to getting to mastering slide transitions . Try out combinations of effects of outcomes to see what works best for your presentation. Consider incorporating sound elements and other multimedia accents to multiply the impact of your transitions. Use transitions strategically to emphasize key points or signal transitions between subjects, however, avoid overusing them, as this may distract out from your message. Finally, rehearse your presentation with transitions to ensure a polished and seamless delivery.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One commonplace mistake when the use of slide transitions is overdoing it with flashy or gimmicky effects. While transitions can increase visual interest, too many can weigh down your target audience and detract from your message. It’s additionally important to maintain coherence and flow during your presentation — pick transitions that complement your content in place of detracting from it. Don’t forget your target audience’s preferences and expectations, and make sure to rehearse transitions alongside your presentation content material to iron out any misunderstandings.

Mastering slide transitions is a crucial skill for each person trying to deliver engaging and impactful PowerPoint presentations. By following the suggestions and pointers mentioned in this article, you can increase your presentation abilities and leave an enduring impression on your audience. Remember to rehearse and experiment with special transitions to find what works exceptionally for you, and always strive to incorporate them seamlessly into your performance for optimum impact.

Written by Matthew Chase

I'm Matthew, the author of a blog with tips on how to create effective PowerPoint presentations. I want my readers to improve their academic skills.

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• Presentation Design

Creating Stunning Slide Transitions and Animations in PowerPoint

Introduction.

In this blog, we will explore the world of slide transitions and animations in PowerPoint. We will showcase the range of effects available and provide you with guidance on how to strategically use them to engage and captivate your audience. At Slide Marvels, we believe that well-executed slide transitions and animations can elevate your presentations to a whole new level of impact and professionalism.

The Power of Slide Transitions

Enhancing content with animation, timing and duration, customizing and fine-tuning effects, balancing visual appeal and professionalism, practice and rehearsal.

Slide transitions in PowerPoint have the power to elevate presentations by adding visual appeal, emphasis, and engagement. When used thoughtfully, they can create a smooth flow between slides, guide the audience’s attention, and enhance storytelling. With various effects like fades, splits, and zooms, presenters can highlight comparisons, symbolize concepts, and maintain a rhythm that captivates the audience.

Visually appealing transitions, like “ fade-in ,” gradually unveil information, building anticipation and preventing distractions. By contrasting content with “ split ” transitions, complex ideas become clearer. Proper timing ensures a steady pace and maintains audience focus, while smooth transitions exude professionalism and credibility.

Moreover, slide transitions offer creative opportunities, with visual metaphors like “ dissolve ” representing change and “ wipe ” indicating a fresh start. Interactive transitions, such as “ fly-in ,” encourage audience participation, keeping them engaged.

However, moderation is key. Overusing flashy transitions can distract and hinder accessibility for certain audience members. Striking a balance ensures all participants can enjoy the presentation.

In collaborative settings, transitions facilitate seamless handovers between presenters and topic changes, preventing interruptions. Additionally, well-implemented transitions can prevent monotony, keeping the audience attentive and interested.

Animation in PowerPoint refers to the dynamic movement of text, images, shapes, and other elements within a presentation. It allows presenters to add visual effects, transitions, and interactive elements to their slides, making the presentation more engaging and compelling for the audience. PowerPoint offers a wide range of animation features that can be applied to individual elements or entire slides, each serving a specific purpose in enhancing the overall content and delivery.

Types of Animations in PowerPoint

Entrance Animations: These animations control how elements appear on the slide. Common entrance animations include “ fade-in ,” “ fly-in ,” and “ zoom ,” which gradually reveal content, adding a sense of anticipation and drawing the audience’s attention.

Exit Animations: Exit animations determine how elements disappear from the slide. They are useful for removing content after it has been presented, ensuring a clear and concise flow of information.

Emphasis Animations: Emphasis animations enable presenters to add effects like “ bold flash ” or “ pulse ” to highlight specific elements. These animations draw attention to essential points and make the content stand out.

Motion Path Animations: Motion path animations allow presenters to define a custom path for an element to follow on the slide. This type of animation is particularly useful for showing processes, movements, or guiding the audience’s focus.

Transition Animations: Transition animations control the movement between slides. Options include “ fade ,” “ slide ,” and “ cut ,” providing a seamless transition from one slide to the next.

How Animation Works in PowerPoint

To apply animations in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

• Select an Element: Click on the element (text box, image, shape, etc.) you want to animate. You can also select multiple elements if you want them to animate together.
• Access the Animation Pane: Go to the “Animations” tab on the PowerPoint ribbon and click “Animation Pane.” The Animation Pane will appear on the right side of the screen, displaying a list of animations applied to the slide elements.
• Choose an Animation: From the “Animations” tab, select the desired animation from the available options. PowerPoint provides various animations categorized by entrance, exit, emphasis, and motion path.
• Adjust Animation Settings: Customize the animation by clicking on the animation entry in the Animation Pane. You can adjust the duration, delay, and trigger settings to control when and how the animation occurs.
• Preview Animations: Before finalizing the animation, use the “Preview” feature to see how it will look during the presentation. This helps in fine-tuning the animations to ensure they align with the presenter’s goals.
• Add Slide Transitions: For slide transitions, go to the “Transitions” tab and select the preferred transition effect. Adjust the transition settings, such as timing and sound, to suit the presentation style.
• Apply to Multiple Slides: If desired, apply the same animation or transition to multiple slides by selecting the slides in the “Slide Sorter” view, and then applying the desired effect.
• Play the Presentation: Save your work and run the presentation to see the animations and transitions in action. During the presentation, click or use arrow keys to advance the slides and trigger animations.

Tips for Effective Use of Animation

• Use animation sparingly and purposefully to avoid overwhelming the audience.
• Align animations with the presentation’s content and tone.
• Practice the presentation with animations to ensure a smooth and professional delivery.
• Avoid distracting or excessive animation effects that may divert attention from the core message.
• Consider the audience’s preferences and accessibility requirements when using animations.

Timing is crucial in PowerPoint presentations, influencing their impact. Setting the right timing for slide transitions and animations ensures a seamless delivery that engages the audience. Synchronizing animations with your speaking pace creates coherence and connection with listeners. Strategic timing emphasizes key moments, directing attention to essential information. Using entrance animations for critical stats or quotes makes the content more memorable. Employing exit animations for non-essential elements keeps slides clean and focused. A natural flow is achieved through smooth transitions and coordinated animations, guiding the audience logically.

Well-timed presentations help the audience comprehend and retain information better, enhancing overall effectiveness. Mastering timing elevates your communication skills and makes you a more compelling presenter. In conclusion, understanding timing in PowerPoint leads to polished and engaging deliveries, leaving a lasting impression on your audience.

PowerPoint offers a plethora of animation and transition effects to enhance presentations and captivate audiences. However, merely applying default effects may not always align with the unique requirements of your content or the desired presentation style. To create truly impactful presentations, it is essential to customize and fine-tune these effects. In this article, we will explore how to customize animations and transitions in PowerPoint, providing you with the tools to create engaging and personalized presentations that effectively convey your message.

Customizing Animations:

Effect Options: After applying an animation to an element, you can access the “Effect Options” menu to customize its behavior. This feature allows you to control the direction, duration, and delay of the animation, tailoring it to match your presentation’s flow.

