I have one question concerning a design effect. I put a shape (rounded rectangle) on my slide but with transparency at 100%. And I want to make my slide darkenned except inside the rectangle. Is it possible ?
This might sound silly.. but why not just not make the rectangle transparent? Or just don't make it 100% transparent.
I'm not quite sure why you're wanting to do this, perhaps if you shared more about what you'd like to see and why you're using this method, it would be easier to provide some suggestions :)
If you're wanting the background to change behind that object, one option would be to use another object. You could even add some shadowing or a glow effect if you'd like.
I'm wondering if he's not going for something like the spotlight effect in Presenter to bring a brief highlight to something?
I had to do something similar and ended up creating a black, semi-transparent, full-slide-sized image in PPT and cutting out the shape I wanted in the middle using the shape subtract tool, then saved it down as a PNG and brought it into Storyline.
It worked! Though mine was a very unique outline and that was the only way to get the effect I wanted.
No, it doesn't exist in SL which is why I had to create it in PPT, save it as a PNG, and insert it as an image into SL.
The subtract tool isn't visible by default in PPT 2010 (and I don't think it was available before that version). If you customize your ribbon you can add it for quick access.
In this Screenr Tom shows how to customize the ribbon. I'd add the tools for Shape Subtract, Shape Union, Shape Intersect and Shape Combine so you have all those options: https://player.vimeo.com/video/204933043
You can use gradients to achieve this effect. It isn't the best solution, but if you want to do something quick, it will do in a pinch.
Fill a shape with a gradient, radial or rectangular (not linear). Right click on the shape and bring up the Format Shape menu. In the Gradient stops sections, on Stop 1, set it the position to 25% (or however larger you want this to be.) Set the transparency to 100%. On stop 2, set the position to 25% (or whatever stop what equals to). and set the transparency to 50% ( or however light you want it). On stop 3 leave the position and adjust the transparency equal to Stop 2.
You should now have a "hole" in a shape. If you need this hole to be on the edges of the screen, you will have to make it very large since the hole is in the center of the shape.
9 Replies
Hi Boris,
This might sound silly.. but why not just not make the rectangle transparent? Or just don't make it 100% transparent.
I'm not quite sure why you're wanting to do this, perhaps if you shared more about what you'd like to see and why you're using this method, it would be easier to provide some suggestions :)
If you're wanting the background to change behind that object, one option would be to use another object. You could even add some shadowing or a glow effect if you'd like.
Let us know a little more and we'll try to help.
Thanks!
Hi Christine!
I'm wondering if he's not going for something like the spotlight effect in Presenter to bring a brief highlight to something?
I had to do something similar and ended up creating a black, semi-transparent, full-slide-sized image in PPT and cutting out the shape I wanted in the middle using the shape subtract tool, then saved it down as a PNG and brought it into Storyline.
It worked! Though mine was a very unique outline and that was the only way to get the effect I wanted.
Jackie
Awesome, thanks Jackie! :)
Hi Christine and Jackie, thank you for your help !
Jackie, where is the shape substract tool in ppt ? Does it exist in Storyline ?
Hi Boris,
No, it doesn't exist in SL which is why I had to create it in PPT, save it as a PNG, and insert it as an image into SL.
The subtract tool isn't visible by default in PPT 2010 (and I don't think it was available before that version). If you customize your ribbon you can add it for quick access.
In this Screenr Tom shows how to customize the ribbon. I'd add the tools for Shape Subtract, Shape Union, Shape Intersect and Shape Combine so you have all those options: https://player.vimeo.com/video/204933043
Then here's a Screenr where he demonstrates how those tools work: https://player.vimeo.com/video/149072447
Hope that helps!
Jackie
Hi Jackie,
Thank you for the help ! But it seems that I don't have in my PPT the functionalities like Shape substract, shape union...
Hi Boris,
If you are using an earlier version of PowerPoint, you can still create the same effect:
You can then save this as an image and then insert it onto your Storyline slide.
Antony
You can use gradients to achieve this effect. It isn't the best solution, but if you want to do something quick, it will do in a pinch.
Fill a shape with a gradient, radial or rectangular (not linear). Right click on the shape and bring up the Format Shape menu. In the Gradient stops sections, on Stop 1, set it the position to 25% (or however larger you want this to be.) Set the transparency to 100%. On stop 2, set the position to 25% (or whatever stop what equals to). and set the transparency to 50% ( or however light you want it). On stop 3 leave the position and adjust the transparency equal to Stop 2.
You should now have a "hole" in a shape. If you need this hole to be on the edges of the screen, you will have to make it very large since the hole is in the center of the shape.
Another way to do this is by using the donut and frame shapes:
https://player.vimeo.com/video/204871734
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