#it also weirdly .. loads the page again when i go to another tab for a few seconds and the nreturn
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what the hell is up with youtube these days, its lagging so awfully like it has never before, usually worse in the evening/night (my time, and when i use it the most ......)
is it a firefox thing? everythign else runs normally so i dont think its that nor my PC ..
#ganondoodles talks#personal#you never know just how annoying lagg can be until its there#and doubly so with youtube bc i have clicked on wrong shit so many times by now#it also weirdly .. loads the page again when i go to another tab for a few seconds and the nreturn#audio plays normally but its so???#dont think i have ever had that with any other site
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BNHA self insert AU
New to the AU? Start here!
Chapter 40: What the FUCK is Up Kyle?!
My new job as an independent agent is really what I needed in my life. I can do everything I want to focus on with more time now! My relationship improved and less stress in my life! What more could I ask for?
“Oh girkies, you are not gonna like your new assignment” Jin winced as he entered the room with files in his hands “we all got called upon for different things.”
Mimi opens her file and skims the cover page “I’m getting sent to Hiroshima for a WEEK?!” she slams the file closed “what in the actual fuck!”
I open mine and skim “I’m being summoned to Shinjuku for an undisclosed amount of time” I squint to see if I’m reading the mission briefing “for a new conjugation?” I scowl in confusion “like a new agency or what?”
“That confused me too but then look how it’s coded” Jin tapped on the tab on the file “its Blue, it’s a personal invitation, the person summoning knows you personally and asked specifically for you.”
“But I don’t know anybody out there” I’m more confused “and the crime rate there is pretty low, but I guess if they need me” I sigh and close the file “I guess I should help them.” I do some research on the area and recent crime before I went on the meeting day. Nervous as hell, I show up to this un-marked but guarded building.
“State your identity and purpose” sternly spoke one of the guards.
“I’m Agent 19 of the Emperor’s Coup” I present them with my agent license and agent crest “I’m here for a summoning of high sensitivity.”
“Oh my goodness, it’s her!” gasped the other guard “the agent that knows! ahem, um, please come in and head upstairs to meeting room 2-J.”
“Thank you” I walk in as they moved aside for me “take care.” There was nobody where I first walked in so I just quickly made my way up the stairs, steel toe boots clacking on the tile stairs. It was uneasy feeling to be alone in this place, no trace of others occupying the space, just empty office cubicles. I get to the meeting room and the glass wall to look in was boarded off like nobody is supposed to know what or who’s inside. I slip on my anti-prints gloves on and put my left hand on my holster, whatever the hell is behind that door, I wasn’t going to risk it. I knock “Hello? Anybody in there? This is Agent 19 of-” before I could finish my sentence, I heard hollering inside of the room and bust open the door “FREEZE!” I do my power stance and get my gun locked and loaded.
“Please don’t shoot! Put the gun down!” it was a very familiar whiny voice.
I lower my gun and saw a familiar mix of pro heroes “Midoriya?!” I identify the green clad man, I put my gun back in my holster “Oh man, what the fuck is up?!” I took a better look around “Oh shit Tenya, I didn’t know you got summoned too.”
“I was wondering why Midoriya wasn’t telling us who he recruited” he wiped his glasses “he was saying it was somebody we could trust and knows about his secret.”
“Well now that I have everyone here, please take a seat” Midoriya motioned me to sit as everyone else readjusted themselves “there’s somebody after my secret and they know somewhat about it. Lately somebody is getting a little too close to me to know more and I just know it’s the League of Villains.”
“They’re STILL at it?” I blurt “but one of their most powerful left the group about a year ago, how are they functioning?”
“See, we didn’t know that” Mina responded to me “but we suspect it’s one of us.”
“And that’s what makes it hard to know” Midoriya sighed “that’s why I recruited you, over the years of living and working with us, you know more about our habits and routine.”
“So you want me to find the traitor among y’all huh?” I pieced the logic together and he nodded “easy peasy! Why didn’t you say so earlier?!” I whipped out my gun and pointed to Mineta.