Animation Pane: The Animation Pane is a powerful tool that displays all animations applied to the slide. By selecting an animation entry in the pane, you can fine-tune its settings, reorder animations, and manage their timing with precision.

Trigger Animations: Trigger animations allow you to link an animation’s start to a specific action, such as clicking on an object or reaching a certain slide. This enables interactive presentations and gives you more control over when animations play.

Smooth Start and End: Customizing the start and end of animations with “smooth start” and “smooth end” effects creates a more polished appearance. It prevents animations from abruptly appearing or disappearing, contributing to a professional and seamless delivery.

Motion Paths: When using motion path animations, you can adjust the path’s shape, direction, and duration. Experiment with different paths to find the one that best complements the movement you want to depict.

Fine-tuning Transitions:

Transitions Gallery: PowerPoint provides an array of transition effects in the Transitions tab. You can explore various transitions, such as fades, blinds, and pushes, to find the most suitable one for your presentation’s tone.

Duration and Sound: For each transition, you can set the duration, defining how long the transition takes to complete. Additionally, you can add sound effects to transitions, further enhancing the audience’s experience.

Advance Slide Options: In the Transitions tab, you can fine-tune how slides advance, choosing between manual control (clicking to advance) or automatic timing. Adjusting the timing ensures a smooth flow and synchronizes with your narration.

While slide transitions and animations can add visual appeal, it’s important to strike a balance between creativity and professionalism. We’ll discuss best practices for using effects tastefully, avoiding excessive or distracting animations, and ensuring that your presentation maintains a polished and cohesive look.

Incorporating slide transitions and animations requires practice and rehearsal. We’ll provide tips on rehearsing your presentation to ensure that your timing is flawless and your transitions and animations enhance rather than detract from your message. With proper preparation, you can confidently deliver a visually captivating and well-timed presentation.

Consistency: Maintain a consistent style and timing throughout your presentation to avoid distracting the audience.

Subtlety: Use animations and transitions sparingly and subtly to enhance the presentation without overpowering the content.

Relevance: Ensure that every effect serves a purpose and aligns with your presentation’s message and theme.

Practice: Rehearse your presentation with customized effects to ensure a seamless and confident delivery.

Audience Consideration: Tailor your effects with your audience in mind, considering their preferences and accessibility needs.

Conclusion:

Slide transitions and animations in PowerPoint offer a world of possibilities to engage and captivate your audience. By harnessing the power of these effects, you can elevate your presentations from ordinary to extraordinary. At Slide Marvels , we specialize in creating stunning slide transitions and animations that leave a lasting impression. Let us help you bring your presentations to life with our expertise in design and visual effects. Contact us today and unlock the full potential of PowerPoint to create presentations that truly marvel.

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How to use PowerPoint transitions to improve presentations

Your slide show presentation already contains compelling information. However, the finishing touch, the added flair, is the use of transitions.

Even the most confident communicator needs a little help sometimes. PowerPoint is the program to use in order to capture details in a presentation format. Taking advantage of the slide transition options in PowerPoint will develop a flow that helps to keep your audience engaged without distraction. Here's how to get started with transitions.

• Managing slide transitions

Morph transitions

Managing powerpoint slide transitions.

Some may confuse transition and animation effects in PowerPoint. Animation effects in PowerPoint are only applied to objects within the slide whereas transitions are applied to the slide itself. This means that you can have one slide transition effect while the slide can contain multiple animation effects.

How to add a slide transition

To add a PowerPoint transition:

• Click on the slide that is the endpoint of the transition process.
• Click on the Transitions tab in the navigation ribbon.
• In the Transition gallery, click on the More (...) button to view the entire gallery.
• Click on a transition to preview the animation effect.

You will notice that a star icon has been placed next to the slide thumbnail on the left side of the window. This indicates that a transition has been applied. Next to the Transitions gallery, you will also see an Effects Icon command.

If you choose to display all transitions in the gallery, you will see that they are grouped into one of three categories:

• Subtle: This group contains the simplest transition effects. They typically make use of basic motion or animation.
• Exciting: The transitions in this group are more involved than in Subtle. The animations within are typically longer and more complex in nature.
• Dynamic Content: This group provides transitions of a different manner. The animation is applied to the content of the slide, not the background. By using the same background, you can visually link content. Dynamic transitions also work in reverse, if you need to switch back to the previous slide.

How to remove a PowerPoint transition

To delete a transition:

• Click on the slide marked with a star.
• Click on the Transitions tab in the ribbon.
• Select None from the Transitions gallery.

If you want to remove transitions from all slide simultaneously, all slides must be selected before selecting None from the transitions gallery. The easiest way to do this is to use the CTRL + A keyboard shortcut to select all.

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How to modify a PowerPoint transition

To edit transitions:

• Select a transition from the gallery.
• Locate the Timing group.
• Select a sound clip from the Sound drop-down list.
• Specify the duration of the transition animation. Choose between 0.01 and 59 seconds. (Values increase in 0.25-second increments.)
• Choose to advance to the next slide manually (by mouse) or after a specific time has elapsed. This can be increased or decreased in one-second intervals.
• Select Apply To All to create a uniform transition pattern for all slides in the presentation.

Depending on the transitions style that you have chosen, you can also modify the direction in which they move to and from.

If you have an Office 365 account, your organization may have another transition option for you to try. While Morph may seem like an animation nestled within a presentation, it is, in fact, a transition that could increase fluidity between slides. Essentially, you want to make sure that the two slides involved in the transition have at least one comment element, be it an image, title or graph.

How to apply PowerPoint Morph transitions

To add a Morph transition:

• Access the Transition gallery in the Transition tab.
• Select Morph from the Transition Effects group.
• Click the Effect Options next to the Transition Gallery.
• Select the elements you want to work with. (Choose from Objects , Words or Characters .)
• Click Preview to review the Morph transition.

Morph is a handy feature for providing clean animated transitions without having to dip into potentially complex animation components themselves. Here are some examples of what you can accomplish with the Morph command.

How to apply animation-style PowerPoint effects to words

To apply animated word transitions:

• Enter text on a slide.
• Duplicate the slide and text onto another slide.
• Click and hold on the text box of the duplicate slide.
• Use your mouse or trackpad to move the text to its end position.
• Apply any additional alterations to the text such as font size, color or style.
• Click the Transitions tab in the ribbon.
• Select Morph from the Transition gallery.
• Click Effect Options .
• Select Words from the drop-down list.
• Click Preview to review the results.

How to apply animated PowerPoint transitions to images

To add an animated image transition:

• Insert an image onto a slide.
• Duplicate the slide and its contents onto the next slide.
• Apply changes to the image on the duplicate slide. You can drag the corners of the picture to resize, alter the shape or move to another position on the slide.
• Click on the Transitions tab.
• Select Morph from the transitions gallery.
• Click Preview to review.

If you are sharing a presentation containing geographical data, you could use Morph to zoom in on specific locations on a map. Combine this with text transitions and you can create a powerful message without having to use the Animations tab.

How to view transitions in a PowerPoint slideshow

Once your transitions have been applied to the slideshow, you may want to run the presentation to get a sense of the audience experience. You can set up the Slide Show to play at the optimal pace. Your best bet would be to set up the Slide Show to progress automatically.

To change the Slide Show settings:

• Click on Slide Show on the navigation ribbon
• Click Set Up Slide Show in the Set Up group.
• Locate the Advance Slide section.
• Select the Using timings, if present option.

