PowerPoint provides a variety of tools for drawing shapes and lines on slides. To use the Pen as well as other drawing tools, click the “Review” tab and select “Start Inking“. You can find the same tools on the " Draw " tab in Office 365. In addition, you can also use the line and shape drawing tools located to the right of the " Home " tab. If you use PowerPoint as an alternative to MS Paint or another graphics program, you can export your slides to various types of image files when saving your work.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using the Ink Alat Tool
Step 1. Open Microsoft PowerPoint
If you don't have PowerPoint, Microsoft offers a free trial of the Office 365 software.
Step 2. Select the “Review” tab
This tab is to the right of the menu bar.
If you're using Office 365, you'll see a “Draw” tab instead of the “Review” tab. The tab contains the options normally available on the “Inking” tab. If you don't find the tab, you may have to upgrade to Office 365 or the tab is not available on your system
Step 3. Click “Start Inking”
It's on the right side of the toolbar. After clicking on the option, a set of drawing tools will appear on the screen.
Step 4. Use “Pen” to draw freely
The " Pen " tool is on the left of the toolbar. Select the tool to create a line.
Step 5. Use “Highlighter” to draw a transparent line
This tool has the same function as the Pen tool, which is to create lines. However, Highlighter produces thicker, more transparent lines. This way, you can draw on top of other text or images without covering them.
Step 6. Use “Eraser” to erase the image
After selecting the tool, click on the part of the image you want to delete and drag the cursor to delete it.
Click the downward-pointing arrow icon below the “Eraser” button to change the thickness of the eraser
Step 7. Change the color of the tool
Select the “Color” drop-down menu in the “Pen” toolbar to select a Pen or Highlighter color.
Step 8. Set the tool thickness
Select the “Thickness” drop-down menu in the “Pen” toolbar to select the Pen or Highlighter line thickness.
You can also select a color preset or a thickness preset in the menu to the left of the “Color” and “Thickness” drop-down menus
Step 9. Click “Convert to Shapes”
This tool will automatically change a painting that is shaped like a wake into a perfect shape. For example, if you draw an image that is shaped like a circle, the Convert to Shapes tool will turn the image into a perfect circle.
- This tool also converts the image into a shape based on the number of lines drawn (square, hexagon, etc.). For example, if you create three lines, the Convert to Shapes feature will convert those lines into triangles.
- You can only convert a painting to a shape after activating the Convert to Shapes tool. If you create a painting before activating this tool, the painting cannot be turned into a wake.
Step 10. Click “Select”
This tool allows you to click and select the part of the image you are painting. After that, you can drag and move that part of the image.
If you're having trouble, you can also click “Lasso” and draw a circle around the area you want to select. The Lasso tool can only be used on the image you are painting
Step 11. Click the "Stop Inking" button
This button will activate the “Select” tool automatically after creating an image using the Pen or Highlighter. If you don't create an image, the button will open the “Review” tab.
Method 2 of 3: Using Drawing Tools
Step 1. Open Microsoft PowerPoint
This step can be followed if you are using an alternative program like Google Slides or Openoffice Impress. However, the menu options and locations will vary slightly.
Step 2. Select the “Home” tab
It's a tab in the upper-left side of the window. When you open a new document, the tab will be used as the default.
All the drawing tools will appear on the right side of the window on the toolbar named “Drawing”. If you're on a Mac, all of the drawing tools are on the same toolbar. However, the toolbar does not have a name
Step 3. Select the shape or line builder tool
If you are using a Windows-based computer, a set of shape and line creation tools will appear on the left side of the "Drawing" toolbar. If you're on a Mac, both tools can be displayed by clicking " Shapes " which is on the right side of the tab. Note that the tab has no name.
- Click the downward-pointing arrow icon to reveal the hidden outline and build tool options.
- To create a drawing freely, select the “Scribble” line available on the list of tools.
Step 4. Click and drag the cursor to draw
After clicking and dragging the cursor, a line or shape will be painted on the canvas. The size and shape of the line or shape depends on the type of tool and how far you drag the cursor.
Step 5. Select a design preset on the “Quick Style” menu
This menu is to the right of the toolbar. The menu provides various color and transparency settings for the outline or contouring tool you choose.
Step 6. Click “Arrange”
This drop-down menu is to the right of the toolbar and will show you various painting layout options. Options such as “Bring to front” or “Move to back” allow you to define the arrangement of overlapping objects.
Step 7. Use the " Shape Effects " feature
The " Fill ", " Outline ", and " Effects " buttons are to the right of the " Drawing " toolbar:
- “Shape Fill” displays a list of colors used to color the shape you are painting.
- “Shape Outline” displays a list of colors used to color the contours of the shapes you are drawing.
- “Shape Effects” displays a list of graphic or lighting presets for waking up, such as “Embossed”, “Glow”, or “Shadow”. You can use more than one preset on a wake at a time.
- This effect cannot be used on lines that you draw.
Method 3 of 3: Exporting Work Into Image File
Step 1. Open the “File” menu and select “Save As”
This will open a window that will allow you to name the file and choose a location to save the file.
Step 2. Select the image file format
You can click on the " File name " field to open the drop-down menu and select an image file format. You can select various image file formats in this menu (.jpg,.gif,.png,.bmp, and others).
PowerPoint uses files of type ".pptx" as the default option for saving works
Step 3. Click “Save”
The work will be saved in the specified location in the file format you have selected.
If you save a file containing multiple slides, you will be prompted to export “All Slides” or “Just This One”
Tips
- If you plan to edit your slides, save your work in ".pptx" format. After saving the file, you cannot use PowerPoint tools while editing.
- You can create a new blank slide by going to the “Home” tab and clicking “New Slide”. After that, select “Blank” in the list of options that appears.
- If you're using a touchscreen device or tablet, PowerPoint 2016 supports using a stylus pen. Thus, you can draw easily when using the "Start Inking" feature.
