Understanding Object Formatting

Up until this point, we've considered all objects to be equal, but there are actually two major classes of objects that PowerPoint supports: those that you create from within PowerPoint, and those that you import from other sources. Each object type causes a different version of the Format tab to display when you select it.

For drawn shapes, charts, SmartArt, and text boxes, the Drawing Tools Format tab in Figure 10.13 appears. From here you can apply shape styles, as well as WordArt formatting, to the text within the object.

Figure 10.13: For drawn objects, charts, and text boxes, these formatting options are available.

Note 

SmartArt has some formatting features in common with drawn shapes and charts, but it also has some special features and quirks of its own. For more information, see Chapter 11.

For photos and clip art, the Picture Tools Format tab in Figure 10.14 appears. It focuses on applying filters through which you view the image (such as brightness and contrast), and applying Picture Styles that affect the shape and border of the frame.

Figure 10.14: For photos and clip art, these formatting options are available.

Both of these versions of the Format tab (Drawing Tools and Picture Tools) have Size and Arrange groups that work the same way.

In the following sections, I'll explain how to apply formatting to the two types of objects, by using the Drawing Tools Format tab or the Picture Tools Format tab. Some features are unique to one object type or the other; other features can be used for both types, although some features that do basically the same thing have different names, depending on the object type.