To add moving arrows in PowerPoint, you first insert an arrow shape onto your slide and then apply animation effects to make it move or appear dynamically during your presentation.
Adding the Arrow Shape
The first step is to insert the basic arrow shape. PowerPoint offers various types of arrows that you can use.
Here’s how to insert an arrow:
- Click on Shapes on the Insert tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
- You'll see a large selection of arrows in the two subcategories, Lines and Block Arrows. Choose the type of arrow you want to use.
- To insert your arrow, click and drag on your slide where you want the arrow to appear and resize it.
- To rotate the arrow after insertion, click on it and grab the small circle icon in the center above the arrow, then drag to rotate.
Once the arrow shape is on your slide, you can change its color, thickness, and style using the Shape Format tab that appears when the arrow is selected.
Making the Arrow Move (Adding Animation)
Adding animation is what makes the arrow "move" during your slide show. PowerPoint provides a variety of animation effects to achieve different types of movement or appearance.
To animate your arrow:
- Select the arrow shape you want to animate.
- Go to the Animations tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
- In the Animation group, click the More dropdown arrow to see the full gallery of effects.
- Choose an animation effect. Effects are typically grouped into:
- Entrance: How the object appears on the slide (e.g., Fly In, Wipe, Fade).
- Emphasis: Effects that draw attention to the object already on the slide (e.g., Pulse, Spin).
- Exit: How the object leaves the slide (e.g., Fly Out, Disappear).
- Motion Paths: Make the object move along a specific path you define (e.g., Lines, Arcs, Loops, or a Custom Path).
Common Animation Effects for Arrows
Motion Paths are often the most direct way to show an arrow "moving" from one point to another. However, other effects can also create a sense of movement or progression.
Here are some examples of animation effects suitable for arrows:
| Animation Category | Example Effects | How it looks for an Arrow |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance | Wipe, Fly In | Arrow draws itself on, or flies in from edge. |
| Emphasis | Pulse, Grow/Shrink | Arrow briefly changes size or color. |
| Exit | Fly Out, Fade | Arrow disappears from the slide. |
| Motion Paths | Lines, Custom Path | Arrow travels across the slide along a line. |
After applying an animation, you can customize its timing, duration, delay, and whether it starts on a click or automatically in the Timing and Advanced Animation groups on the Animations tab. The Animation Pane is a useful tool for managing multiple animations and their order.
By combining inserting an arrow shape with applying appropriate animation effects, you can create dynamic, moving arrows in your PowerPoint presentations.