“IT’S NOT ME! SWEAR! PLEASE DON’T SHOOT ME!” Mineta literally cried and sobbed like the little bitch he is.
“Dang, I really hoped it was him” I pouted and put my gun away.
“You should’ve made the shot anyways” Jiro sneered.
“Okay, what do you need us to do to determine the traitor?” Midoriya reshifted to the pressing matter.
I scan the room “well, not to be that bitch but we gotta get on lockdown” the room erupts in murmuring “I haven’t seen or talked to some of you guys since my rise to fame. Think of it as a sleepover! Where we go home after I solve a puzzle.”
“So be it! Nobody is to leave this building until she figures it out.”
And so we all just awkwardly hang out in one space. I was more on guard than anyone else there, seeing all these old classmates again got me a little fucked up. I decide to explore the building a bit when something a little strange happens.
“Wait up, where are you going?” Tenya asked me as I wander away from the group “can I come?”
“You can come along” I said as I pointed to the stairwell “I wanted to see more of this building.” As we walk up the stairs, I wonder if this is MY Tenya. I hate to think those things but only one way to find out. “Hey question, what did I cook for breakfast today?”
“You made huevos rancheros with toast because we had too much sliced bread before grocery shopping day” he described with no hesitation.
“Whew okay” I sighed in relief “I was going to go feral if you were the traitor.”
“I know baby” he held my hand as we got to the next floor “I’d never betray my friends or you, plus I have a lead on who it may be.”
“What’s the suspicion?”
“I wasn’t feeling too keen around some of the girls” he lowered his voice “usually they’d ask me about you but today only Mina and Uraraka asked while Momo, Kendo, Tsuyu and Jiro didn’t.”
“That is some odd behavior” I pondered as I walked around the third floor “in that case, lets go back down there, I have a plan.” I teleport us back to the others and checked if that provoked any type of new reaction. Noting unusual yet, the day progressed and it was night time when I came up with a new idea.
“Hey Shoto” I whispered to get his attention “come! I have to ask you something.”
“What is it Ita?” he jogged over to me “why are you hiding behind these boxes?”
“Can I borrow your face?” I asked as he leaned in for me to copy his quirk “Hmm, you’re definitely not the traitor” I take my hand off his face “also, how’s Touya? I haven’t swung by to see how’s the fam.”
“Oh he’s doing great, he asks about you time to time” a smile breaks on his face “he has a crush on you and it’s silly because you’re with Iida-kun now and Touya is just being irrationally jealous.”
“Oh bitch that’s cute” I giggle and stand up from my hiding place “I’m hungies! TENYA!”
“YES?!” he yells from a distance.
“I’M HUNGIES!”
“YOU HUNGIES?! WHAT DOES YOUR TUM TUM WANT?”
“NEED MEAT! AND NOODLES AND KISSIES!” I look around at the others to see their reactions to our baby talk.
“Ugh that’s cringe” Kaminari said disgusted “I’d never get pussy whipped like that! My girl does things for herself.”
Jiro stabs Kaminari with her jacks “Stupid he’s not pussy whipped! It’s called loving your partner and communicating” she huffed “you never want to do couple things with me like that!”
From the sounds and looks of their argument, I’d say Jiro and Kaminari aren’t the traitors. I turn to Kendo, I haven’t seen her since graduation and I really want to know what’s going on in her life.
“Yo Kendo, haven’t talked to you in a hot minute” I opened up casually.
“Yeah! Since graduation but I’ve been doing well” she smiled “heard about you and Iida finally dating. I’ve been going strong with Tetsutetsu, 3 years now.”
“Oh wow I didn’t know you two were dating, we should go on a double date sometime!” I really missed out on a lot, last I heard, Yuka and Tetsu were still together “it’s so weird how time has flown by and you just forget to keep in touch.”
“Yea, I was shocked to find out about Shinso breaking up with you” she put her hand on my shoulder “I was really rooting for you two to get married and such but he just ran off like that. But now that he’s back in Chiyoda, I’m sure we’ll all get reunited as some point.”
“Wait, he’s in Chiyoda?”
