Shape Combine Command in PowerPoint 2013
Learn how you can combine shapes in PowerPoint 2013 using the Combine command.
Author: Geetesh Bajaj
Product/Version: Microsoft PowerPoint 2013
OS: Windows 7 and 8
There are so many shapes available within
PowerPoint 2013 -- and that's good because that
means so many more possibilities to create your own unique shapes by using any of the
Merge Shapes commands.
One of the amazing options within Merge Shapes is Combine -- this retains areas where the
shapes do not overlap while removing the overlapping areas -- think of Combine as an amazing cutout option! You
can see examples of the Combine option in play within Figure 1, below
-- the three examples on the top area of the slide are separate shapes placed over each other. The shapes
that you see at the bottom of the slide are the same shapes with the Combine option
applied -- resulting in a cutout, remnant shape.
Figure 1: Sample showing use of the Combine command
Once you finish reading this tutorial, do view the sample presentations embedded on the bottom of this page to see more samples of shapes that use the Combine command.
Follow these steps to learn more:
- Select any two or more shapes as shown in Figure 2. With these shapes selected, access
the Drawing Tools Format tab on the
Ribbon (highlighted in
red within Figure 2).
Figure 2: Drawing Tools Format tab
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.
- Within the Drawing Tools Format tab, click the Merge Shapes button
(highlighted in red within Figure 3). This brings up the
Merge Shapes drop-down gallery (highlighted in blue within
Figure 3).
Figure 3: Merge Shapes drop-down gallery
- Within the Merge Shapes drop-down gallery, hover the cursor over Combine
option to see a live preview of how
the shapes will look when combined, as shown in Figure 4. Click the Combine
option so that the selected shapes are combined -- you will notice that the Combine option removes any areas that
overlap.
Figure 4: Previously selected shapes are Combined
- Save your presentation often.
Do remember these guidelines for any tasks that involve the usage of this command. The Combine command:
- Combines non-overlapping areas of shapes
- Removes overlapping areas of shapes
- If selected shapes do not overlap, acts like a group with no option to ungroup!
- Retains formatting of first selected shape
You will see these guidelines in use within the embedded presentations below (scroll down this page).
The sample presentations below show how we used different shapes placed next to and above each other, and then combined.
Click above to view on SlideShare
Click above to view on YouTube
See Also:
Shape Combine Command in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows
Shape Combine Command in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac
Shape Combine Command in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows
PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts and Sequences:
PowerPoint 2013, 2011, 2010, 2007 and 2003
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