Curving text in PowerPoint can add visual interest and help emphasize key points in your presentation. While it may seem complicated at first, curving text in PowerPoint is actually quite simple once you know how.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, using easy-to-follow instructions and screenshots. You’ll learn multiple methods for curving text, along with tips for fine-tuning and troubleshooting issues.

Why Curve Text in PowerPoint?

Before diving into the how-to, let’s look at some of the key reasons you may want to curve text in your PowerPoint presentations:

Draws attention – Curved text stands out, immediately grabbing your audience’s focus. Use it strategically on key text you want viewers to notice.
Adds visual interest – Curved text gives presentations a more dynamic, visually-appealing look compared to straight text.
Emphasizes ideas – Bending text around shapes lets you spotlight important concepts or ideas that you want to stress.

Guides the eye – Curving text in a purposeful direction helps intuitively lead your audience from one idea to the next.
Saves space – Wrapping text tightly around shapes and images allows you to maximize real estate on text-heavy slides.

Now let’s look at the various methods for curving text in PowerPoint.

Method 1: Use WordArt

The easiest way to curve text is with WordArt, a built-in PowerPoint feature that lets you format text in various shapes.

Here is how to curve text with WordArt:

Select the Insert tab

Click WordArt in the Text group
Choose a WordArt style from the menu
Type your text

Customize formatting like colors and effects

Once your text is formatted as WordArt, you can curve it around shapes using the “Text Effects” tools.

Method 2: Use the Transform Tool

You can also curve normal text boxes using the Transform command under Text Effects:

Type text into a text box
Select the text box
Go to Format > Text Effects > Transform

Choose a curve style like Arch, Circle, or Wave

This method gives you precise control over the curvature applied to the text. You can also curve WordArt this way.

Method 3: Follow a Custom Path

To wrap text around shapes with straight edges or create unique curves, use the Follow Path command:

Draw the path you want the text to follow
Add a text box
Right click the text box and select Format Shape

Choose Text Box > Follow Path > Curve
Drag handles on the path to adjust curvature

Using Follow Path takes more work but allows for advanced text curving outcomes.

Tips for Curving Text Effectively

When curving text in PowerPoint, keep these tips in mind:

Make sure curved text is easy to read by increasing font size or using high contrast colors
Use curved text minimally, only to emphasize key ideas, avoid overusing it

Try combining curved text with complementary background shapes and images
Animate curved text to draw attention to specific bullet points or ideas
For circles, align text so spacing remains even around the shape

Troubleshooting Curved Text Issues

Here are some common curved text problems and how to fix them:

Text doesn’t follow path cleanly: Adjust path handles so curve is smoother or increase text box size

Font looks distorted: Use less severe Transform effects or switch to a wider font

Circular text spacing uneven: Select text, go to Font > Text Spacing > Very Tight

Can’t get text completely circular: Use Follow Path > Circle instead of Transform > Circle

Curved text resets to straight: Make sure you deselect text box after applying path or effects

With a mix of WordArt, Transform tools, and Follow Path, you can create eye-catching curved text effects to make your PowerPoint presentations pop. Use the tips and troubleshooting guidance to help finesse your curved text results.

Examples of Curved Text in PowerPoint

Here are a few examples of effective curved text designs you can create in PowerPoint:

Curved Text Headline

Bending your title text around a shape is an easy way to add interest to a title slide.

Curved text headline

Circular Text List

Wrap bullet points in a circle to create visual flow or imply continuity.

Circular text list

Curved Text Emphasis

Use curved WordArt behind straight text to accentuate key messaging.

Curved text emphasis

Speech Bubble Text

Mimic comic-style speech bubbles with curved text to make text stand out.

Speech bubble curved text

With a little creativity, the possibilities for curved text designs are endless!

Key Takeaways

Bending text using WordArt, Transform tools, and custom paths takes PowerPoint text from flat to fabulous fast. To recap:

Curved text enhances visual interest and draws the eye to key ideas
WordArt offers quick pre-set text curves
The Transform tool provides precision curvature control

Follow Path allows wrapping text around shapes with straight edges
Increase font size and contrast for readability
Use curved text strategically, not excessively

Adjust path handles or increase text box size to resolve issues

So give your next presentation a boost by incorporating eye-catching curved text elements!