Highlighting important text in Google Slides is crucial for emphasizing key points and guiding your audience’s attention. While the traditional highlighter tool is a staple in many presentation software, Google Slides offers an innovative and visually appealing alternative—using shapes to highlight text. This method not only adds a touch of style to your slides but also allows for greater flexibility and customization.
The process of highlighting text with shapes in Google Slides is surprisingly simple. By selecting the desired text and inserting a shape over it, you can create a custom highlight that matches the overall design of your presentation. The shape can be resized, repositioned, and even filled with different colors or patterns. This level of control empowers you to create visually striking highlights that complement the content and enhance the overall impact of your slides.
In addition to its aesthetic appeal, using shapes to highlight text in Google Slides offers practical advantages. Shapes can be easily resized and moved, allowing you to adjust the highlight as needed without affecting the text. Furthermore, by using transparent shapes, you can create subtle highlights that subtly emphasize important points without overwhelming the slide. The versatility of shapes makes them an ideal tool for creating visually appealing and effective highlights that elevate the quality of your presentations.
Selecting Text for Highlighting
Using the Mouse:
Begin by placing the cursor at the start of the text you wish to highlight. Press and hold the left mouse button, then drag the cursor across the desired text. Release the mouse button when the entire text is selected. Note that if you accidentally select beyond the intended text, press “Ctrl+Z” (Windows) or “Command+Z” (macOS) to undo the action.
Using the Keyboard:
Alternatively, you can use keyboard commands to select text:
- Place the cursor at the start of the text.
- Press and hold the “Shift” key.
- While holding “Shift,” use the left or right arrow keys to navigate through the text.
- Release the “Shift” key when the desired text is highlighted.
Selecting Multiple Text Passages:
To select multiple separate passages of text, use the following technique:
- Select the first text passage as described above.
- Press and hold the “Ctrl” key (Windows) or “Command” key (macOS).
- While holding the key, select the additional text passages by clicking or dragging the cursor.
- Release the key when all desired text is highlighted.
Inserting a Shape
To insert a shape in Google Slides, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Slides presentation.
- Select the “Insert” menu and choose “Shape.” A drop-down menu of shape options will appear.
- Click on the desired shape, and it will be inserted onto the slide.
- Adjust the shape’s size and position by dragging the handles on its border.
Tips for Inserting Shapes
Here are some tips for inserting shapes in Google Slides:
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Use the shape gallery | Google Slides offers a gallery of pre-made shapes to choose from, making it easy to find the right shape for your needs. |
| Customize shapes | You can customize the appearance of shapes by changing their fill color, stroke color, and line width. |
| Group shapes | You can group multiple shapes together to create more complex shapes or to easily move or resize them as a whole. |
| Align shapes | Use the alignment tools to align shapes with each other or with the edges of the slide. |
| Experiment | Don’t be afraid to experiment with different shapes and colors to create unique and visually appealing presentations. |
Customizing the Shape
After inserting a shape, you can customize it to your liking. Here are the steps to do so:
1. Select the shape by clicking on it.
2. A menu will appear around the shape.
3. Change the fill color, border color, and border width by clicking on the corresponding icons in the menu.
4. You can also change the shape’s transparency by clicking on the “Transparency” option in the menu.
5. To rotate the shape, click on the “Rotate” icon in the menu.
6. You can also flip the shape horizontally or vertically by clicking on the “Flip” icon in the menu.
7. To change the shape’s size, drag the handles on the edges of the shape.
8. You can also add text to the shape by clicking on the “Text” icon in the menu.
Formatting the Text
To format the text in your shape, click on the text and then use the text formatting options in the menu that appears. You can change the font, font size, font color, and alignment of the text. You can also add bullets or numbering to the text.
The text formatting options are located in the menu bar at the top of the window. The options are:
* **Font**: Change the font of the text.
* **Font size**: Change the size of the text.
* **Font color**: Change the color of the text.
* **Alignment**: Change the alignment of the text.
* **Bullets**: Add bullets to the text.
* **Numbering**: Add numbering to the text.
Here is a table summarizing the text formatting options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Font | Change the font of the text. |
| Font size | Change the size of the text. |
| Font color | Change the color of the text. |
| Alignment | Change the alignment of the text. |
| Bullets | Add bullets to the text. |
| Numbering | Add numbering to the text. |
Aligning the Shape with Text
Once you have drawn the shape and placed it over the text, you can align it to match the text’s boundaries. Here’s how:
1. Select the Shape
Use the cursor to click on the shape.
2. Access the Alignment Options
Right-click on the shape and select “Format Shape” from the menu. This will open the “Format Shape” sidebar.
