Great article, solves one of the major problems I've had with Powerpoint!

There is another option, perhaps not as neat, but useful for shadows under uneven objects. If you have Illustrator, you can create a shadow as a separate object and then save just the shadow as a transparent gif. Insert that into Powerpoint and use as you like.
Jeff
03.18.07 - 11:06 am | Comment link

Jeff,

Thanks for the tip.

I tend to build stuff in Fireworks and bring it in as PNG. That seems to work well, too.

But for folks who don't have access to graphics applications, this little trick will help make their presentations look better than run-of-the-mill. At least as far as drop shadows go.
Rick Turoczy
URL | 03.18.07 - 9:36 pm | Comment link

I have found those transparent glows and end up making the PPT file huge; partic. when animation is involved. I have to think there's a lot of processing to generate from solid to clear.

Of course Office 2007 has made this shadow issue moot.

But I appreciate your emphasis on the ugly.

gfj
seattle
gnation
03.06.08 - 3:19 pm | Comment link