How to Create Scrolling Text in PowerPoint

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Adding scrolling text effects to your PowerPoint presentations can help make the content more dynamic, eye-catching and professional. Scrolling text is commonly used for things like credits, announcements, schedules, tickers and more.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn multiple methods for creating various scrolling text effects in PowerPoint.

Why Use Scrolling Text in Presentations?

Here are some of the benefits of using scrolling text effects in PowerPoint:

  • Draws attention – The movement naturally catches the viewer’s eye, highlighting important information.
  • Saves space – You can fit more text in a small area since viewers can scroll through it.
  • Looks professional – Mimics effects seen in videos, TV, websites and apps.
  • Engages viewers – The motion keeps audiences interested in your content.

So if you want to make your PowerPoint slides more dynamic and professional, consider adding some scrolling text elements.

How to Create Basic Scrolling Text

The easiest way to create scrolling text is by applying the “Credits” entrance animation. Here are the steps:

  1. Add a text box to your slide and enter your text.
  2. Select the text box. Go to the “Animations” tab and click “Add Animation.”
  3. Click “More Entrance Effects” then choose the “Credits” animation and click OK.
  4. The text will now scroll upward. You can tweak the speed and other settings.

This creates text that scrolls upward, mimicking movie credits. You can repeat the steps to add multiple scrolling text boxes to a single slide.

How to Make Scrolling Text Loop

To make the scrolling text play on a continuous loop:

  1. Open the “Animation Pane” and locate the scrolling text animation.
  2. Click the drop-down arrow next to the animation and choose “Effect Options.”
  3. Go to the “Timing” tab and set the repeat option to “Until End of Slide.” Click OK.

Now your scrolling text will seamlessly repeat until the slide ends, useful for announcements or tickers.

How to Sync Multiple Scrolling Text Boxes

If you want two pieces of scrolling text to move in sync:

  1. Select both text boxes and click the “Animation Painter” icon to copy the animation.
  2. Open the “Animation Pane” and select both animations.
  3. Click “Change” then set the animations to “Start” and “With Previous.”

This will make the text boxes start animating together in perfect sync.

How to Create a News Ticker Effect

To create a news ticker tape effect:

  1. Add a text box and enter your scrolling text.
  2. Copy and paste the text box so you have two identical boxes.
  3. Nudge one text box to the left and one to the right.
  4. Apply opposing “Fly In” animations to both boxes.
  5. Set the animations to “Start With Previous” and loop “Until End of Slide.”

This creates a ticker tape looping between both text boxes. You can add as many duplicate text boxes as you want for a longer ticker.

How to Make Vertical Scrolling Text

By default, most text animations scroll horizontally. To make text scroll vertically:

  1. Add a text box and enter your text. Animate it to scroll across.
  2. Rotate the text box 90 degrees by selecting “Rotate” then dragging the green handle down.
  3. The text will now scroll from top to bottom instead of left to right.

Use this for credits or other text you want to scroll vertically, like a stock ticker.

Extra Tips and Tricks

  • Use contrasting colors for the text and background to make scrolling text stand out.
  • Add sound effects like typewriter clicks to make scrolling text more dramatic.
  • Nest scrolling text boxes inside other objects to only show a portion of the text.
  • Use the “Animator” transition instead of normal animations for smoother scrolling movement.

So those are the basics of creating scrolling text effects in PowerPoint! With a little creativity, the possibilities are endless.

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