Transitions are visual effects that occur when moving from one slide to the next during a PowerPoint presentation. Using transitions can add polish and professionalism to a presentation when used appropriately. This article provides an overview of working with transitions in PowerPoint 2016.

Types of Transitions

PowerPoint 2016 includes three main categories of transitions:

Subtle – These basic transitions use simple animations like fades and wipes to transition between slides.

Exciting – These transitions grab attention with flashier animations like splits, swivels, and flips.
Dynamic Content – These transitions animate movement of slide elements from one slide to another for a smooth flow.

Adding and Modifying Transitions

Adding a transition in PowerPoint 2016 is simple:

Select the slide you want to add a transition to in the thumbnail pane
Click the Transitions tab
Click a transition style in the Transition to This Slide gallery

To modify transition options:

Select the transition slide
Click Effect Options to open options like direction and duration

You can also:

Add transition sounds
Set precise durations

Apply the transition to all slides

Transition Tips

When working with transitions, keep these tips in mind:

Use transitions in moderation. Too many can be distracting.

Stick to 1-2 transition types in a presentation.
Put transitions on most slides, not just some.
Use exciting transitions to emphasize key points.

Set transition speed appropriately – not too fast or slow.
Disable transitions if presenting online to avoid performance issues.

Animating Bullet Points

You can make bullet points appear one by one using animations:

Select the text box with bullets
Click Animations tab
Click Add Animation > Entrance > Fade

Set the animation to start With Previous

This will make each bullet point fade in one by one. You can customize timings and transitions for smooth flow.

Troubleshooting Issues

If transitions aren’t working correctly:

Check animation settings on the slide
Disable all animations and test transition
Apply transition to all slides to reset

Update Office and computer to latest versions
Repair Office installation if needed

Conclusion

Applying transitions appropriately can add spice to presentations. Use them to emphasize key points and lead the audience through your presentation storyline. Avoid going overboard with too many distracting transitions. With some practice, you can effectively incorporate transitions to amplify your PowerPoint 2016 presentation.