The Zoom tool in PowerPoint is great. With the Zoom you can highlight individual objects, summarise your slides onto one or create a canvas with different areas to navigate.
Simple PowerPoint Zoom Animations
A simple way to zoom in on specific objects is to apply the “Grow/Shrink” emphasis animation. Select your object, go to the Animations tab and select Grow/Shrink from the Emphasis options. Go to Slide Show mode and you will see your object will now ‘grow’. In the Animation Pane you can edit the percentage size and timings to match your zooming needs.
In the example below we combined this with the Morph transition to create the illusion of a moving magnifying glass:
If you would like more information on how this was done, please do get in touch.
Basic Zoom Tool in PowerPoint
Aside from simple zoom animations, PowerPoint also features a Zoom tool. These can add some interest and engagement to your presentation.
Try this! Open any PowerPoint presentation and go to Insert > Zoom > Summary Zoom, select all the slides and click Insert. This pulls all slides into one “summary slide” at the start of the deck and creates a separate section for each slide. Now play the presentation in Slide Show mode and click through. Each slide zooms in and out in sequence, retaining any animations.
To show selected slides only, choose Slide Zoom (instead of Summary Zoom). To show a single section only, choose Section Zoom. Here’s a video showing this feature in action:
Advanced Zoom Tool in PowerPoint
We often get asked if we “do Prezi”. The answer is that we prefer to use PowerPoint to the highest level to replicate the animation that appeals to Prezi users. We also feel that PowerPoint is more compatible, is constantly updating its features and is therefore a better option.
Our designer Ana threw this slide together to show off the Zoom navigation feature. Below is a video of our founder Philippa talking through the animation. PowerPoint’s big canvas zoom feature:
This type of animation is perfect for meetings without an established agenda so you can click where the audience’s interests take you. This is really effective when presenting to smaller audiences. The “big canvas” feel of zooming around one page can also help with communicating ideas that break down into lots of smaller parts: whilst still retaining the feel of the whole concept.
We love what PowerPoint can do, and we’d love to help you present better. Contact us so we can help you with your next presentation.
