98 Impress with Special Effects

Adding special effects to graphics and other presentation elements can really make your presentation come alive . You can make graphic images fly onto the screen, not unlike the animated text you can cause to roll into place (see 90 Animate Text ). As with any special effects, don't overdo them. Reserve them for when you want to make an impression at a particularly critical part of your presentation.

Before You Begin

95 Insert Graphics into a Presentation

97 Add Sound to a Presentation

See Also

99 Add a Slide Transition

Here are just a few of the effects you can apply to graphics and other presentation elements with Impress:

• The object flies in from outside the slide.

• A laser-like show produces the object.

  

• The object fades into place.

• The slide sparkles, slowly producing the object from the moving glitter.

• The object (graphic text works well here) snakes into the slide from one of the edges.

• The object spirals into place.

NOTE

You can apply special effects to graphic objects as well as other presentation elements such as text boxes. The special effects are more pronounced than the simpler animated text you can also place in text boxes.

1. Select an Object
   
   Click to select an object, such as a graphic image or a text box. You must first click to select the object before you can apply an effect to that object.
   
   

   TIP

   

   Some of these effects have sounds associated with them that you can keep or remove.

2. Request an Effect
   
   Right-click the selected object to produce a menu with the Effects option. Select Effects . The effects that you generate will apply to that selected object. The Animation Effects dialog box opens.
   
   

   NOTES

   

   If you right-click an object without first clicking to select that object, the Effects option doesn't appear on the menu.

   Most of the special effects that appear in the Animation Effects dialog box are also available as slide transitions. See 99 Add a Slide Transition .

3. Select an Effects Category
   
   First click the down arrow to display the effects categories, such as Favorites and Spiral . As you select a different category, a different list of effects appears below. The Favorites category contains the most varied set of effects.
   
   
4. Select the Effect You Want
   
   Click to select the effect you wish to apply to your object. Click the list box at the bottom of the Animation Effects dialog box to adjust the speed of the effect that you wish to apply. To apply the effect, click the Assign button. If the Extras button is active, you can click it to turn that effect's sound on or off.
   
   

   TIP

   

   Once you've assigned an effect, you can click the Preview button to see the effect in a small preview window. You can review various effects in the preview window without having to return to the slide to do it.

5. Apply and Test the Effect
   
   Once you've assigned the effect you desire , click the Animation Effects dialog box's Close button to return to your slide. Press F9 to review your presentation and make sure that the overall special effect adds the flavor you want to your presentation. To change the effect, you only have to select the object once again and right-click the object to reach the Effects menu option.