If you set up specific times under Transitions > Timing , you can then sit back and analyze your slide show to see how effective your transitions are. It is important to point out that transitions should compliment the content you are presenting, not distract from it. For a more professional presentation, you should stick with Subtle or Dynamic transitions, as Exciting offers a more fun and casual approach to transitions.

Wrapping up

Content will always be the key component of a fantastic PowerPoint presentation. Transitions are an elegant way to help you and your audience move from slide to slide, without an abrupt visual interruption.

Do you use transitions with your slides? Do you ever use Exciting transitions? Let us know in the comments.

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Advanced PowerPoint Transitions – Slides

Jun 23, 2018 | Articles , DataPoint Real-time Screens

PowerPoint comes with some basic transitions to provide some extra interest and movement as you move from one slide to the next slide in your presentation. But the standard PowerPoint transition effects are overused because everyone has the same transitions. So viewers are really tired of the usual fly in from right, or fade in transition effects because they see them in every presentation. The normal, out-of-the-box PowerPoint transitions between slides have become boring and everyday. To combat this “transition fatigue” problem, we have created a free PowerPoint template with 50 slides containing a variety of advanced PowerPoint transitions you can download.

These advanced PowerPoint transitions are basically professionally designed PowerPoint slides with shapes and animations that you can use to get more powerful, playful transitions. These slides feature bold colors, unusual shapes and large sweeping movements that are rare in regular presentations.

View the video below to see some samples of how the advanced PowerPoint transition slides look.

You often see this type of animation at major television stations. The TV station will show 12 secs of a soap, then a 20 seconds promotion for a talk show, and finally a trailer of a movie. In between they use quick animations to separate the items. This is exactly what we want to achieve with these advanced PowerPoint transition slides.

These slides add a professional touch to your presentations to help you stand out from your competition and to avoid “Death by PowerPoint.” You can insert your chosen animation slides in any of your presentations and reuse the slides as many times as you want in the presentations.

Download our Advanced PowerPoint Transitions Now

Download our free presentation with 50 advanced PowerPoint transitions in various schemes and colors. Looking for additional PowerPoint design help or have suggestions for new templates you would like to see? Contact us and we would be happy to help.

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39 Comments

Those proposed animations are not Section 508 compliant and when presenting to an audience of government employees, the presentation must meet federal guidelines for accessibility. Flashing and twirling colors will wreck havoc upon those who have disabilities.

Dear Zhamie, thanks for pointing that out. We just offer these animations and you as a potential user must make sure that the animations and slides match the local regulations or recommendations of your country or state. Don’t use them when they do not comply or 100% match the regulations. Thanks for this note!

I want transitions that I can apply to my slides, not slides that have nothing to do with my content!!!

Sorry but these can only be placed in between 2 slides (as additional slides). It will be hard to add extra transitions next to the standard ones that Microsoft supplies.

nothing to my email

Did you check your spam folder?

Wait, for this template you have to subscribe to our newsletter, but you are not getting an email immediately. After sending your email address, the download should start automatically. Did it?

I have downloaded but how to add these transition effects to my office. Kindly help

This can be done by going to your own PowerPoint and clicking the “Insert” tab. Then click “Reuse Slides” on the left and click “Choose Slides” on the PowerPoint Template by PresentationPoint. Choose the slide and animation you want to use and click “Insert Slide”.

Do you know if PowerPoint has a slide transition like Pop-A-Wheelie? It would look like the slide did just that and would bring us into the next slide?

Hi Russ, sorry no idea or experience with this. Is something very specific… Hope you can find what you need.

I am really grateful for this one and I really love those circular transitions within the list. I can’t wait to present it to my classmates! Thank you, @PresentationPoint :*

Good to see some different transitions in between slides. Glad you like it!

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No problem. I see you were added to the list. I will send you a PM.

These are great and will make a huge impact on my work this year. Thanks!

Thanks for these nice words!

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sorry but i don’t get anything. what’s problems?

No sure why the automation is not working. But check you mailbox now for a PM.

Awesome bruh!.I am extremely suprised with this ppt.Pls make more awesome slides like this

Great to read Delvin!

I input my info and clicked download but nothing was in my email except a link to confirm a subscription???

Kaila, please confirm that subscription request. That is the double opt in method that we have to use before sending messages. After your confirmation, you will get the ‘advanced PowerPoint transitions’ in your mailbox automatically.

Hi am a new one to this i tried it was nice dear admin , thanks !!

Great to read!

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It will not download automatically after subscribing. You will get an double-opt-in email to confirm. After confirming, you get a second email with the download link. Let me know when somehow/maybe your mail is seen as spam.

Are there any suggestions of how to smoothly transition from my image to one your transitions?

Well I have an idea. You could fill the shapes that we use in the transition, and fill it with parts of your image (shape fill with picture). So the effect is that you see your image in full, and then the other shapes are moving and breaking your picture apart. See what I mean?

I’ve tried one transition and it works well. Thank you. A couple of things I’ve found: * the next slide is best without its own transition, and * I created a pastel slide template to add a background to the transition I tried. Better than on a white background. I appreciate your help. I’m a retired IT professional who teaches other retired people for free so I’m not a business opportunity.

Thanks John for your comments and suggestions. Appreciated!

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PowerPoint  - Applying Transitions

Powerpoint  -, applying transitions, powerpoint applying transitions.

PowerPoint: Applying Transitions

Lesson 8: applying transitions.

/en/powerpoint/applying-themes/content/

Introduction

If you've ever seen a PowerPoint presentation that had special effects between each slide, you've seen slide transitions . A transition can be as simple as fading to the next slide or as flashy as an eye-catching effect. PowerPoint makes it easy to apply transitions to some or all of your slides, giving your presentation a polished, professional look.

Optional: Download our practice presentation .

Watch the video below to learn more about applying transitions in PowerPoint.

About transitions

There are three categories of unique transitions to choose from, all of which can be found on the Transitions tab.

Transitions are best used in moderation. Adding too many transitions can make your presentation look a little silly and can even be distracting to your audience. Consider using mostly subtle transitions, or not using transitions at all.

To apply a transition:

• Click the Transitions tab, then locate the Transition to This Slide group. By default, None is applied to each slide.

You can use the Apply To All command in the Timing group to apply the same transition to all slides in your presentation. Keep in mind that this will modify any other transitions you've applied.

Try applying a few types of transitions to various slides in your presentation. You may find that some transitions work better than others, depending on the content of your slides.

To preview a transition:

You can preview the transition for a selected slide at any time using one of these two methods:

Modifying transitions

To modify the transition effect:.

You can quickly customize the look of a transition by changing its direction .

• Select the slide with the transition you want to modify.

• The transition will be modified , and a preview of the transition will appear.

Some transitions do not allow you to modify the direction.

To modify the transition duration:

To add sound:

• Click the Sound drop-down menu in the Timing group.

Sounds are best used in moderation. Applying a sound between every slide could become overwhelming or even annoying to an audience when presenting your slide show.

To remove a transition:

• Select the slide with the transition you want to remove.

To remove transitions from all slides , apply the None transition to a slide, then click the Apply to All command.

Advancing slides

Normally, in Slide Show view you would advance to the next slide by clicking your mouse or by pressing the spacebar or arrow keys on your keyboard. The Advance Slides setting in the Timing group allows the presentation to advance on its own and display each slide for a specific amount of time. This feature is especially useful for unattended presentations , such as those at a trade show booth.

