PowerPoint 2010: Creating a Spinning Animation, Version 2.0

by AJ George

After posting the first article, PowerPoint 2010: Creating a Spinning Animation, I got a tip from one of our readers, Konrad Schroth, for an alternate way to create a spinning animation. Today I'd like to share his method.

The previous method I shared involved duplicating the object you would like to spin, making it invisible, lining it up as a mirror image to the original image and then grouping the two images. This method shifts the center axis to the tip of the original image and changes the axis from which the image spins.

Here is an alternate way to achieve the same effect:

1. Locate the point upon which you would like the image to spin.
   
   By default, the image will spin upon its center axis, as depicted below.
   
   
   
   
2. Once you have determined the axis point, drag the Guides so they intersect at this point. (To view the guides, choose View > Show > Guides.)
   
   In this example, I have the guides intersecting in the center of the base of this clock hand.
   
   
   
   
3. Insert a circle (Insert > Shapes), large enough that it completely overlaps the shape you would like to rotate when it is centered on the axis point you have established.
   
   Note: To insert a circle, select the Oval shape and hold down the [Shift] key while drawing. In order to see my clock hand image in front of the circle, I have sent the circle shape to the back by selecting Home > Drawing > Arrange > Send to Back.
   
   
   
   
4. Group the image to the circle by holding down the [Shift] key and selecting both, followed by pressing [Ctrl] [G] on your keyboard.
5. From within the group, select only the circle, right-click and select Format Shape.
6. From the Fill category, select No Fill.
7. From the Line category, select No Line.
   
   The circle will now be invisible.
   
   
8. Apply the Spin animation to the group (Animations > Add Animation > Emphasis > Spin).
   
   The image (the clock hand in this case) will now rotate from the axis you specified by centering the invisible circle on it.

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About the author: AJ George is IconLogic's lead Technical Communicator and author of both "PowerPoint 2007: The Essentials" and "PowerPoint 2008 for the Macintosh: The Essentials."

Comments

[Henry Kathrin]

This alternative way of spinning animation is really awesome. Previously I didn't have any idea about it. Thanks for sharing and I'll use this new formula. Thanks

[copywriting]

I still find it very difficult to realize, this alternate way to create a spinning animation but I am very glad to try his method.