Adding Animations in Apple Keynote

Learn how to add animations in Keynote. We’ll show you how to animate text, graphics, charts, and more in this tutorial on Apple Keynote animations.

The Importance of Animations

Animations can help you build suspense or hold attention with your audience during a presentation. Using animation to reveal a key fact or chart, for example, can make a significant impact. Bringing an essential element on a slide with animation is akin to saving the punchline for a joke for the perfect moment.

When it comes to building a presentation, many users turn to Apple Keynote. Keynote is Apple’s alternative to the popular PowerPoint presentation software and features one of the easiest-to-use interfaces in any presentation app. This ease of use encourages users to explore Keynote for various design tasks, including UI animations. Keynote also allows for easy-to-apply animations that can deliver impactful reveals or move objects on your slide.

In this tutorial, we’ll delve into Keynote animations. Apple’s Keynote software is not only accessible but also offers fantastic animation capabilities. You can even create cartoons using Keynote, showcasing its versatility.

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to master Keynote animations. You will learn how to apply animations to objects, charts, graphs, and more, enabling you to capture and maintain your audience’s attention.

Getting Started with Keynote Animations

To kick things off, let’s explore how to create your first Keynote animation. This tutorial will focus on animating objects within a slide, such as text, images, or charts. Note that transitions between slides, like fades or dissolves, are not included in this tutorial.

Accessing the Animation Panel

To begin, locate the Animate button in the upper right corner of the Keynote interface. Clicking on it will open the Animation panel, which controls all animations on your Keynote slides.

The Animation panel features three main types of animations that you can apply:

1. Build In animations bring objects onto your slide, such as fading in or flying in from the side.
2. Action animations allow you to modify the object on the slide—this can include resizing, transforming, or moving it.
3. Build Out animations remove an object from the slide, using effects like fading out or flipping away.

To apply an animation, select the object you want to animate, then choose the corresponding tab for your desired animation effect. Click on Add an Effect, and a new menu will appear displaying various animation options. Hover over each option and click Preview to see how each animation looks.

Once you’ve chosen your animation, click on it from the dropdown list. For best results, it’s advisable to stick with simpler animations to ensure your content remains clear and effective.

Customizing Animations

After applying an animation, you might want to adjust specific settings like speed or style. The options available will change depending on the animation you choose, but common settings include Duration, which controls the speed of the animation. Adjust the slider to set how quickly or slowly the animation plays.

Remember, the pre-built animation settings are a starting point. Feel free to tweak the duration and other settings to achieve the desired effect.

Advanced Animation Techniques with Custom Templates

While basic animations are easy to apply, custom Keynote templates can elevate your presentations with advanced animations. These templates often come with pre-designed animations that can significantly enhance your slides.

One excellent resource for custom Keynote templates is Envato Elements, which offers unlimited downloads of various creative assets, including advanced Keynote templates. For instance, the Anim8 Keynote template features numerous mini-animations that create smooth effects far beyond standard options.

If you start using templates like Anim8 from Envato Elements, you might also want to learn about customizing them for your presentations. Check out the tutorial on customizing animated Keynote templates for tips and tricks.

Sequencing Keynote Animations

Once you’ve added multiple animations to your slides, you may want to sequence them for a more impactful presentation. You can control the order of animations using the same Animate tab.

To rearrange the animations, click on Build Order at the bottom of the Animate panel. In the Build Order window, you can simply drag and drop the objects to change the sequence in which they play. Press Preview to see the resulting animation order in action.

This panel also allows you to set how the animations are triggered, selecting options like On Click or With… to control when each animation plays.

Conclusion

You’ve now learned about adding and customizing animations in Keynote, as well as how to sequence them effectively. Remember that when it comes to animations, less is often more. Use animations strategically to emphasize critical elements without overwhelming your audience.

If you’re looking to enhance your Keynote skills further, Tuts+ offers a wide range of Apple Keynote tutorials to help you continue learning. Here are a few popular tutorials:

• How to Quickly Make a Timeline in Keynote With Templates
• How to Use Keynote Slides (Layout Dimensions, Sizes, & Design)
• How to Add Pictures & Backgrounds in Keynote Presentations
• How to Add Animated GIFs to Keynote

Now that you’ve mastered adding animations in Keynote, consider exploring templates from Envato Elements or GraphicRiver to enhance your presentations even further.