3. Configure the Alignment Settings
In the “Format Shape” sidebar, navigate to the “Position” tab. Under “Alignment,” you’ll find several options:
- Align to Text: Aligns the shape’s top, bottom, left, or right edge to the corresponding edge of the text block.
- Align Center: Centers the shape horizontally or vertically within the text block.
- Align Centered: Centers the shape both horizontally and vertically within the text block.
- Align Bottom: Aligns the shape’s bottom edge to the bottom edge of the text block.
- Align Middle: Aligns the shape’s center to the vertical center of the text block.
4. Adjust the Alignment Offset
In addition to the alignment options, the “Format Shape” sidebar provides an option to adjust the shape’s alignment offset. This allows you to fine-tune the alignment by moving the shape slightly in the desired direction:
| Offset Direction | Effect |
|---|---|
| Top | Moves the shape upward from the text |
| Bottom | Moves the shape downward from the text |
| Left | Moves the shape to the left of the text |
| Right | Moves the shape to the right of the text |
Enter a numerical value in the corresponding field to adjust the offset. Positive values move the shape away from the text, while negative values move it closer to the text.
Adding Color or Transparency
To change the color or transparency of the highlight shape, follow these steps:
Selecting the Shape
Click on the highlight shape to select it.
Accessing the Format Options
Click on the “Format” menu in the top toolbar.
Changing the Fill Color
In the “Format” sidebar, click on “Fill color” and choose a color from the palette. You can also click on “Custom” to define a specific hue and saturation.
Adjusting Transparency
Click on the “Transparency” slider in the “Format” sidebar and drag it to adjust the transparency level of the shape. A higher transparency value makes the shape more transparent, while a lower value makes it more opaque.
Adding a Gradient
To add a gradient to the highlight shape, click on the “Gradient” icon in the “Format” sidebar and choose a gradient type. You can also customize the gradient’s colors, direction, and angle.
Applying a Pattern
To apply a pattern to the highlight shape, click on the “Pattern” icon in the “Format” sidebar and choose a pattern from the gallery. You can also click on “Custom” to create your own pattern.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Fill color | Changes the solid color of the shape. |
| Transparency | Adjusts the opacity of the shape, making it more transparent or opaque. |
| Gradient | Applies a color gradient to the shape, creating a smooth transition between colors. |
| Pattern | Fills the shape with a repeating pattern, such as stripes or polka dots. |
Highlighting Text with a Shape
1. Select the text you want to highlight.
2. Click the “Insert” tab.
3. Choose a shape from the “Shapes” gallery.
4. Click and drag to draw the shape over the highlighted text.
5. Fill the shape with a color or texture.
6. Customize the shape’s size and position as desired.
Adjusting Shape Size and Position
To adjust the shape’s size, drag its corner handles. To move the shape, drag it anywhere within the slide. You can also use the following options:
- Format: Adjust size, rotation, and other properties.
- Position: Specify exact coordinates for the shape’s position.
- Arrange: Change the shape’s layer order and alignment.
Fine-tune the shape’s position using the “Align” and “Distribute” options under the “Arrange” tab. These options allow you to align the shape with other objects or distribute it equally within the slide.
For precise adjustments, use the “Size and Position” panel under the “Format” tab. Enter specific values for the shape’s width, height, and position on the slide. This provides greater control over the shape’s placement and dimensions.
| Property | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Size | Drag corner handles or enter values in “Size and Position” panel. |
| Position | Drag the shape or enter values in “Size and Position” panel. |
| Alignment | Use “Align” options under “Arrange” tab. |
| Distribution | Use “Distribute” options under “Arrange” tab. |
Multiple Shapes for Complex Highlights
1. Select the Custom Shape Tool:
From the “Insert” menu, choose “Shape” and select “Custom Shape” to access various shape options.
2. Draw the First Shape:
Draw the first shape that partially covers the text you want to highlight. Hold down “Shift” to draw a perfect shape.
3. Remove the Fill and Border:
Right-click on the shape and select “Format Shape.” In the “Fill & Line” tab, set both the “Fill” and “Border” colors to “No Fill” and “No Line.”
4. Draw Additional Shapes:
Repeat steps 2-3 to create additional shapes that cover the remaining parts of the text.
| Shape | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Rectangle | Cover blocks of text |
| Ellipse | Highlight circular or rounded elements |
| Triangle | Emphasize specific areas |
5. Adjust Shape Positions:
Drag and drop the shapes to precisely cover the desired text. Hold down “Ctrl” to select multiple shapes.
6. Group the Shapes:
Once all shapes are in place, right-click and select “Group.” This will combine all shapes into a single object.
