PowerPoint Notes
Info-things on PowerPoint usage including tips, techniques and tutorials.
Here's a real stumper. I've been trying to figure this one out for a while. How can you edit the text shadow inside of a 'callout'. It seems to be locked. I've tried dropping text inside, highlighting text, changing the slide design settings, replacing all fonts in the presentation, you name it. Once again a problem that seems to be simple but is rather perplexing. I can't figure out why callouts don't have the same level of editing control that a simple text box has.
Shadows are influenced by two options:
1. Select the text and click the Shadow icon on the Drawing toolbar. Then click Shadow Settings to open the Shadow Settings toolbar. The last icon on this toolbar lets you change the shadow color.
2. Select the text and then choose Format | Font - if the Shadow option is selected, deselect it and work with the option 1.
It looks like text in an AutoShape (such as a callout) can only have shadows using option 2 though unless:
The base shadow settings give you a default background color. Remove the background color (i.e. no fill in the format autoshape window) and the callout text will perform just like any other textual text box.
Archives:
July 2004 | August 2004 | September 2004 | May 2005 | June 2005 | July 2005 | November 2005 | February 2006 | April 2006 | June 2006 | September 2006 | October 2006 | February 2007 | May 2007 | August 2007 | November 2007 | February 2008 | October 2008 |
A lot is at stake -- power, money, reputation, future plans, justice. You need to win this case. Your presentation materials surely will play an important role in helping the judge and jury experience the sights, sounds, and details of the case ... or not. The choice is up to you, says one tech-savvy attorney.
The choice is up to you, says one tech-savvy attorney. It all depends upon whether you are willing to push PowerPoint beyond its normal boundaries to maximize its interactive and persuasive potential. This article by Robert Lane and
Bruce A. Olson
provides a better idea of using PowerPoint in court. 
