Hey guys! Ever wanted to make your PowerPoint slides look super cool and professional by wrapping text around a shape? It's a neat trick to add some visual flair and make your presentations more engaging. In this guide, I'm going to walk you through exactly how to do it. Trust me, it’s easier than you think!

Why Wrap Text Around Shapes?

Before we dive into the how, let's quickly cover the why. Why bother wrapping text around shapes in PowerPoint? Well, there are several good reasons:

• Visual Appeal: It makes your slides look more dynamic and less monotonous. Instead of just having blocks of text, you can create interesting layouts that catch the eye.
• Emphasis: Wrapping text around a shape can draw attention to a specific part of your slide. It’s a great way to highlight key information.
• Professionalism: It gives your presentation a polished, professional look. It shows that you’ve put thought and effort into the design.
• Creativity: It allows you to be more creative with your slide layouts. You can create unique designs that stand out from the crowd.

So, now that you know why it’s a good idea, let's get started with the steps.

Step-by-Step Guide to Wrapping Text Around Shapes in PowerPoint

Step 1: Insert a Shape

First things first, you need a shape! PowerPoint has a ton of built-in shapes to choose from. Here’s how to insert one:

1. Open PowerPoint: Fire up PowerPoint and open the presentation you’re working on. Or, start a new one – fresh canvas, fresh ideas!
2. Select a Slide: Go to the slide where you want to add the shape.
3. Go to the Insert Tab: Click on the "Insert" tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen. This tab is your gateway to adding all sorts of goodies to your slides, from images to charts to, you guessed it, shapes.
4. Click on Shapes: In the "Illustrations" group, you’ll see a "Shapes" button. Click it, and a dropdown menu will appear with a plethora of shapes to choose from.
5. Choose Your Shape: Browse through the options and pick a shape that tickles your fancy. Whether it's a circle, square, star, or even a lightning bolt, the choice is yours! Just click on the shape you want to use.
6. Draw the Shape: Now, click and drag on your slide to draw the shape. You can resize it and move it around later, so don’t worry about getting it perfect right away. To maintain the shape's proportions (e.g., creating a perfect circle or square), hold down the Shift key while dragging.

Tips for Choosing a Shape:

• Consider the Content: Pick a shape that complements the content of your slide. For example, if you’re talking about teamwork, a circle might be a good choice to symbolize unity.
• Keep it Simple: While it’s tempting to go for something super fancy, simpler shapes often work best. They’re easier to work with and less distracting.
• Think About Placement: Consider where you want to place the shape on your slide and how it will interact with the other elements.

Step 2: Add Text to Your Slide

Now that you have your shape, it’s time to add some text. You can either use existing text on your slide or insert a new text box.

1. Insert a Text Box: If you don’t already have text on your slide, go to the "Insert" tab again and click on "Text Box" in the "Text" group.
2. Draw the Text Box: Click and drag on your slide to draw a text box. Make it large enough to accommodate the text you want to add.
3. Add Your Text: Type or paste your text into the text box. This is the text that you’ll be wrapping around the shape, so make sure it’s relevant and engaging.

Tips for Adding Text:

• Keep it Concise: No one wants to read a novel on a PowerPoint slide. Keep your text short and to the point.
• Use Bullet Points: Bullet points are a great way to break up large blocks of text and make your slide easier to read.
• Choose a Readable Font: Make sure your font is easy to read and appropriate for your audience. Avoid anything too fancy or distracting.

Step 3: Use the Wrap Text Feature (The Trick!)

Alright, here’s where the magic happens! PowerPoint doesn’t have a direct "wrap text around shape" feature like you might find in some other design programs. But, with a little clever workaround, we can achieve the same effect using the Merge Shapes tool.

1. Select Both the Shape and the Text Box: Hold down the Shift key and click on both the shape and the text box to select them. Make sure both are selected simultaneously.
2. Go to the Shape Format Tab: With both the shape and the text box selected, a new tab called "Shape Format" (or "Drawing Tools Format" in older versions of PowerPoint) will appear in the ribbon. Click on it.
3. Find the Merge Shapes Option: In the "Shape Format" tab, look for the "Merge Shapes" option. It’s usually located in the "Insert Shapes" group. If you don’t see it directly, look for an icon that shows overlapping shapes.
4. Select "Intersect": Click the dropdown arrow on the "Merge Shapes" button to reveal several options: Union, Combine, Fragment, Intersect, and Subtract. Select "Intersect". This is the key to creating the wrap-around effect.