7. Use the Shape Fill Tool (Optional):
If desired, right-click on the grouped shape, select “Format Shape,” and adjust the “Fill” color or gradient to match the highlighted text or create a contrasting effect.
Rotating or Flipping the Shape
Once you’ve created a shape to highlight text, you can customize its position by rotating or flipping it. Here’s how:
Rotating the Shape
1. Select the shape.
2. Click on the “Rotate” icon in the toolbar.
3. Drag the handle to rotate the shape.
4. Alternatively, you can enter a specific rotation angle in the “Rotation” field in the toolbar.
Flipping the Shape
1. Select the shape.
2. Click on the “Flip” icon in the toolbar.
3. Choose “Flip horizontally” or “Flip vertically” to flip the shape.
Using a Table to Position Shapes
If you need to position multiple shapes precisely, you can use a table:
1. Insert a table into the slide.
2. Resize the table to fit the desired shape positioning.
3. Place the shapes within the table cells.
4. Use the table’s gridlines and alignment options to position the shapes precisely.
Grouping the Shape and Text
Once you have inserted both the shape and text, you can group them to make it easier to move, rotate, or resize them as a single unit. To do this, select both the shape and the text by clicking and dragging your mouse over them. Once they are both selected, click on the “Group” button in the toolbar at the top of the screen. This will create a new group that contains both the shape and the text.
Now you can move, resize, or rotate the group as a single unit by clicking and dragging the group’s border or by using the rotation handles on the corners of the group. You can also change the group’s fill color or border color by clicking on the “Fill Color” or “Border Color” buttons in the toolbar.
To ungroup the shape and text, simply click on the “Ungroup” button in the toolbar. This will break the group into its individual components.
Changing the Text Position
You can change the position of the text relative to the shape by using the “Text Position” option in the sidebar. Click on the text box, then select the “Text Position” option from the drop-down menu. You can choose from the following options:
| Text Position | Description |
|---|---|
| Inside | The text is positioned inside the shape. |
| Outside | The text is positioned outside the shape. |
| Left | The text is positioned to the left of the shape. |
| Center | The text is positioned in the center of the shape. |
| Right | The text is positioned to the right of the shape. |
| Top | The text is positioned at the top of the shape. |
| Middle | The text is positioned in the middle of the shape. |
| Bottom | The text is positioned at the bottom of the shape. |
Saving and Exporting the Slide
Once you’re satisfied with your highlighted shapes, save and export your slide to share or continue working on it later.
Saving the Slide:
- Click “File” in the top menu bar.
- Select “Save” from the drop-down menu.
- Choose a file name and location.
- Click “Save” to save the changes.
Exporting the Slide:
- Click “File” in the top menu bar.
- Select “Export” from the drop-down menu.
- Choose an export format from the options (e.g., PDF, PNG, JPG).
- Select an export location.
- Click “Export” to save the slide in the chosen format.
Export Formats and Recommendations:
| Format | Recommended Use |
|---|---|
| For high-quality printing or sharing online | |
| PNG | For creating a high-resolution image of the slide |
| JPG | For a smaller file size, but lower image quality |
How to Highlight Text in Google Slides with Shapes
Highlighting text in Google Slides is a simple and effective way to draw attention to specific content on your slides. When you apply a shape to your highlighted text, it adds a visual emphasis that complements the standard text highlighting options. Here are the steps on how to highlight text with shapes in Google Slides:
- Select your text: Click on the text you want to highlight.
- Insert a shape: Go to the "Insert" menu and select "Shape." Choose the desired shape from the options available.
- Resize and position the shape: Drag the corners of the shape to resize it and move it to the desired position over the highlighted text.
- Adjust shape properties: Right-click on the shape and select "Format Shape" from the menu. Make any necessary adjustments to the shape’s appearance, such as color, outline, and transparency.
- Fit shape to text: To ensure that the shape fits the highlighted text precisely, right-click on the shape, select "Format Shape," and then select "Fit" from the "Resize" tab. Choose "Fit to text" from the dropdown menu.
People Also Ask
How do I change the color of the shape?
To change the color of the shape, right-click on it, select “Format Shape,” and then click on the “Fill” tab. You can choose a color from the predefined palette or customize a specific color using the “Custom” option.
Can I add multiple shapes to highlight text?
Yes, you can add multiple shapes to highlight different sections of text. Simply repeat the process of inserting and resizing shapes for each section you want to emphasize.
Is there a way to remove the shape from the highlighted text?
Yes, to remove the shape, simply select it and press the “Delete” key. Alternatively, you can right-click on the shape and select “Delete” from the menu.
