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In this series of tutorials on Shape Effects, you have already explored how you can apply preset, shadow, and reflection effects to selected shapes in PowerPoint 2010. In this tutorial you will learn how to apply the Glow effect, which adds a hazed color perimeter outside the shape area.

To see a sample presentation containing Glow effects in PowerPoint 2010, scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Follow these steps to apply glow effects to a shape:

1. Select the shape you want to apply the glow effect to (if there's no shape on your slide, learn to insert a new shape). Double click the selected shape to activate the Drawing Tools Format tab in the Ribbon (see Figure 1). Within this tab locate the Shape Styles group and click the Shape Effects button that you can see in Figure 1 (highlighted in red).
   
   
   Figure 1: Drawing Tools Format tab of the Ribbon
   
   
   Note: The Drawing Tools Format tab is a contextual tab. These tabs are special tabs in the Ribbon that are not visible all the time -- they only make an appearance when you are working with a particular slide object which can be edited using special options.
   
   
2. This brings up the Shape Effects drop-down gallery, as you can see in Figure 2. From the Shape Effects drop-down gallery, click on the Glow option.
   
   
   Figure 2: Glow sub-gallery within the Shape effects gallery
   
   
3. This opens the Glow sub-gallery (refer to Figure 2 above) that provides the following options:
   
   
   1. No Glow: Use this option to remove the glow effect from a selected shape. You can use this option if the shape has a glow applied which you want to remove.
      
      
   2. Glow Variations: This option provides several glow variations based on color and spread.
      
      Color: The six color variations are based on the six accent colors of the active Theme -- learn more about Themes here.
      
      Spread: There are four glow width (spread) variation available.
      
      
   3. More Glow Colors: Opens color swatches so that you can choose more colors for glow. If you want more information on this option, look at the More Glow Colors in PowerPoint 2010 tutorial.
      
      
   4. Glow Options: If you want to make changes to the color or the spread of the glow, choose this option. We discuss this in detail in our Advanced Glow Options in PowerPoint 2010 tutorial.
      
4. Move the cursor over any of the effects within the Glow gallery to see a live preview of the effect. Click on the effect of your choice to apply it to the selected shape. Figure 3 shows a glow effect applied to a Rectangle shape.
   
   
   Figure 3: Glow effect applied to a Rectangle
   
   
   Tip: Place your shape in the area that is not covered by the Shape Styles drop-down gallery as shown in Figure 3 , so that you can see the live preview.
   
   
5. Remember to save your presentation often.

Sample Presentation

Click above to view on YouTube

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