Adding animations to your PowerPoint 2010 presentations can make them more visually engaging and help emphasize key points. Animating text and objects is easy to do in PowerPoint 2010, just follow these steps:

Select the Text or Object to Animate

The first step is to select the text box, shape, image, chart, SmartArt graphic, table, or other object that you want to animate. You can select multiple objects to animate them together as a group.

Go to the Animations Tab

In the PowerPoint ribbon at the top, click on the “Animations” tab. This will display all the animation tools and options.

Pick an Animation Effect

In the “Animation” section of the ribbon, click the drop-down menu under “Animation Styles” to see the available animations. There are four categories:

Entrance – animations for when objects enter the slide
Emphasis – animations to draw attention to objects already on the slide

Exit – animations for when objects exit the slide
Motion Paths – move objects around the slide along a custom path

Hover over an animation style to preview it. When you find one you like, click it to add it to the selected object(s).

Customize the Animation (Optional)

Some animations, like Fly In, have effect options you can customize like direction, speed, etc. Click “Effect Options” to tweak the animation.

You can also use the “Animation Pane” to precisely control animation order, timing, triggers, and more.

Preview the Animation

Click the “Preview” button on the Animations tab to see a sneak peek of how your animation will look. Or view it by running your full slide show.

Animating Text

Animating text boxes has some unique options, like animating text by word, letter, or line. Select the text box, go to “Effect Options” > “Animate Text” and pick one.

You can also choose entrances like Fly In to make text swoop in from the side, or exits like Spin Out to make text twirl off the slide. Get creative!

Tips and Tricks

Don’t overdo it! Just 1-2 animations per slide is best.

Time animations with previous/next animations for a smooth flow.
Use subtle animations for text, exciting ones for images.
Entrance animations look best coming in from the side, not center.

Common Animation Uses

There are endless creative ways to use animations, but some common examples include:

Emphasize Bullet Points

Have bullet points fly in or fade in to call attention to key lists on your slides.

Highlight Specific Text

Make important words zoom in, change color, spin, or bounce to ensure the audience notices them.

Reveal Charts/Graphs Piece by Piece

Bring in chart elements one by one to explain each part before showing the whole thing.

Make Logos Spin, Flip, Fade In

Animate your company logo on the opening or closing slides for impact.

Objects Floating In

Make shapes, images, icons, etc. gracefully float in from the side to introduce them.

Simulate Movement

Use Motion Paths to make objects follow a custom route across the slide, like an animated diagram.

The key is choosing animations that enhance your content rather than distract from it. With some strategic animation placements, you can add polish, clarity, and visual flair.

I hope these tips help you start animating more effectively in PowerPoint 2010! Let me know if you have any other questions.