Learn how to resize shapes in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows. You can resize shapes by dragging, or by using keyboard shortcuts.
Author: Geetesh Bajaj
Product/Version: PowerPoint 2010 for Windows
OS: Microsoft Windows XP and higher
Once you insert shapes on a slide, you may realize that it's not the perfect size. Do you want it larger, or a wee bit smaller? However, you want your shapes resized, it's easy to make the size change in a jiffy, right inside PowerPoint.
Follow these steps to resize shapes in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows.
Like most Microsoft Office programs follows the concept of selection, then action. Any shape that is selected shows several handles, as shown in both shapes in Figure 1, below. These are:
Figure 1: Shapes have several handles, and green rotation handle
When you drag any of the eight blueish-white handles, you can resize the shape:
Do you want more keyboard shortcuts?
Explore our PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts and Sequences Ebook that is updated for all PowerPoint versions.
As you resize the shape, you can see the height and the width change dynamically within the Size group of Drawing Tools Format tab of the Ribbon. Also, you can check the Lock Aspect Ratio option in the Format Shape pane, as shown in Figure 9, later on this page, and then use the Shift key in combination with any of the arrow keys to proportionately resize the selected shape.
The options shown above allow you to resize based on what you see rather than resizing them to exact numerical values. To resize any shape to an exact size, you first select it. This activates the Drawing Tools Format tab on the Ribbon, as shown in Figure 7, below. Within the Size group, as shown highlighted in red, within Figure 7, below, just change the Height and the Width values to resize the shape. You can press Enter after typing in a value, or use the increase or decrease buttons next to the numbers provided.
Figure 7: Drawing Tools Format tab activated on the Ribbon in PowerPoint
To view even more resize options, click the small arrow dialog launcher located at the bottom right corner of the Size group, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 8, below.
Figure 8: Click the arrow dialog launcher to summon the Format Shape dialog box
Doing so brings up the Format Shape dialog box, as shown in Figure 9, below. Within the Size tab you'll find these resize options:
Type in or use the increase/decrease buttons to change the height of a shape.
Type in or use the increase/decrease buttons to change the width of a shape.
Change the height based on percentage values
Change the width based on percentage values
Check this box, as shown highlighted in red within Figure 9, below, so any change in height reflects a proportionate change in the width, and vice versa.
Figure 9: Format Shape dialog box
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