We draw shapes onto a slide all time – using the rectangle, oval and line tools, but have you ever tried to draw perfect shapes – square, circle or straight line?
If you have, you know how much of a pain that can be, fiddling around with the mouse trying to get it perfect. When you have and you finish, the shape isn’t right!
Well, once you know the ‘trick’, it’s actually really simple.
One simple key – Shift
Yep, that’s the trick – use the Shift Key.
I know it sounds too easy, but it’s the truth.
Of course the real skill is knowing how to use it.
I’ve recorded a video to explain it and show you:
Perfect Shapes
Perfect Square
Using the rectangle tool – click and drag to create your shape.
While the mouse button is still held down, press Shift to transform it to a perfect square.
Remember to let go of the mouse before the Shift key, otherwise it will revert back to a rectangle.
Perfect Circle
The same as a square, but with the oval tool instead.
Click and drag to create the shape, then press Shift to make it into a circle.
Note: For both of these options, the size of your item will change, because of the change of shape.
Perfect Line
Yes, this is the same as the other two.
However, it does have an additional option – as the line can be drawn:
- horizonal
- vertical
- diagonal
Note: The diagonal will look a bit odd, but if you’re using the Shift key it will be perfect.
And there you have it – the quick and easy way to create perfect shapes.
Final reminder:
You need to stop holding down the mouse (or trackpad) button before you let go of the Shift key.
This ensures that you create that perfect shape!
Quick Tip:
Once you’ve created the shape you wanted, you can click and drag to change the size, but remember to keep the Shift held down (again), otherwise your perfect shape won’t be any longer…
Don’t forget your PowerPoint 365 Quick Start Guide
Related Posts
- PowerPoint Themes: Your Secret Weapon for Professional Presentations
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to create a cohesive look for your PowerPoint presentation, I’ve got great news for you. Microsoft has built-in design that can transform your slides in seconds, and I’m going to walk you through exactly how to use PowerPoint Themes. What Are PowerPoint Themes? PowerPoint themes are pre-built design templates… Read more: PowerPoint Themes: Your Secret Weapon for Professional Presentations - PowerPoint SmartArt: Your Quick Solution for Professional Charts
Creating complex charts in PowerPoint can feel like an overwhelming task. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve wanted to design a detailed diagram, only to think “this is going to take forever” and abandon the idea entirely. But here’s the thing – PowerPoint has a useful built-in feature that solves this problem: SmartArt.… Read more: PowerPoint SmartArt: Your Quick Solution for Professional Charts - PowerPoint’s Rehearse with Coach: Your Secret Weapon for Better Presentations
Have you ever finished creating a presentation and wished you could get some feedback before the big day? I’ve got great news for you, Microsoft has a built-in feature that does exactly that – PowerPoint Rehearse with Coach As a computer coach, I’m always excited to share tools that make our lives easier, and Presenter… Read more: PowerPoint’s Rehearse with Coach: Your Secret Weapon for Better Presentations - PowerPoint Handouts Made Simple
Have you ever wondered how people create PowerPoint slide handouts so quickly and easily? I’m going to show you PowerPoint’s brilliant built-in feature that makes this incredibly straightforward. Today, I want to share one of my favourite PowerPoint features that many people don’t even know exists. The Magic of PowerPoint’s Export Feature I know printed… Read more: PowerPoint Handouts Made Simple - PowerPoint Transition Secrets Every Presenter Should Know
I’ve noticed that many people struggle with PowerPoint slide transitions, finding them a bit tricky to master. I’m here to share some practical tips that will make your presentations more engaging and professional. Understanding PowerPoint Transitions A transition is simply the movement from one slide to another in your presentation. When you click to advance,… Read more: PowerPoint Transition Secrets Every Presenter Should Know
1 thought on “Your Basic Shapes Made Perfect”
The diagonal line trick was new to me – thanks.
Nice little video too, very useful. I hope that it is the first of many. When you have a few of them, have you considered creating a channel on YouTube to make them available to a wider audience ?
in the covering e-mail, it might have been worth saying to always work on a copy of your file or data, and never manipulate your only copy. I have seen folks get into difficulties with the exit without saving the changes method, particularly if they have already hit save part way through.
Comments are closed.