To advance slides automatically:

• Select the slide you want to modify.
• Locate the Timing group on the Transitions tab. Under Advance Slide , uncheck the box next to On Mouse Click .

• Select another slide and repeat the process until all slides have the desired timing. You can also click the Apply to All command to apply the same timing to all slides.

If you need to advance to the next slide before an automatic transition, you can always click the mouse or press the spacebar to advance the slides as normal.

• Open our practice presentation .
• With the first slide selected, apply a Push transition from the Subtle category.
• Change the Effect Options to push From Right .
• Change the Duration to 2.00.
• Set the slides to Automatically Advance after 3 seconds , or 00:03.00.
• Use the Apply to All command to apply your changes to every slide.

/en/powerpoint/managing-slides/content/

How to Use Slide Transitions in Microsoft PowerPoint

Slide transitions in PowerPoint presentations allow smooth animation effects when moving from one slide to the next. Using appropriate transitions enhances the flow of your presentation and keeps your audience engaged.

Introduction

Slide transitions refer to the animation-like effects used when switching between slides during a PowerPoint presentation. These transitions allow your presentation to feel more dynamic and help the audience follow along by connecting each slide.

The key benefits of using slide transitions in PowerPoint include:

Step 1: Select a Slide and Open the Transitions Tab

To start adding a transition, first select the slide you want to apply it to. Do this by clicking on the slide’s thumbnail in the sidebar.

Step 2: Choose a Transition Effect

In the “Transition to This Slide” section, click the drop-down menu to open the full selection of transition options.

Choosing a PowerPoint transition

Step 3: Adjust Transition Effect Options

Some transitions include effect options to customize the direction, duration, or other qualities.

Effect options are great for matching transitions to the slide content or adding your own creative flair.

Step 4: Set Transition Timing and Triggers

The “Timing” section controls when the selected transition activates. This includes options like:

Check the boxes to enable or disable these settings based on your preferences.

You can also choose transition speed, sound effects, when they advance, and more. Using the timing tools allows smooth, automated slide changes.

Step 5: Apply Transitions to All Slides

Rapidly giving a consistent transition to all slides creates a clean, professional look. You can still go back and customize certain slides later if needed.

Tips for Using PowerPoint Transitions

Following the best practices covered in this guide will take your PowerPoint slides to the next level. Transitioning between ideas doesn’t need to feel abrupt – use these tools to seamlessly lead viewers through your key messages and content.

About The Author

Vegaslide staff, related posts, how to make animated greeting cards using powerpoint, how to convert powerpoint to excel, how to change slide size in powerpoint.

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What are Animations and Transitions in PowerPoint?

By: Author Shrot Katewa

PowerPoint is a powerful piece of software and it keeps getting better. With PowerPoint, you can add transitions and animations to your presentations and add a bit of flavor. But, what exactly are animations and transitions in PowerPoint?

Animations in PowerPoint are special visual or sound effects that can be applied to elements present on a slide such as text, shape, image, icon, etc. Whereas, Transitions in PowerPoint are special visual effects applied to a complete slide. The transition effects can only be seen as one slide moves to the next.

In this article, we are going to take a deep-dive into PowerPoint animations and transitions. We will be looking at the differences between the two, what each of them does, and how you can use both of them together to make your presentations really stand out. So for everything you need to know, keep reading!

What is Animation in PowerPoint?

Ok, so before we jump into the article, we are first going to discuss what exactly animations in PowerPoint are. Let’s use the text as an example. Imagine if you will, two PowerPoint presentations, each on the same slide with text.

Now imagine on the one presentation your text comes flying in and then pulsates on the screen while the other just remains dormant old text.

That is the best explanation of what animations are that I can think of. You get different types of animations in PowerPoint and we will be taking a bit of a deep-dive into what these are in the upcoming section.

Types of Animations in PowerPoint?

• Classification 1 – Intro Effects, Emphasize Effects, Exit Effects: As their names suggest, you can animate a piece of your presentation to enter or exit a slide, also to add emphasis on something. You could also use them for no reason other than to spice up the presentation.
• Classification 2 – Basic, Subtle, Moderate, Exciting: This is a broad classification as it encompasses all of the animation effects, and each of the animations under classification 1, falls under one of these.

How to Add Animation in PowerPoint?

The first step to having animations in your presentation is to first understand how to add them in. So, here’s how to add animations to any PowerPoint presentation slide in order to make them really stand out. Follow the below easy steps.

• In your PowerPoint presentation, create or add whatever it is you want to animate.
• Go to the “Animations” tab on the top and select it.
• Click on “Add Animation Pane” to open the animation pane on the right. Here you will get to see all the animation effects that are added to the slide.
• Click on your desired animation by selecting it. You can choose from the ones that appear or just to the right of that, you can select “Add Animation”.

• In the image above, you can see on the top right, a set of options. Use this to set the duration of the animation.
• Select whether you want the animation to be automatic or activated by clicking on it.
• Select the desired delay.
• Preview the animation.
• Save the presentation and you are done.

How to Animate Shapes in PowerPoint?

Animating shapes in PowerPoint allows you to animate multiple elements within a slide. If done well, this is great for giving a professional touch to your presentation that will make people remember it more effectively.

Here’s how you can animate shapes in PowerPoint in 11 easy steps!

• Add the shape to your presentation by selecting the “ Insert Tab ” in your presentation.
• Go to the “ Shapes option ” as per the picture below.

• Select the shape that you intend to add.
• Add it to the presentation by holding the left mouse button and scaling the shape.
• Click on your desired animation by selecting it. You can choose from the ones that appear or just to the right of that, you can select “Add Animation.
• Set the duration of the animation.

How to Animate Text in PowerPoint?

Let’s be honest for a second, a presentation with a lot of text might seem slightly boring but it really does not have to be. Being able to animate your text can take a presentation that has a lot of text and turn it into something that people will remember.

Animating text in PowerPoint presentations is great for the audience because it allows them to feel as if the text means more than what it is actually trying to tell them. This is always a great thing for anyone who is trying to sell a product or an idea.

So, here are my 9 easy steps on how to animate text in PowerPoint.

• Add your text to the presentation.
• Edit the text as you wish.

How to Animate Objects (such as Images or Icons) in PowerPoint?

A good PowerPoint presentation will contain a lot of images and icons. This is because, in a presentation, you need to get a message across and a lot of people, in fact, most people can remember things a lot easier by visual representation. That being said, here are my 9 easy steps on how to animate objects such as images and icons in PowerPoint.

• In your presentation, go to the “Insert” tab on the top and select it.
• Select the “Picture” option. Alternatively, you can just drag and drop an image or icon.

How to Add Animation in PowerPoint on Mac?

Although PowerPoint also works on Mac, sometimes the options are not exactly the same as they are in Windows.

So here are my steps on how to add animations in PowerPoint on Mac.

• Select the Text Box that you want to animate by clicking on it.
• Click on the “Animation Pane” to open the pane for animation on the right side of the slide.

• Click on the downward arrow as indicated in the image above.
• Choose your desired animation by clicking on it.
• Set the duration of the animation. Select whether you want the animation to be automatic or activated by clicking on it.

What are Transitions in PowerPoint?

You know that old saying that goes “first impressions count the most.” Well, that is very true when it comes to your presentations.

