Learning Vector Graphics in PowerPoint
When you are done with this exercise, you
should be able to:
Construct simple vector images
Handle multiple vector images
Use AutoShapes, including connectors
Import clip art
Combine vector images
Before You Start ...
0
Step by step instructions are given first
Look for the gold-markers to identify instructions
0
Exercises that let you practice and demonstrate
your understanding follow
These have green-markers
Save this PowerPoint exercise to show your TA
Sources of Vector Images
1
Click on Insert above
and choose Picture
3
Here is a tiny set of
vector clip art
Click on From File
Browse directories to the
image library
2
Click on “AutoShapes” below
and look at the contents of each
category
Use these by selecting,
copying, and pasting
A Quick System Tune-up
It is important that a few of the system defaults are set
properly. Do the step below now, and any time you
resume this exercise if someone else has been using the
computer between your sessions.
1
Click on the happy face with the
Right Mouse Button and
choose Set AutoShape Defaults
Getting & Placing a Vector Image
1
Find an image in AutoShapes, click on it,
then return to the drawing area
2
Click to select the object, then Click & Drag
on any handle until it is the proper size (if you
hold down the shift key the height
and width proportions stay the same)
3
Click & Drag to move it to the
desired location
1
2
Place a Star: Use AutoShapes to get a 5pointed star and put it below this
paragraph, adjusting its size so that it fits
without touching any text
Size & Move the Star: Copy and paste the
5-pointed star into the box in the lower right
corner, adjusting the star’s size and
position so that it just fits inside
Aligning a Set of Objects the Easy Way
1
2
3
Select a set of the objects with either of these
methods
• click one object, then hold down the shift key
and click on the other objects
• click & drag a box around all the objects
Under the Draw menu (below), choose Align or
Distribute
Decide which option meets your need and choose it
3
Vertical Align:
Line up the red
pins with the
left-most pin
4
5
Horizontal Align: Line
up the green pins with
the one on the bottom
Align & Distribute: Line
up and evenly space out
the yellow pins
Controlling the Order of a Set of Objects
1
Select an object that needs to be moved above or
below another object
2
Click on Draw (below) and choose Order
3
Decide which option is most appropriate
bring to front
bring forward
send to back
send backward
Note: This procedure may need to be repeated
6
Change the order of the objects so that the star
is on top, the triangle is next, then the square,
and the circle is on the bottom
Assemble a Face
1
Copy body parts from the next three slides and
paste them on the blank slide that follows
2
Move, resize, copy, order, rotate and flip the parts
as necessary
Hint: as you make fine adjustments, you may want
to increase the view percentage
Face Parts
Face Parts
Face Parts
7
The Face
Modifying Line Thickness and Color
1
Click on a line to select it
2
Click on the Line Color icon (below)
if it shows the color you want, or on
the Line Color menu triangle to open
the menu get more color choices
3
Click on the Line Style icon (below)
to see a menu of line sizes; click to
choose
8
Line Color : Make each line below a different color
9
Line Thickness :
Make each line
below a different
thickness
Drawing and Moving Straight Lines
1
Click on AutoShapes menu (below) and select
the Lines item
2
Choose Line and click & drag to place the line
3
Click and drag a line handle to move the end
(All lines can have arrowheads and they can be
added later, so don’t choose one of these lines)
10
11
Connect the dots: Draw separate straight lines
between consecutively numbered points
Adjust the
Lines: Move
any lines that
are not on a
red dot to the
proper dot
1
3
4
2
7
6
5
Drawing and Moving Curve Lines
1
Click on AutoShapes menu (below) and select
the Lines item
2
Choose Curve and click move click move click
(etc) to place the curve; the line will bend as
you move from point to point, so this will take
some practice; double click to end the curve
3
To move curve control points, start with a right
click on the line, choose Edit Points, then click
& drag a point marker to a new location (the
curve will shift); click somewhere off the line to
end
example
Note: the black
squares show the
attachment points
12
Slalom: Draw a brown, thickish curve that goes below
each red marker and above the green ones; follow the
pattern shown above; move the curve as necessary
Changing the Appearance of an Area
1
Return to AutoShapes and choose a shape, like a
square or circle, by clicking on it
2
Click & drag to place and scale the object
(remember: the shift key keeps the original
proportions)
3
The line that surrounds the area can be changed with
the Line Style menu
4
The Line Color menu changes this surrounding line
color while the interior color is controlled by the Fill
Color menu
13
Award Yourself: Make three gold stars (different,
of course) that you can give yourself
Connectors and AutoShapes
1
Get an AutoShape object and place it on the page
and then an AutoShape Connector line which you
can stretch out on the same page
2
Move an end of this connector line over the
AutoShape object -- small connector handles will
appear around the object
3
Drop the connector line on a connector handle -- the
color changes from green to red, meaning
“connected” -- or pop a connected line off and
reconnect it elsewhere
Move an object and the line stays connected
My Family: Example of an Organizational Chart
My Mom
My Dad
My Younger Sister
Me
My Older Brother
My Best Friend
The Family Dog
My Mom is boss. She is always telling Dad what to do. He never tells
us kids what to do. My “baby” sister seems to be my boss and is always
telling me what to do, although she lacks my Mom’s authority. I boss
my brother around since he doesn’t seem to mind. He takes care of the
dog, who is pretty laid back and doesn’t demand much from anyone.
My best friend helps me get stuff done.
14
My Organization Chart: arrange and connect the boxes
(with connector lines) to give your view how you fit.
Policy and orders go down from the middle of a box
while staff (they do the work) are attached to the side of
a box. It is OK to pretend, especially if you are an only
child and don’t have a pet.
My Dad
My Mom
My Younger Sister
My Older Brother
My Best Friend
Me
My Significant Other
The Family Dog
Bullet Lists
Lists of items are useful. They may provide an
outline for a speaker or organize information for a
reader.
Usually, each item in a list has a “bullet” in front.
This makes it easier to see how many items there
are and draws your eye to the start of each item.
It is better if your bullets are more dramatic than the
simple “dot” provided in most presentation graphics
packages.
On the next slide, you will make your own “bullet”
and use it as an anchor for a short list of items
15
Make a “Bullet”
Use the tools you’ve
learned to make a
“bullet”; it should be
quite large here
16
Use Your “Bullet”
Copy your bullet and paste it in
front of each list item, making sure
it is an appropriate size
My secret for success
Keys to happiness
Life after school
Some examples are
shown on the
previous slide
How to be my friend