Simple Beginner’s Guide: How to Draw On PowerPoint

Looking to create a visually appealing presentation and don’t have time to learn how to use a graphic design program? Learning how to draw on PowerPoint is a great way to add special effects without having to learn a brand new software.

In this article, you’ll learn how to use simple tools that are already built into the program. Believe it or not, you can create professional-looking and beautiful slides without any expensive software and just a little bit of patience.

PowerPoint Drawing Tools & Inking Tools

The PowerPoint Drawing Tools & Inking Tools can be found under the Insert tab. Here you will find a variety of shapes, lines, and other objects that can be inserted into your slides.

The PowerPoint Inking Tools allow you to write or draw directly onto slides using a digital pen or your finger if you’re using a touchscreen. To use the Inking Tools, simply click on the Pen or Highlighter tool and then start writing or drawing on the slide.

If you want to change the color of the pen or highlighter, simply right-click on the tool and select from the options in the pop-up menu.

Set Default Shape Format On Powerpoint Slide

If you want to save time when creating new shapes in PowerPoint with drawing tools, you can set a default shape format. That way, every time you create a new shape, it will automatically have the format that you desire.

How To Set A Default Shape Format

First, open PowerPoint and create a new blank presentation. Then, click on the Format tab at the top of the window. In the Shape Styles group, click on the small arrow in the bottom-right corner. A menu will appear with various format options. Choose the option or options that you want to set as your default shape format.

Now, every time you create a new shape in PowerPoint, it will automatically have the format that you selected. This can save you a lot of time if you often need to create shapes with specific formats.

Need some ideas for creating presentations? Check out: Powerpoint For New Audiences

Draw Freehand Shapes In Powerpoint 2019 or 365 Using The Pen Tool

If you’re using PowerPoint 2019 or 365, did you know that you can draw freehand shapes using the Pen tool?

It’s a great way to add some personalization to your slides, and it’s really easy to do.

How To Use The Pen Tool

First, open up the slide that you want to draw on. Then, click on the Insert tab and select Shapes. From there, choose the Pen drawing tool.

Once you have the Pen icon selected, simply click and hold down your mouse button while you move your cursor around the screen. As you move your mouse cursor, you’ll see a line being drawn behind it. When you’re happy with the shape that you’ve created, just let go of the mouse button and the shape will be complete.

If you want to move the shape around, simply click on it and then drag it to the desired location. You can also resize the shape by clicking on one of the corners and dragging it in or out.

That’s all there is to it! Drawing shapes using the Pen tool is a great way to add some personalization to your PowerPoint slides.

Done designing and ready to get started with a powerful agenda slide? Check out: PowerPoint Agendas: 3 Ways to Set Expectations

Draw A Freeform Shape Tool

Start by navigating to the slide you want to draw on.

You can also start with a new blank slide. To do this, click the Home tab in the top left corner of the screen. Then, click New Slide in the middle of the bar. A menu will pop up on the right side of the screen; from here, select Blank. Now, you should now have a blank slide before you.

Now it’s time to start drawing on the current slide.

Click on the Insert tab (still in the top left corner of your screen). Then, click on Shapes. A menu of different shapes will appear on the right side of the screen. For this, you’ll be using the Freeform shape option.

Once you click on the Freeform shape, click anywhere on your slide to start drawing. As you move your mouse, you’ll see the shape start to take form.

Keep going until you’re happy with your drawing, then release the mouse button to finish.

Eraser Shortcut (Ctrl+E)

The eraser tool and shortcut is the quickest way to remove unwanted lines or markings from your PowerPoint slide.

How to Use the Eraser Tool and Shortcut

• First, select the object you want to erase.
• Next, press and hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
• While holding down Ctrl, press the E key once. This will bring up the Eraser tool.
• Use the Eraser tool to remove any unwanted lines or markings from your PowerPoint slide.

Ctrl+E is a great shortcut to know if you need to quickly remove something from your PowerPoint slides.

How Drawing Tools Make Your Presentations More Engaging

You can use the drawing tools to draw attention to important points on your slides. For example, you can use the highlighter tool to highlight key text or the pencil tool to draw arrows pointing to important elements.

Use the inking tools to add handwritten annotations directly onto your slides. This can be a great way to personalize your presentation or add extra information that isn’t already included in the slide deck.

Both of these methods will help you make your slideshow more visually appealing and engaging for your audience.

The Highlighter Shortcut (Ctrl+I)

This is a quick and easy way to add emphasis to your PowerPoint slides. It’s especially useful for pointing out text that you want your audience to remember after the presentation is over.

How to Use the Highlighter Tool and Shortcut

• Select the text you want to highlight.
• Press Ctrl+I on your keyboard.
• The selected text will now be highlighted in yellow.
• Navigate to the tool ribbon at the top of the screen if you want to change the highlighting color.

You can also use the Highlighter shortcut to draw on your PowerPoint slides in a matter of seconds by selecting the tool first (instead of the text). Simply select the pen tool from the Drawing toolbar and then press Ctrl+I on your keyboard. Your cursor will turn into a highlighter, which you can use to draw on your PowerPoint slide.

Note: The Highlighter shortcut only works in PowerPoint 2016 and later versions.

How To Find a Photo to Trace

The great thing about digital art is that you can use any image as a reference, whether it’s a photo you took yourself or found online. If you’re new to tracing, start with a simple image with well-defined lines.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to use PowerPoint’s shapes and drawing tools to trace an image step-by-step.

First, open the PowerPoint presentation where you want to add your traced image. Then, click on the Insert tab and select Pictures from the Images group. This will open the Insert Picture dialog box. Find the image you want to use, select it, and then click Insert.

Your chosen image will now appear on your PowerPoint slide. To begin tracing it, select the image by clicking on it. Then, go to the Format tab and click on Edit Shape in the Size group. This will open the Draw pane on the right side of your screen.

In the Draw pane, you’ll see several different drawing tools that you can use to trace your image. The most basic tool is the pencil, which you can use to draw freeform lines. If you want something a little more precise, try using the straight-line or rectangle tool.

Once you’ve chosen a drawing tool, trace around the outline of your image. When you’re finished, close the Draw pane and your tracing is complete! You can then delete the reference photo if you like.

Conclusion

And just like that, you’ve learned how to use PowerPoint’s drawing tools and inking tools. Give them a try next time you’re working on a presentation and see how they can help you create more professional-looking slideshows.