PowerPoint Graphics Guide 2024

6 minutes read

@ tutsplus.com

PowerPoint graphic design is an art. Ultimately, the goal of a presentation is to share information with your audience. Choosing the right PowerPoint graphics is all about supporting your message with the proper illustration or infographic.

You don’t have to build PowerPoint presentation graphics from scratch! One thing you’ll see in this tutorial is a source for unlimited PPT graphics included inside of templates. Plus, get graphics for presentations that you can source one-by-one with the help of GraphicRiver.

Understanding PowerPoint Graphics

The term PowerPoint graphics is quite broad, encompassing many types that professional presenters utilize. Here are three popular types of PowerPoint presentation graphics and how you can effectively use them:

  • SmartArt: These flexible graphics are ideal for those who may not have advanced graphic design skills. You can create visuals that adapt to your content, such as organizational charts and flowcharts.

  • Infographics: At the intersection of information and graphics, infographics serve as helpful explanatory visuals that enhance audience understanding.

  • Shapes: Simple shapes can significantly enhance your slides. For instance, using arrows can provide effective annotations.

In this tutorial, we will delve deeper into these three popular types of PPT graphics. For a comprehensive exploration of infographics, check out this excellent resource:

Accessing Unlimited PowerPoint Graphics Templates

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be equipped to master the use of PPT graphics. The best part is that you won’t need to design all of those graphics for your presentations from scratch. Utilizing templates designed by talented professionals is the key.

While Microsoft PowerPoint does offer some built-in templates, these are merely basic combinations of color schemes and layouts. Premium templates, on the other hand, contain powerful PPT graphics integrated into the presentation files. With Envato Elements, you can easily download them.

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Don’t worry about breaking the bank with Elements. For a single flat rate, you can unlock unlimited downloads of top PowerPoint presentation graphics templates.

The all-you-can-download subscription also provides a wealth of extra resources to enhance your PowerPoint presentations, including:

  • Stock Photos: Spice up your slides with high-resolution images from a well-organized stock photography library.

  • Graphics and Illustrations: Some templates benefit from supplemental graphics available for download from Elements.

  • Background Music: Add engaging background music that you can loop during presentations.

Here are three outstanding examples of the best graphics for PowerPoint presentations available in the Envato Elements library:

1. The X Note

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A consistently top-rated PowerPoint template, The X Note boasts numerous PPT graphics that can enhance your next presentation. With over 40 unique slides and multiple color schemes, customizing the included graphics is a breeze.

2. Beauty | PowerPoint Template

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The aptly named “Beauty” PowerPoint template captures elegance and is one of the best options for presentation graphics, featuring graphics across 30 unique slides.

3. Groningen - PowerPoint Template

This template offers a diverse range of PowerPoint presentation graphics, including infographics and shapes, all of which are easy to edit thanks to smartly constructed slides.

These templates represent just a taste of the graphics for presentations available on Elements. For infographic-focused templates and professional designs, explore these additional articles:

Finding Graphics on GraphicRiver

PowerPoint graphics templates come in various forms. While Envato Elements offers unlimited access, sometimes you may know exactly what you need. In that case, the cost-effective GraphicRiver library might be a perfect fit, allowing you to pay-as-you-go for single PPT graphics templates.

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With the right template, you’re well on your way to creating the best graphics for your PowerPoint presentations. Editing those background graphics for your unique presentation becomes a seamless process.

Editing Graphics in PowerPoint

Templates are incredibly useful, but you may wonder how to edit background graphics along with other visuals in PowerPoint. Are these templates adjustable? The answer is a resounding yes! PowerPoint graphic design can be easily mastered with templates, making it simple to edit and customize presentation graphics.

For our example, we will use The X Note, which features some of the best PPT graphics available.

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The X Note is part of Envato Elements, the premier source for unlimited downloads of top PowerPoint presentation graphics, crafted by graphic design experts.

Working with SmartArt Graphics

The first type of PPT graphic we’ll explore is SmartArt. This feature, built into Microsoft PowerPoint, allows you to create graphics with fewer clicks—no need for a separate graphic design application!

To start, click Insert on the ribbon, then select SmartArt. This will open a new window with various options to help you build SmartArt graphics for PowerPoint.

From this window, you’ll see SmartArt options categorized for easier selection. For this example, let’s choose a segmented cycle chart.

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After selecting your preset and clicking OK, the graphic will appear on your slide along with a side text box for bullet points that correspond to the slide text.

To edit the SmartArt graphics, simply type in the text box. The chart will update automatically, and you can add more bullet points by pressing return.

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One of the great advantages of SmartArt is its flexibility. When you need to update a graphic with new details, you won’t have to revert to an external design tool. Just type in the edit window, and your PowerPoint SmartArt will refresh automatically.

For a more in-depth understanding of SmartArt, check out our detailed guide:

Editing PowerPoint Infographics

Using pre-built infographics is the best way to work with PowerPoint graphics. For instance, in The X Note, slide 21 features a beautiful arctic scene that can be personalized with some tweaks.

To start editing, right-click the graphic and select Group > Ungroup. This allows you to select and modify individual shapes easily.

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PowerPoint graphics should make it easier to convey your ideas. After ungrouping, you can create tailored graphics that clarify a case study or concept.

Editing becomes straightforward: you can reposition, resize, and update elements as needed. Some examples of adjustments you might make include:

  • Changing the water area’s fill color to blue.
  • Adjusting arrows to enhance annotations.
  • Updating text boxes with relevant information.
  • Deleting any unnecessary elements like an unused iceberg.

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When creating a presentation, you often need efficient solutions. Starting with pre-built graphics, like those above, saves time and effort.

For more insights into utilizing PowerPoint graphics templates, check our guide:

Using Shapes as Graphics

Lastly, let’s explore Shapes as illustrative PowerPoint graphics. Shapes are simple to add and effectively draw attention to your slides.

To insert a shape, go to the Insert tab on the ribbon and select the Shapes dropdown. You’ll discover a wide array of shapes ready for your slides.

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Choose your desired shape, then click and drag to draw it on your slide. Since these vector graphic shapes are scalable, you don’t need to worry about losing quality.

One effective way to use shapes is with arrows to emphasize specific slide points.

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After adding a shape, you can style it using the Drawing Tools > Format menu. Click on your shape to access options like Shape Fill to change its color.

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Now you’re equipped to experiment with an extensive range of PowerPoint graphics!

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