Animated Snow in PowerPoint

Is winter coming up? Have you got a winter-themed presentation to do?

What weather represents winter more than snow? To make your winter-themed presentation fun, consider adding falling snowflakes to your slide background.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create snowflakes and how to add them to your PowerPoint slides. You’ll also discover how to animate your snowflakes to give them a realistic look as they fall from the sky. Finally, explore some helpful tips on PowerPoint animation.

How to Build a Snow PowerPoint Background

If you want to show winter weather on a PowerPoint template, falling snow is a fun option. In this tutorial, I’ll use the Winter PowerPoint template to show you how to create and animate snowflakes.

The tutorial was written using macOS and PowerPoint version 16.60. If you’ve got a different operating system or a different version of PowerPoint, your steps may be slightly different.

1. Choose the Snowflake Style

Before adding snowflakes to your PowerPoint, you’ll want to decide what type of snowflakes to use. There are different styles of snowflakes that you can incorporate into your snow PowerPoint background. Here are some options:

• Large: The classic snowflake style.
• Small: Simply adjust the size of large snowflakes to make them smaller.
• Star: A four-point star layered on top of a six- or twelve-point star with a gradient.
• Pattern: The most elaborate style using SmartArt, but limited in gradient options.

In this tutorial, I’ll create the large style snowflakes, but feel free to experiment with the others.

2. Change the Slide Background

To ensure your snowflakes stand out, you may need to change the slide background color. A white background may not provide enough contrast for white snowflakes.

To change the background, click on the Design tab. The Format Background icon will appear at the top right of the screen. Click on it, and a side panel will open. Here, you’ll find the Fill Color button. Select your desired background color.

Darker background colors will provide more contrast against white snowflakes.

3. Insert the First Snowflake

To add a snowflake to your snow PowerPoint background, click on the Insert tab in the toolbar, then click on the Shapes button.

In the basic shapes section, select the Circle (sometimes labeled as an oval) and click where you want the circle to appear on your slide. Drag to size the circle.

After creating the circle, click on the Shape Format button in the toolbar. Then, select Solid Fill and choose the white color.

4. Make the Snowflake More Realistic

To enhance the realism of your snowflake, you’ll want to remove the outline. Click on the Format Pane button in the toolbar. In the format pane, find the Fill & Line tab. Under the line section, select the No Line option.

Next, under the Fill section, choose Gradient Fill and set the gradient Type to Radial. Then, select the third option with white in the center. This will give your snowflake a more realistic look.

Feel free to experiment with other format settings to customize your snowflake further.

Spread Your Snowflakes

To create a realistic snowfall effect, you’ll need multiple snowflakes in the background. Here’s how to achieve a snowy scene:

1. Spread Snowflakes in a Small Area

It’s easier to work in sections when adding to an animated snow-falling PowerPoint background. The simplest method is to copy and paste.

Ensure your snowflakes vary in size for a more realistic effect. Use the keyboard shortcut Command + C to copy the selected snowflake, then Command + V to paste. Adjust the size using the handles as needed.

2. Spread the Snowflakes to the Whole Slide

To create an animated snow background that covers the entire slide, you first need to finalize your snowflake pattern in a smaller area.

Once satisfied with the arrangement, select all the snowflakes by clicking and dragging a selection box around them. Then press Command + C to copy and Command + V to paste. Move the newly created copies into desired positions. Repeat this process until the entire slide is filled with snowflakes.

Add Animation to Your Snowflakes

After creating your snowflakes, it’s time to animate them for a dynamic effect.

1. Add the Animation Effect

Select the larger snowflakes by holding down the command key and clicking on each one. Next, navigate to the Animations tab in the toolbar.

Click on the Exit Effects button and choose the Float Out option. Then, open the Animation Pane and adjust the Timing field for the first group to five seconds. Repeat this process for other snowflakes, adjusting the timing for each group to create variety. To preview your animation, click on the Preview button in the toolbar.

2. Adjust Your Effects

For a consistent snowfall effect, click on the Repeat field and select the Until the End of Slide option. Ensure that larger snowflakes fall more quickly than the smaller ones for added realism.

5 PowerPoint Animation Tips

Whether you’re creating an animated snow background or adding animations generally, these tips will help ensure your slides look professional:

1. Guide the Eye

Use animation strategically to draw attention to key points on your slide. Direct the audience’s focus to the most critical information by choosing appropriate animations.

2. Consider Sound Effects

Adding sound effects can enhance your presentation, but keep them subtle. Mild effects like whooshes or clicks can be effective, but avoid overly loud or distracting sounds.

3. Be Consistent

Maintain consistency in your animation choices. Stick to two or three types of animations throughout your presentation to create a cohesive look.

4. Budget Your Time

Ensure you allocate sufficient time for adding effects during your presentation preparation. Avoid having animations run throughout your discussion to maintain audience engagement.

Envato Elements is the Best Source for PowerPoint Templates

Envato Elements is a subscription service that provides unlimited access to digital elements, including PowerPoint templates.

With a subscription, you can access photos, fonts, and more, making it a fantastic resource for digital creatives. With unlimited downloads, you can experiment with various templates until you find the perfect fit. Each template is designed by professionals, ensuring a stylish base for your presentation.

If you enjoy customizing your templates, rest assured that every design is easily adjustable to meet your needs.

Try Animation on Your Animated Snow Background for PowerPoint Today!

Enhance your winter-themed template by adding falling snowflakes. This addition can impress your audience while helping to establish the right mood for your presentation.