One of the ways to make a good first impression is to use simple but effective transitions on your presentation.

PowerPoint allows you to add transitions into your presentation. Transitions are basically visual effects that can be applied to a complete slide rather than individual elements on a slide. Moreover, the transition is only visible when you move from one slide to another.

Transitions also allow you to make your presentation look and feel better. It does this by allowing you to add transitions to every single slide or to multiple slides at once. The transition is simply the way that one slide goes out of the screen and the new one comes in.

Should You Use Transitions in PowerPoint?

You might be a little bit intimidated by transitions because you may be thinking that you aren’t a creative enough person to make the most out of them. Allow me to just stop you right there just for a moment.

Using transitions in your PowerPoint presentation is actually quite easy. Furthermore, by choosing the correct type of transition, you can actually create a positive impact on the audience.

While some feel that the transitions make your presentation look a bit “gimmicky”, but the trick is really to add a subtle transition.

Moreover, using transitions selectively can definitely make your presentation look and feel a bit more interesting.

What are the 3 Main Types of Transitions in PowerPoint?

Much like with the animations, there are three main groups of transitions and you can find these in the transitions menu in PowerPoint. For the sake of this article, I will highlight the three main groups of transitions in PowerPoint for you.

• Subtle: Still adds excitement to your presentation without being too flashy.
• Dynamic: This is a perfect balance and has the potential to add to your presentation while still being professional.
• Exciting: This is your go-to when you need to sell something or when your presentation contains a lot of text.

Having those different groups is great because we all have different personalities and we are all making presentations for different reasons. You can either choose what type of transition you want to use based on your audience or your personality, the choice is yours.

How to Add Transition to your PowerPoint?

Now, it’s time to start adding transitions to your PowerPoint presentation so allow me to give you my 9 easy steps on how to add transitions to your presentation.

• Open your PowerPoint presentation.
• Create a new slide.
• Go to the “Transitions” tab in the menu bar at the top and select it.
• You should see a row of popular transitions. Select the one you want.

• Select the transition that you want.
• Edit the duration.
• Apply a sound if applicable.

If you want to apply the same transition to all of your slides, you can just select the “Apply to all” option.

This is great if you want your presentation to be uniform. If more of your slides have the same transition but some are different, you can decrease your workload by adding the most common one to all. Then, edit the other slides individually.

How to Make Your Slides Transition Automatically?

Sometimes we don’t want to be constantly changing the slides. Perhaps we just want the slides to transition to the next slide automatically after a certain duration.

So here are my 7 easy steps on how to make your slides transition automatically in PowerPoint

• After adding your transitions and editing them, stay on the “Transitions”.
• To the top right, you will see an option called “Advance Slide”. Select the “After” option.
• Select how long you want each slide to last before it changes.

Setting up slides to transition automatically can be especially helpful when creating a presentation for a kiosk where you don’t want to keep controlling the slides throughout the day, and you perhaps want them to transition automatically.

If you are interested in knowing how to exactly loop your presentation so that it continues to play (especially to be displayed at a kiosk), then make sure you check out the other article that I wrote earlier –

Loop your PPT to Run it Automatically | Perfect Kiosk Solution

It is important to note that the speaker giving the presentation can stop the slides if he or she feels like they need more time to explain what’s going on. This is also good if they have an audience that is engaging with them, remember this is a good problem to have because an engaged audience is a good audience.

To pause an automatic slide, simply click on the presentation to pause it or, you can use the pause button if you are using a presentation remote control.

What is the Difference between Animations and Transitions in PowerPoint?

There are a number of differences between a slide and a transition. While they do both animate the presentation, they do so in different ways and they are used for completely different things. Let’s get into it.

Transitions affect the entire slide from the way it comes into focus and then leaves. When it comes to animations, they affect the content within the slide such as the text and/or charts.

You can use both of these options together in your presentations. Doing so will set your presentation apart from the standard old boring presentation that so many people put together when they are in a rush.

Final Thoughts

That just about wraps up this article, here are some of my final thought regarding this topic.

The goal of this article was not just to explain the difference between animations and transitions, it was to also encourage you to use them.

Our main goal of this website is to help you deliver the best impression with your work. So, bookmark this page and keep it as a reference.

Make sure you check out some of our other articles on the website. If you’ve perhaps got a question about presentations, we’ve most likely covered it on our website! So, be sure to check other articles out.

How-To Geek

8 tips to make the best powerpoint presentations.

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Psa: don't get duped into downloading "new" switch games, why i put thumbstick grips on every controller i own, quick links, table of contents, start with a goal, less is more, consider your typeface, make bullet points count, limit the use of transitions, skip text where possible, think in color, take a look from the top down, bonus: start with templates.

Slideshows are an intuitive way to share complex ideas with an audience, although they're dull and frustrating when poorly executed. Here are some tips to make your Microsoft PowerPoint presentations sing while avoiding common pitfalls.

It all starts with identifying what we're trying to achieve with the presentation. Is it informative, a showcase of data in an easy-to-understand medium? Or is it more of a pitch, something meant to persuade and convince an audience and lead them to a particular outcome?

It's here where the majority of these presentations go wrong with the inability to identify the talking points that best support our goal. Always start with a goal in mind: to entertain, to inform, or to share data in a way that's easy to understand. Use facts, figures, and images to support your conclusion while keeping structure in mind (Where are we now and where are we going?).

I've found that it's helpful to start with the ending. Once I know how to end a presentation, I know how best to get to that point. I start by identifying the takeaway---that one nugget that I want to implant before thanking everyone for their time---and I work in reverse to figure out how best to get there.

Your mileage, of course, may vary. But it's always going to be a good idea to put in the time in the beginning stages so that you aren't reworking large portions of the presentation later. And that starts with a defined goal.

A slideshow isn't supposed to include everything. It's an introduction to a topic, one that we can elaborate on with speech. Anything unnecessary is a distraction. It makes the presentation less visually appealing and less interesting, and it makes you look bad as a presenter.

This goes for text as well as images. There's nothing worse, in fact, than a series of slides where the presenter just reads them as they appear. Your audience is capable of reading, and chances are they'll be done with the slide, and browsing Reddit, long before you finish. Avoid putting the literal text on the screen, and your audience will thank you.

Related: How to Burn Your PowerPoint to DVD

Right off the bat, we're just going to come out and say that Papyrus and Comic Sans should be banned from all PowerPoint presentations, permanently. Beyond that, it's worth considering the typeface you're using and what it's saying about you, the presenter, and the presentation itself.

Consider choosing readability over aesthetics, and avoid fancy fonts that could prove to be more of a distraction than anything else. A good presentation needs two fonts: a serif and sans-serif. Use one for the headlines and one for body text, lists, and the like. Keep it simple. Veranda, Helvetica, Arial, and even Times New Roman are safe choices. Stick with the classics and it's hard to botch this one too badly.

There reaches a point where bullet points become less of a visual aid and more of a visual examination.

Bullet points should support the speaker, not overwhelm his audience. The best slides have little or no text at all, in fact. As a presenter, it's our job to talk through complex issues, but that doesn't mean that we need to highlight every talking point.

Instead, think about how you can break up large lists into three or four bullet points. Carefully consider whether you need to use more bullet points, or if you can combine multiple topics into a single point instead. And if you can't, remember that there's no one limiting the number of slides you can have in a presentation. It's always possible to break a list of 12 points down into three pages of four points each.

