Creating Custom Shapes in PowerPoint

Sometimes I need to create a unique shape that's too tedious to draw freehand. Luckily, PowerPoint has some cool features for creating customized shapes that make it super easy. 

My favorite of these are the Shape Subtract and Shape Union features. They're simple to use, and they allow you to build and then "sculpt" a shape into whatever you want it to be.

Check out the example and how-tos in this screencast:

If you're using PowerPoint (2010 and above) but you don't see the Shape Subtract or Shape Union tools on your ribbon, it's easy to add them. This tutorial walks you through the steps.