Introduction
Adding videos to your PowerPoint presentations can be an effective way to reinforce key points, demonstrate concepts visually, and keep your audience engaged. With PowerPoint 2010, inserting and editing videos directly within your slides is simple.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about working with video in PowerPoint 2010, including:
- Supported video formats
- Inserting videos from your computer or the web
- Trimming/editing clips
- Adjusting playback options
- Applying styles and effects
Follow along to learn how to fully leverage video to create more dynamic, multimedia PowerPoint presentations.
Supported Video Formats
PowerPoint 2010 supports several common video file types:
- Windows Media Video (.wmv)
- MPEG-4 Video (.mp4, .m4v, .mov)
- Audio Video Interleave (.avi)
- MPEG Movie (.mpg, .mpeg)
- Adobe Flash (.swf)
For best results, use modern formats like H.264 video encoding with AAC audio. Older codecs may not compress properly when exporting/sharing the presentation.
Note: Additional formats like .mp4 require installing the necessary codecs on your computer. The Apple QuickTime player enables AAC audio support.
Inserting Videos
From Your Computer
Adding a locally stored video file is straightforward:
- On the Insert tab, click the Video dropdown and select Video from File
- Browse and select the desired video file
- Click Insert
The video will now appear as an object on your slide, which can be moved/resized.
From the Web
To embed an online video:
- On the Insert tab, click the Video dropdown and choose Video from Website
- Paste the web video’s embed code into the dialog box
- Click Insert
The online video will be linked but not saved within the presentation file.
Editing Videos
With inserted videos, PowerPoint 2010 provides built-in editing tools under the new Video Tools toolbar tab:
Trimming
Remove unwanted sections from the beginning or end of a clip:
- Select the video and go to the Playback tab
- Click Trim Video
- Use the green/red sliders to set new start/end points
- Click OK
Bookmarks
During playback, you can bookmark important moments to jump to later:
- Select the video and go to the Playback tab
- Click Add Bookmark at the desired point
- Click the bookmark icon when playing to jump there
Playback Options
Adjust how videos behave during presentations using the Playback tab:
- Start – Choose to play automatically or on click
- Play Full Screen – Enable full screen mode
- Hide While Not Playing – Video only appears when playing
- Loop until Stopped – Continuously repeat playback
Styling Videos
Enhance videos by applying styles and effects via the Format tab:
- Video Styles – Presets like Edge Fade, Soft Edge, etc.
- Shape Styles – Colors/effects to match presentation theme
- Video Effects – Options like Shadow, Reflection, Glow and more
- Recolor – Change video color tint
- Corrections – Adjust brightness, contrast etc.
So get creative and use videos effectively! They can truly take your PowerPoint slides to the next level.
Conclusion
- PowerPoint 2010 makes inserting and editing videos right within your presentation simple
- Utilize modern formats like MP4 with H.264/AAC for best quality and compatibility
- Trim clips, adjust playback, apply styles/effects to further enhance videos
- Multimedia elements like video help reinforce messages and keep audiences engaged
With this comprehensive guide, you have the knowledge to fully leverage video in your next PowerPoint presentation. Use these best practices to create dynamic and memorable slides!