Animation, when used correctly, is a good idea. It breaks up slow-moving parts of a presentation and adds action to elements that require it. But it should be used judiciously.

Adding a transition that wipes left to right between every slide or that animates each bullet point in a list, for example, starts to grow taxing on those forced to endure the presentation. Viewers get bored quickly, and animations that are meant to highlight specific elements quickly become taxing.

That's not to say that you can't use animations and transitions, just that you need to pick your spots. Aim for no more than a handful of these transitions for each presentation. And use them in spots where they'll add to the demonstration, not detract from it.

Sometimes images tell a better story than text can. And as a presenter, your goal is to describe points in detail without making users do a lot of reading. In these cases, a well-designed visual, like a chart, might better convey the information you're trying to share.

The right image adds visual appeal and serves to break up longer, text-heavy sections of the presentation---but only if you're using the right images. A single high-quality image can make all the difference between a success and a dud when you're driving a specific point home.

When considering text, don't think solely in terms of bullet points and paragraphs. Tables, for example, are often unnecessary. Ask yourself whether you could present the same data in a bar or line chart instead.

Color is interesting. It evokes certain feelings and adds visual appeal to your presentation as a whole. Studies show that color also improves interest, comprehension, and retention. It should be a careful consideration, not an afterthought.

You don't have to be a graphic designer to use color well in a presentation. What I do is look for palettes I like, and then find ways to use them in the presentation. There are a number of tools for this, like Adobe Color , Coolors , and ColorHunt , just to name a few. After finding a palette you enjoy, consider how it works with the presentation you're about to give. Pastels, for example, evoke feelings of freedom and light, so they probably aren't the best choice when you're presenting quarterly earnings that missed the mark.

It's also worth mentioning that you don't need to use every color in the palette. Often, you can get by with just two or three, though you should really think through how they all work together and how readable they'll be when layered. A simple rule of thumb here is that contrast is your friend. Dark colors work well on light backgrounds, and light colors work best on dark backgrounds.

Spend some time in the Slide Sorter before you finish your presentation. By clicking the four squares at the bottom left of the presentation, you can take a look at multiple slides at once and consider how each works together. Alternatively, you can click "View" on the ribbon and select "Slide Sorter."

Are you presenting too much text at once? Move an image in. Could a series of slides benefit from a chart or summary before you move on to another point?

It's here that we have the opportunity to view the presentation from beyond the single-slide viewpoint and think in terms of how each slide fits, or if it fits at all. From this view, you can rearrange slides, add additional ones, or delete them entirely if you find that they don't advance the presentation.

The difference between a good presentation and a bad one is really all about preparation and execution. Those that respect the process and plan carefully---not only the presentation as a whole, but each slide within it---are the ones who will succeed.

This brings me to my last (half) point: When in doubt, just buy a template and use it. You can find these all over the web, though Creative Market and GraphicRiver are probably the two most popular marketplaces for this kind of thing. Not all of us are blessed with the skills needed to design and deliver an effective presentation. And while a pre-made PowerPoint template isn't going to make you a better presenter, it will ease the anxiety of creating a visually appealing slide deck.

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Best Slide Transitions And Animations For Business Presentations

Most, if not all, presentation software offer plenty of slide transitions and animations. But which ones should you use for your business presentations? Should you go for the simple fade animation? Or would the fancy boomerang and bouncing effects be better? Well, continue reading because that’s what you’re going to find out in this article!

Animations vs Transitions: What’s the Difference?

You may think animations and transitions refer to the same thing – they don’t. Transitions refer to slide transitions or the animation that occurs when you transition from one slide to the next. Transition effects are applied to the whole slide. Thus, you can only choose a single transition effect to a slide. So, if you have 15 slides in your slideshow, then you can have 15 different transition effects.

Animations , on the other hand, refer to object or element animation. You can animate the text, any charts or tables, images, shapes, icons, etc. on your slides. You can animate every single element on your slide and add various effects, if you so desire. But, of course, I don’t recommend this unless you want everyone to get a migraine!

So, now you know the difference between transitions and animations. It’s time to show you where you can find these in 3 of the most popular presentation software today: PowerPoint, Keynote, and Google Slides.

Where to Find Transition Effects?

Look for the Transitions tab in the toolbar. As you can see, transitions are categorized into three: Subtle, Exciting, and Dynamic. Click on the effect you want to use and you’ll get a quick preview of how it looks like on your slide.

For Keynote users, you can access the different transition options by clicking on a slide in the navigation pane (step 1 in the screenshot below). Then click the Animate button (step 2). Finally, click on the blue Add an Effect button (step 3). You can set the duration and direction as well as when you want to start the transition.

• Google Slides

If you’re a Google Slides user, you’ll find your transition effects by first clicking on a slide in the navigation pane (step 1). Then look for the Transition button in the menu bar (step 2). The Transitions pane will appear on the right. Choose from the 7 different transition options (step 3) as you see below:

Where to Find Animation Effects?

This is what the Animations tab look like in PowerPoint. It’s categorized into Entrance, Emphasis, Exit (not shown), and Motion Paths (not shown). If you want to view the complete list of animations, then check out the extra options inside the red box below.

You can access the different object animation options by first clicking on the object you want to animate (step 1). Then click on the Animate button (step 2). As you can see below, there are three tabs: Build In, Action, Build Out (step 3). These 3 are the Keynote equivalent to PowerPoint’s Entrance, Emphasis, and Exit effects.

In Google Slides, you would also need to click first on the object you want to animate. Right-click and select Animate   to access the Transitions side panel. Then click on Add Animation like you see below:

Just like the Transition effects, you only have a limited number of object animation options in Google Slides (13 to be exact).

Why Use Animations and Transitions in Your Presentation?

Here are a few good reasons why you should consider adding animations and transitions to your PowerPoint (and Keynote / Google Slides) presentations:

• Enhance your presentation’s appearance

You don’t need to add any effects to your presentation. But, I promise you, if you use the right animation and transition effects, you can transform your entire presentation’s appearance. From boring to fun and even dramatic, it’s all possible with animations and transitions.

• Emphasize key points

This is especially easy to do with object animation. For example, if you’re presenting a numbered list or some bullet points, you can set each point to appear one after the other. This means you get some time to discuss each point without your audience reading ahead to the next items on your list.

• Control the pace

When you show everything at once on the screen, then it’s a given that everyone will know what you’re about to say. However, with animations, you can control the pace of your presentation. You can build up some ‘drama.’ When the time comes for the big ‘reveal,’ use the right animation to achieve your desired effect!

• Grab people’s attention

Animations and slide transitions are useful in grabbing people’s attention. Even if your audience isn’t looking directly at the screen, any slight movement on your slides can get them to look at your slides again. Use animations sparingly though. You don’t want people to stop looking at your slides altogether simply because they literally felt sick from watching your animations!

Best Practices When Adding Transitions and Animations to Slides

You’ve probably heard of “death by PowerPoint” by now. Well, do you know its cousin, “motion sickness by PowerPoint?” If you’ve ever sat on a presentation which used tons of transitions and animations, and found yourself a bit dizzy after, then you’ve experienced motion sickness.

I’m sure you don’t want to subject your audience to this unpleasant feeling. For best results, follow these practices when adding various animations to your slides:

• Keep it simple

Yes, there are tons of fancy animation options in PowerPoint, but it doesn’t mean you need to use most, or all, of them in your presentation. Can you imagine how your audience is going to react when they see you’ve added an animation effect to every single element on each slide? It would be a disaster, I can assure you.

