Types of Animation in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac

You have already learned what animation is, and where you should draw the limits as far as animation goes. In addition, we looked at how you can add animation to a slide object. In this tutorial, we move further to explore the several types of animation available in PowerPoint 2011. When we say "several types", we do not mean the animation effects themselves but the several types wherein these effects can be categorized. Figure 1 shows the different types of Animation Effects within the Animations tab of the Ribbon.

Figure 1: Animation types in PowerPoint 2011

Since Figure 1 spans the entire interface area in PowerPoint, we split the width of the Ribbon into two, so that you can see all options clearly. Animations in PowerPoint 2011 are divided into four categories. These are explained below, as marked in Figure 1, above:

A. Entrance Effects

Used to introduce a slide object within a slide. If a slide was a room, and you were a slide object -- then an entrance animation will be akin to you entering the room. Learn more about Entrance ffects in our Entrance Effects for Animations in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac tutorial.

B. Emphasis Effects

Animate the slide objects that are already present on a slide. Using the same analogy as we used for Entrance animations, you would already be in the room, and would move from one area in the room to another -- this would be akin to an Emphasis animation. To know more about Emphasis Effects, refer to our Emphasis Effects for Animations in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac tutorial.

C. Exit Effects

Animate the slide objects off a slide. So, if you were a slide object in a room (slide), then you walking out of the room would be akin to an Exit animation. Explore more in our Exit Effects for Animations in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac tutorial

D. Motion Paths

Their are similar to Emphasis Effects since they are typically used to move slide objects already on a slide, although they can also make objects enter and exit the slide area. Motion path animations cause movement set on a path, and this path could be a circle, a line, or any other custom path. We have explained the Motion Paths in detail in our Motion Path Animations in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac tutorial.

What's important to realize is that the same slide object can have all four animation types added to it and set to play one after the other (or even at the same time in some instances). This sort of sequencing is controlled by animation events such as On Click, With Previous, and After Previous. We explain these events in our Animation Events tutorial. Another concept that you need to know is how to control the speed of the animation.