In PowerPoint, if you want to enhance the look
of your inserted video, you are certainly not limited to the options we have already explored including
Corrections,
Recolor,
Video Styles, and
Video Borders. In addition to these options, you can also apply Video Effects such as shadows, glows, bevels, 3-D rotation, etc. to your video clip. Follow these steps to explore Video Effects in
PowerPoint 2016:
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Open your presentation, and navigate to the required slide where you have already
inserted a video clip. Just select or double-click the video clip to bring up the two Video Tools tabs in the
Ribbon. These two tabs are Format and
Playback. Click the Format tab to activate it, as shown in Figure 1 (highlighted in
blue).
Figure 1: Video Tools Format tab of the Ribbon
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When you insert a video on your slide, it may display a black rectangle on the slide (see Figure 1, above). If your
video clip does not show a black rectangle, then directly proceed to Step 3. If you see just a black
rectangle on your slide when you insert video, a
Poster Frame can be applied to your video clip, as
shown in Figure 2. When you are choosing different Video Effects, it is good to see a
Live Preview of the actual video clip applied with those
Video Effects, rather than seeing a black rectangle. Anyhow, applying a Poster Frame is entirely optional,
and has no relation to your being able to follow the rest of this tutorial.
Figure 2: Video Effects button within the Video Styles group
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Once the video frame is made visible, select the Video Tools Format tab, and click the Video Effects
button (highlighted in red within Figure 2, above).
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This opens the Video Effects drop-down gallery, as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Video Effects drop-down gallery
Let us explore these Video Effects as marked in Figure 3, above. For more information on how to apply
these effects, refer to the linked tutorials below. Although these linked tutorials discuss the Effect options for
Shapes, the procedures explained applies to Videos as well:
A. Preset:
This option enables you to use the preset combinations of various effects available. These work well most of the
time. Refer to our Apply Preset Effects
tutorial for more information on how to use and edit the Preset Effects.
B. Shadow:
Applies a shadow to the selected video. PowerPoint provides three types of shadows: outer, inner, and perspective.
You can apply any of these, or customize them to meet your requirements. Refer to our
Apply Shadow Effects tutorial for more
information on how to use the Shadow Effect.
C. Reflection:
Adds a reflection to the selected video clip, and you can choose from several reflection styles. Remember, you
may want to avoid using Shadow and Reflection for the same video clip. Refer to our
Apply Reflection Effects tutorial.
D. Glow:
Provides a hazed, blurred color perimeter outside the video area. PowerPoint provides several glow variations; the
glow colors are based on the Theme colors, although you can also
choose any other color as well. Refer to our
Apply Glow Effects tutorial.
E. Soft Edges:
This effect type makes the video's edges feathered. There are some soft edges variations available. Refer to
our Apply Soft Edges tutorial.
F. Bevel:
Applies bevel effects to the selected video clip. You can also customize the applied bevel. Refer to our
Apply Bevel Effects tutorial.
G. 3-D Rotation:
Imparts parallel, perspective, and oblique 3-D effects to the selected video clip. Refer to our
Apply 3-D Rotation tutorial.
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Choose and apply any of the Video Effects to your video. You can apply multiple effects to the same video.
Figure 4 shows the selected video clip with two effects applied (Bevel and
3-D Rotation). Compare Figures 2 and 4.
Figure 4: Multiple Effects applied to one video clip
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Play your video clip to see the difference and remember to save your presentation often.
See Also:
Video Effects in PowerPoint 2013 for Windows
Movie Effects in
PowerPoint 2011 for Mac
Video Effects in PowerPoint 2010 for
Windows