Let’s say you’ve got 10-20 elements (text, images, icons, shapes, etc.) on each slide. And you add entry, emphasis and exit animation effects to each element . This translates to at least 30 animations on just a single slide! If I were sitting in your presentation, I’d be walking out after the first slide (yes, it’s that bad).

• Ask yourself this question: would this animation make my presentation better?

When answering this question, try to be as objective as possible. Sure, adding fancy effects may look “cool.” But not if it’s at your audience’s expense. With that said, if your answer is “yes,” then, by all means, go ahead and add the animation. Otherwise, it’s best to forego adding that particular effect.

• Use the same transition effect for all slides

In line with the principle of keeping things simple, it’s best to use a single transition effect for all your slides. It can get confusing for your audience if you mix it up. For example, if you decide to use a simple fade transition, then consider using that for all your slides. Here’s how you do this in PowerPoint:

In the Transition pane, choose the effect you want to use. Then click the Apply To All button, like you see below:

Unfortunately, Keynote doesn’t have the same shortcut button for transitions. So, if you want to apply the same transition effect to all slides, you’d need to manually select all the slides in the slide navigator. You can use the keyboard shortcut: command + a . Then click on the Animate button and select the transition effect you want to use for all slides. Here’s a screenshot of the different transition effects in Keynote:

For Google Slides users, you’re in luck. Because just like PowerPoint, you can apply the same transition effect to all your slides. Simply click the Transition button to open up the Transitions pane. Then, select your preferred transition effect and click that magic Apply to all slides button. Here’s how it looks like:

• Preview the animations

Preview all the animations you’ve added and try to look at your presentation slides objectively. When you practice your speech, time the animations to coincide with what you’re saying. Or, say, for instance, make an object appear or exit with your timed pauses.

It shouldn’t take you more than a second or two to decide if an animation actually adds value to your presentation. If it distracts from the main point, then perhaps you may want to replace it with a non-headache-inducing effect. Or better yet, totally remove it from the slide.

Fine-tune your animation if you need to. At the end of the day, it’s your audience who’s going to decide if your presentation is awesome or if it’s a total bust. Remember, no one’s going to complain if you use zero animations on your slides. But trust me, you’re going to hear something negative if you use one too many!

The Top Slide Transitions and Animations for Business Presentations

The saying “less is more” holds absolutely true in all kinds of presentations. You don’t want to crowd your slides with too much information. You don’t want it to look like there are a million things going on in there.

Why? Because it distracts from your role as a speaker and presenter. You want people’s attention to be on you and what you’re saying – not on your slides. PowerPoint slides are supposed to be used as mere visual aids. They’re not the star of your presentation – YOU ARE!

With that said, below are the top transitions and animations that are most commonly used in PowerPoint business presentations. For Keynote and Google Slides users, use animations that are similar to the effects outlined below:

Best Transition Animations in PowerPoint

• Fade – this is an old favorite among business presenters. The previous slide will ‘fade’ away to reveal the next slide. You can choose to have the previous slide fade smoothly or have it fade through black.
• Push – this effect makes the previous slide ‘push’ the new slide into view. You can use this effect to connect related slides. For instance, if your timeline spans two slides, then you can use this effect to let your audience know the slides are connected. You can choose from 4 different effect options: push from the bottom, left, right, and top.
• Cut – this actually works like a much faster fade effect. The previous slide will disappear almost instantly and the current slide will appear in its place.
• Cover – this is a relatively simple transition effect. The new slide will essentially cover the previous slide. You can choose to have the new slide move in from 8 different directions.
• Uncover – this is the exact opposite of the Cover effect. Instead of the new slide moving in and covering the previous slide, it’s going to be the previous slide moving out of the way to quickly reveal the new slide.

Best Animation Effects in PowerPoint

As mentioned earlier, there are several object animations you can choose from in PowerPoint. These are categorized into 4: entrance, emphasis, exit and motion paths animation.

For business presentations, it’s important to not get caught up at the prospect of having multiple options at your fingertips. I know it’s easier said than done, but think of how much time you can save if you don’t overthink your animation options.

That being said, I do realize that presentations aren’t equal and some fancy effects may be necessary to get your point across. But for the most part, basic animation effects are usually enough for business presentations.

Entrance Animation Effects

If you don’t want your slide elements to appear all at once, then you may want to add entrance animation to some objects. You can set it to start (1) on click, (2) with previous animation, or (3) after the previous animation. You can also set how long you want the animation to last (duration), or even apply a delay to your animation.

Go to Animations > More Entrance Effects for a complete list of effects in this category. Here’s a screenshot of all available entrance effects in PowerPoint:

Appear , Fade and Wipe entrance animation effects are great (and simple) options if you want to animate something in your business slides.

Emphasis Animation Effects

One of the best ways to draw attention to a specific object on your slide is to use an emphasis animation effect. These effects can only be applied to objects that are already on the slide. So, if you’ve applied entrance animation to the same object, then the emphasis effect is going to happen AFTER it’s made an entry and is already on the slide. Also, objects with emphasis effect aren’t going to disappear from your slide (that’s what the exit animation effect is for).

Go to Animations > More Emphasis Effects for a complete list of effects in this category. Here’s a screenshot of all options:

Note that not all emphasis effects are going to be available for all kinds of elements. For example, if you want to animate an image , then options like Font Color, Bold Flash, Brush Color, etc. are going to be greyed out and will be unclickable. If you want to animate a certain shape, then Shimmer, Underline, Grow With Color, etc. are not going to be available, and so on.

For most business presentations, go over the available Basic and Subtle emphasis effects first (but skip the Grow/Shrink and Spin options). Remember, you want to add value to your presentation, not give your audience a headache!

Exit Animation Effects

Exit animations are used if you want an element to disappear from your slide. This is especially helpful if you’re trying to convey a point where a specific element is no longer needed.

Go to Animations > More Exit Effects   for a complete list of available effects in PowerPoint. Here’s what it looks like:

For business presentations, the best exit animations are Disappear, Dissolve Out, Wipe, Fade, Float Down, and Float Up. The objects will exit from the slide, but won’t cause visual anxiety to your audience.

Motion Path Animation Effects

PowerPoint may not be known as an animation software. But if you know how to use motion path animation, then you can easily take your presentation to the next level. You can use it to tell effective stories and demonstrate certain points in your presentation. If you want to understand more about how motion path animation works, and how you can use it to make your presentation stand out, then I recommend you read this article .

For a complete list of motion path effects, go to Animations > More Motion Paths . Here’s a screenshot:

Adding Sound Effects to Animations

Sound effects may not be necessary for most business presentations. But in cases where you absolutely need to add some sound effects to your slide animations, then here’s how:

1. Click on the element you want to animate

2. Go to the Animations tab and choose your animation

3. Click on Animation Pane (still in the Animations tab)

4. In the Animation Pane , click on the animation you want to add the sound effect to. A small triangle will appear on the right. Click on this triangle to reveal more options. Then click on Effect Options .

5. In the Effect tab, click on Sound and choose from the available options. Then click OK.

For Mac PowerPoint users, the same steps will apply. However, the interface will look different from Windows. Here’s where you can find the Sound effects for your selected animation:

Just like all the other animation effects I’ve discussed in this article, it’s best to use sound effects sparingly. If it’s not going to add any value to your presentation, then consider not using it at all.