What "Intersect" Does:

The "Intersect" option keeps only the area where the selected shapes overlap, deleting everything else. In our case, it will keep the text that falls within the shape and remove the rest. This effectively creates the illusion of text wrapping around the shape.

Step 4: Adjust and Refine

After using the "Intersect" function, you might need to do some tweaking to get the text to look just right. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Resize the Shape: You can resize the shape to control how much text is visible. Make it larger to show more text, or smaller to show less.
2. Move the Shape: Experiment with moving the shape around to find the perfect placement for the text.
3. Adjust the Text Box: You might need to adjust the size and position of the original text box to get the text to flow correctly within the shape.
4. Font Size and Type: Adjusting the font size can help fit more or less text within the shape. Experiment with different fonts to see what looks best.
5. Line Spacing: Adjusting the line spacing can also help improve the appearance of the text within the shape. You can find line spacing options in the "Home" tab, in the "Paragraph" group.

Pro Tip: Sometimes, the text might look a bit pixelated after using the "Intersect" function. To fix this, try increasing the resolution of your PowerPoint presentation. Go to "Design" > "Slide Size" > "Custom Slide Size" and increase the width and height.

Step 5: Add Finishing Touches

Now that you’ve wrapped the text around the shape, it’s time to add some finishing touches to make your slide look even better.

1. Format the Shape: Use the "Shape Format" tab to change the fill color, outline color, and other visual properties of the shape. You can also add effects like shadows and glows.
2. Format the Text: Use the "Home" tab to change the font, font size, color, and other text formatting options. Make sure the text is easy to read and complements the overall design of your slide.
3. Add Other Elements: Consider adding other elements to your slide, such as images, icons, and charts, to make it more visually appealing and informative.
4. Animate: you can add entrance or exit animation. This will make your powerpoint more interesting.

Alternative Method: Using Text Inside the Shape

Another approach to consider is placing the text inside the shape directly. This is simpler but doesn't give the exact same wrap-around effect. Here’s how:

1. Right-Click the Shape: Right-click on the shape you’ve inserted.
2. Select "Edit Text": Choose "Edit Text" from the context menu.
3. Type Your Text: Now you can type directly into the shape. The text will be contained within the boundaries of the shape.

Limitations:

• The text won't truly wrap around the shape's outline. It will simply fill the shape's interior.
• This method works best with larger shapes and shorter amounts of text. Too much text can make the shape look cluttered.

Tips and Tricks for Awesome Text Wrapping

• Use High-Quality Images: If you’re using images in your presentation, make sure they’re high-quality. Blurry or pixelated images can detract from the overall look of your slide.
• Maintain Consistency: Use the same fonts, colors, and styles throughout your presentation to create a consistent look and feel.
• Get Feedback: Ask a friend or colleague to review your presentation and provide feedback. A fresh pair of eyes can often spot things that you might have missed.
• Practice Your Presentation: Practice your presentation beforehand to make sure you’re comfortable with the content and the flow. This will help you deliver a more confident and engaging presentation.

Common Issues and How to Solve Them

• Text Disappears: If the text disappears after using "Intersect", make sure that both the shape and the text box were selected properly. Also, check that the text box is large enough to contain the text.
• Ugly Edges: Sometimes, the edges of the text can look a bit rough after using "Intersect". Try increasing the resolution of your presentation or using a different font.
• Text Doesn't Fit: If the text doesn’t fit within the shape, try reducing the font size or adjusting the size and position of the shape and text box.

Conclusion

Wrapping text around shapes in PowerPoint is a fantastic way to elevate your presentations and make them more visually appealing. While PowerPoint doesn’t have a direct "wrap text" feature, the "Intersect" trick is a powerful workaround. By following these steps and experimenting with different shapes and text layouts, you can create stunning slides that captivate your audience. So go ahead, give it a try, and take your PowerPoint skills to the next level!