Microsoft Office Reference Guide

Mar 26, 2004

␡

⎙ Print

< Back Page 202 of 342 Next >

In our reviews of the features of PowerPoint 2007, we have focused on the array of new graphics effects and features that purport to make it unnecessary to use a third party graphics tool like PhotoShop to create professional effects.

But another phenomenon has emerged. As my colleague Geetesh Bajaj of Indezine has pointed out, "The new versions of PowerPoint seem to have everything apart from the kitchen sink — but yet, it’s amazing to see vendors create small add-ins that provide an impressive capability that PowerPoint lacks."

Geetesh co-wrote the Makeover Guide for PowerPoint 2007 that covers many of its special effects with Echo Swinford; I reviewed it in an earlier update and it is available on Safari.

One of these little add-ins is a British product called Opazity, and what's neat is that it can be used with versions of PowerPoint back to 2000, and even Windows 98SE — but then it is also compatible with the latest editions of Office 2007 and Vista.

And it's not like you may not have seen some of the effects from Opazity before — it's just that it took seasoned pros hours or days to create them and now anyone can do them in minutes or seconds using this tool.

I decided to try the product on PowerPoint 2003 on my desktop. It installs as an addition toolbar which you can keep docked or separate. In PowerPoint 2007 it's in the Add-In tab of the Ribbon.

Figure 1478

Here's how you create a simple blurred effect over an image. You simply create an AutoShape over the image and open the Opazity tool. Select the options you want for the blur, with a preview, and click OK.

Figure 1479

Next you give the AutoShape an Exit effect so that the blurred shape gives way to the clear picture underneath. For more on animation, see my series on Advanced Animation Techniques.

In this case it reveals the first frame of a movie, which I can now click and play.

Figure 1480

If you examine the Opazity dialog box you see two real time preview sliders — one for Sharpness (or blur) and another for Opaqueness (transparency). (While transparency is available directly within PowerPoint it is not used very often because it is well hidden).

What I like about the Opazity web site is that it provides short video tutorials on specific tasks that can be done with Opazity that will stimulate your own creativity.

For example, by simply placing text, like the title of the presentation over the AutoShape with the effect, and placing both over the image to be revealed, you can get a very nice opening sequence by giving the AutoShape a slow Exit Fade animation.

Figure 1481

Figure 1482

Again, you could have done the same thing by reading a PowerPoint Tips and Tricks book — one way would be by creating two identical slides — one with the photo blurred or transparent and the other with it clear, and putting a Transition effect in between.

But this is a good deal easier and requires less thinking.

When you consider that you can try Opazity for free and buy it for $47 the ease on wear and tear on your noodle is palpable.

Another cool use of the tool is to reveal bullets or diagram objects element by element.

PowerPoint aficionados will also appreciate this tool because masters have used it to good effect and you can deconstruct their work. If you watch the final two videos in the Opazity preview, you will be blown away by techniques that are striking but easy to implement. They rival some of the techniques of master animators like Glen Millar. But they don't require long sequences of Custom Animation or forays into PhotoShop — everything can be done with Opazity and its effects on images and AutoShapes.

Again what is cool about this tool is the way the publisher explains its use for specific tasks — like calling attention to specific elements in your slide.

I have previously used drawing objects in PowerPoint to do this for static objects; for example it is impossible to animate specific areas of a scanned chart. Therefore using a circle with no Fill or an arrow and animating its entrance can call attention to specific areas (like a laser pointer in the hand of a presenter, although that would not show in handouts).

With Opazity these highlights can be more dramatic by changing the luminosity of certain portions of a static image.

I also liked the fact that Opazity brings out areas of Custom Animation that many users ignore — like the Exit effects. In many ways have blurs or transparent areas leave a slide and reveal what was underneath can be more effective than using the more popular Entrance effects.

If you try and like Opazity, you might also want to investigate another product from the same publisher, Perspector, which does for 3D effects what Opazity does for images. It's a bit more pricey but if you like the ability to change the shape of AutoShapes and charts, it's pretty cool.

Both of these tools essentially bring some of the effects and pzazz of PowerPoint 2007 to previous versions and, of course, when combined with PowerPoint 2007, give you an amazing bag or tricks.

InformIT Articles and Sample Chapters

Implementing Professional Design Principles in Your PowerPoint Presentations

Creating Photoshop Images in Layers

Books and eBooks

Special Edition Using Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 by Patrice-Anne Rutledge, Geetesh Bajaj

Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® 2007 Quick Reference Guide: Beta Preview (Digital Short Cut) By Greg Perry

< Back Page 202 of 342 Next >

🔖 Save To Your Account

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Notice

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

As required by law.
With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020

Email Address