Many business presentations should follow the ‘less is more’ principle. Don’t depend on animations to impress your audience as it can quickly backfire. Instead, focus on getting them to listen to you and engage with you throughout your presentation.

You might also find this interesting: How to make a picture transparent in PowerPoint

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Presentation Design

When (and when not) to use PowerPoint animations

So you’ve been reading our blog and learning some powerful tips on how to add animations to PowerPoint slides . You’ve even been practicing, and are getting the hang of choosing the right animations, and making sure they play smoothly.

But the last question you come to is, “when should I add animations to my PowerPoint?”

The answer, as with all things in PowerPoint design, “it depends.” So in this blog, we’re going to run through a couple common situations when you might think of adding PowerPoint animations, and our recommendations for each. Let’s dive in!

What kind of deck is this, and what kind of audience?

Marketing or sales presentations.

Is this a marketing presentation? Are you trying to sell a product or an idea? Is your audience a potential customer? This is literally where the ad industry term sizzle originates. So as long as you are free of any technical concerns (more below on this), you can definitely include some PowerPoint animations.

Final answer: YES

Financial or Board presentations

If you are presenting to a more “buttoned up” audience, they may not see the value in animation the way other audiences do. If your audience is only interested in numbers, then that’s what you should give them. Instead of forcing animations, devote that time to improving your content.

Final answer: NO

Human stories and emotional content

These may be slightly less common overall, but many presentations rely on human interest stories, emotional resonance, and other forms of empathy. In these cases, PowerPoint animations can either add to your story, or cheapen your message, so proceed with caution.

Final answer: DEPENDS

How is your PowerPoint being presented?

Keynote stage or large room.

Keynotes might be the only time we pump up the animation for sheer sizzle. They are often used to build enthusiasm or hype, so drama and theatrics are right at home here. That said, all of our usual advice about designing for your audience and not overdoing slides still applies.

For settings like most small to medium conference rooms, animation works well when kept simple. Use it to emphasize key points, clarify infographics, or for tasteful designs, but remember that bolder animations that would be at home in a keynote will feel like too much in this case.

Final answer: SOMETIMES

Virtual PowerPoint presentations

In our experience, using animations in remote presentations isn’t a great idea. Lag is a common issue with screen sharing, as well as pixelization, both of which will ruin the effect of your animation.

Final answer: NOT RECOMMENDED

Printed or Leave-behind

If you are printing a presentation to send to someone, or leaving a copy behind after a meeting, you’ll either want to avoid animations or create a separate version without them. Obviously they won’t transfer to paper, which can cause other design problems as well.

How important is timing?

What’s the presenter's style.

Whether you are presenting or designing a deck for someone, it’s key to consider delivery style.

For people who like to control every click, YES

For people who like to improvise, NO

Is there a hard stop on the presentation?

Sometimes you just need to get to the point. If you have a time limit, or are presenting to a busy audience, you should skip the animation and focus on your content.

Will Animation help tell the story?

Animations play a key role in conveying your message.

Infographics and moments of emphasis can benefit from information moving and flowing in certain directions, or coming in at certain times.

Can your animation help set the mood?

Sometimes there is a lot of time spent on the opening slide of a presentation. In these cases, adding a looping movie or GIF to the beginning of presentation is a passive way to get a ton of extra sizzle in your deck before you’ve even spoken a word. It can set the tone for the meeting and get your audience tuned in to you.

Will you reuse these slides later?

Are you the only person using these animations?

It's common for slides (and whole presentations) to be shared, reused, or pulled apart for use in other presentations later. If your slides include animations and will be used outside the original slide deck, you might want to hold off on adding animations, since you don't know who will pick them up next or how they will be used.

If it's a custom, one-time-use presentation, then you are good to go.

Final answer:    SOMETIMES

As you can see, there are lots of times when PowerPoint animations are the perfect addition, and plenty when you should avoid it altogether. Basically, when you are learning to add animations, just remember the guiding principle of all PowerPoint design: “it depends.” Think clearly about your audience and your skills, and you will find smart, useful opportunities to improve your presentations with PowerPoint animations!

Update (03/24): we’ve revised this article to add some new details on best practices for PowerPoint animations

Looking for more information about presentation visuals and beyond? Check out our resources for expert advice and tested strategies.

Presentation Design 101

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About the author

Danielle John is the founder of VerdanaBold. She has more than 25 years as an award-winning designer and creative lead, directing the visual expression and production of thousands of high-value new business pitches, C-level presentations and internal presentations for major global brands. When she's not busy at VerdanaBold, she can be found antique shopping and spending time with her husband and two kids.

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• Add, change, or remove transitions between slides Article
• Animate text or objects Article
• Use the Morph transition in PowerPoint Article
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Use the Morph transition in PowerPoint

The Morph transition allows you to animate smooth movement from one slide to the next. 

You can apply the Morph transition to slides to create the appearance of movement in a wide range of things—text, shapes, pictures, SmartArt graphics, and WordArt. However, charts don't morph. 

Note:  Morph is available if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription or are using PowerPoint 2019 or PowerPoint 2021. For Microsoft 365 subscribers using PowerPoint for the web, Morph is available when you are using files stored in OneDrive for work or school or SharePoint in Microsoft 365.

How to set up a Morph transition

To use the Morph transition effectively, you'll need to have two slides with at least one object in common—the easiest way is to duplicate the slide and then move the object on the second slide to a different place, or copy and paste the object from one slide and add it to the next. Then, apply the Morph transition to the second slide to see what Morph can do to automatically animate and move your object. Here's how:

In the Thumbnail pane on the left side, click the slide that you want to apply a transition to, which should be the second slide you added the object, picture, or words you'd like to apply the morph effect to.

On the Transitions tab, select Morph .

Note:  In PowerPoint for Android, select Transitions > Transition Effects > Morph .

Select Transitions > Effect Options to choose just how you'd like the Morph transition to work.

You can move objects around on the slide, change colors, move words and characters around, and much more.

Click Preview to see the Morph transition in action.

Here's an example of how the Morph transition can seamlessly animate objects across slides.

This is the original slide:

This is the second slide with the same objects after the Morph transition has been applied. The planets moved without needing individual motion paths or animations to be applied to them.

Requirements

To create Morph transitions , you need PowerPoint for the web, PowerPoint 2019 or PowerPoint for Microsoft 365. Other versions of PowerPoint (as listed below) can play Morph transitions but can't create them. We encourage you to get an Office 365 subscription to stay up to date with the latest Office features, including Morph.

1 See Is my Office Click-to-Run or MSI-based? below.

2 The following Office updates must be installed. Without them, PowerPoint 2016 can't play a Morph transition, and instead it plays a Fade transition.

Is my Office Click-to-Run or MSI-based?

Open an Office application, such as Outlook or Word.

Go to File > Account or Office Account .

If you see an "Update Options" item, you have a Click-to-Run installation. If you don't see the "Update Options" item, you have an MSI-based install.

If you've used Magic Move in Keynote, you'll find that Morph can do similar things.

Add, change, or remove transitions between slides

Morph Transition: Tips and Tricks

Use the Morph transition in PowerPoint for Android

Use the Morph transition in PowerPoint for Mac, iPad and iPhone

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