Convert SmartArt Graphics to Shapes in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows

You can easily convert bulleted text to SmartArt graphics, but many users want to go the other way and convert their SmartArt graphics to bulleted text, or even to individual editable shapes that can be manipulated further. Yes, you can convert SmartArt graphics to individual shapes, but do remember that this is a one-way process, and you lose any editability for the SmartArt graphics from that point in time. However, converting to shapes does mean that you have complete control over moving, resizing, deleting, or formatting individual shapes.

Follow these steps to convert SmartArt graphics into shapes in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows:

1. Select your existing SmartArt graphics, as shown in Figure 1, below. The SmartArt graphic variant that has been used is the Horizontal Picture List.
2. 
   Figure 1: Horizontal Picture List SmartArt with text
2. When the SmartArt graphic is selected, you'll find two contextual tabs activated on the Ribbon. These are the SmartArt Tools Design and the SmartArt Tools Format tabs, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 2, below. Select the SmartArt Tools Design tab.
3. 
   Figure 2: SmartArt Tools Design tab selected

Contextual Tabs

The SmartArt Tools Design and SmartArt Tools Format tabs are contextual tabs. 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.
3. Within the SmartArt Tools Design tab, locate the Reset group. Then, click the Convert button to bring up the drop-down list, as shown in Figure 3, below. Within the list, select the Convert to Shapes option, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 3.
4. 
   Figure 3: Convert SmartArt to Shapes
5. This action will convert SmartArt graphics to shapes, as shown in Figure 4, below.
6. 
   Figure 4: SmartArt graphic converted to shapes
4. Alternatively, you can right-click the SmartArt graphic to bring up the resultant contextual menu, and choose the Convert to Shapes option, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 5, below.
5. 
   Figure 5: Convert to Shapes option
6. Now, right-click the converted SmartArt graphic to see the resultant contextual menu, and choose the Group | Ungroup option, as shown in Figure 6, below.
7. 
   Figure 6: Ungroup SmartArt to shapes
5. This action also ungroups all the converted SmartArt graphics into individual shapes, as shown in Figure 7, below.
6. 
   Figure 7: Converted SmartArt graphic ungrouped into individual shapes