“Yea, he moved in a few months back with Monoma” she pulled up a picture on her phone “see, Tetsu and I went to see him when he moved in.”
I looked at the picture, it was all four of them in the living room just hanging out. Shinso looked different, it was just strange to me that he lived with me and I’ve been trying to chase him down for years for closure. “What a cozy home, I heard about the suburbs there being a really nice place for peaceful living.” I said to prevent myself from breaking down. So Kendo wasn’t the traitor either, it now comes down to Momo, Tsuyu, Kirishima, Ojiro and Tokoyami. I later determine that Momo, Kirishima and Tokoyami aren’t the traitor because they used their quirks and interacted with me like they usually do. It’s 2am and it’s down to Oijiro and Tsuyu.
“Are you doing alright love?” Tenya softly asked as I was floating around “can’t think?”
“It’s so hard to determine between the two” I sigh “I can’t think of another method! Too hungry to think straight” I loosed my uniform collar “and stuffy, wheres the thermostat?”
“I believe Kirishima found it in that weirdly spacious break room on this floor”
“Thanks, I’m going to clear my head” I floated down to walk “I’ll be back in a few.” I make my way to the break room and to my surprise Tsuyu was already there boiling water “Oh hey, couldn’t sleep?”
“Nope, I miss my bed.” she spoke tiredly.
Something wasn’t quite right on how she was speaking to me “Same here, but hows the fam?” I start to make casual conversation to not raise suspicion “I remember you saying that little bro wanted to follow in your footsteps.”
“Oh yea it’s almost time for him to make the decision” she poured the hot water into a cup “they grow up so fast.”
As she was talking, I locate the thermostat and start to drop the temperature “They sure do! Say, we haven’t spent quality time in a long time” I stop the thermostat at 49 degrees “we should organize a reunion cook out! Have yall together like this oddly makes me miss yall!”
“Oh that sounds lovely!” she smiled “I missed having you around too!”
Tenya walks in the room shivering “Hey is the thermostat broken? It’s too cold.”
I felt the chill of the temperature drop and saw that Tsuyu wasn’t even flinching... that’s not very frog-like of her.
“Will you get me my visor from the meeting room dear?” I politely asked Tenya “I’m going to try to fix it.” I wait for him to walk out the room to slam the door closed and get locked and loaded “THE GIG IS UP IMPOSTER!”
“What are you talking about 19! It’s me!” she was frightened.
“Say my name then” I cock my gun “my real name.”
The sweat pours from her face and her eyes read ‘I’m in danger!’ “Um...Ai-” I didn’t let them finish and I just shot them in the leg. Instantly, their body melted into grey sludge. Everyone ran to the room in high alert.
“What happened? Who was it?!” cried out Midoriya.
“It was a Tsuyu clone” I put all the pieces together “I noticed her speech was different, no ‘kero’ at the end of her sentences. Plus when I dropped the temp to almost freezing, she didn’t get into hibernation mode.” I came to a terrifying realization “where’s the real Froppy?”
The others gasped and franticly tried to reach out to her and the agency she works at to know her whereabouts. It didn’t take long to find out she was safe at home and didn’t know that she was summoned to this meeting. The tempering of this information started at work, to my surprise, it was the work of the League of Villains. If I didn’t already rescue Touya, I would’ve thrown hands instantly! But I have to keep things undercover until I catch the mimic villain or I’ll be a victim of their game.
-3 weeks later-
“Thank you again for inputing a system in our agency” thanked Midoriya as I was installing said system “I knew I could depend on you!”
“No need for all that, I’m just doing what I do best” I press the activate button and start inputing some code “aaaand it’s loaded up and ready to serve! With this new boost to your already existing security system” I pat the device on the wall “this baby will keep the imposters and villains away.”
“That’s incredible!” awed Midoriya “I never thought you’d be a security tech mogul that’d save my livelihood.”
“Shut up, you’re still a broccoli ass twink!” I punched his arm playfully “don’t forget who protected you and Bakugo’s ass back in the day!”
“I suppose it’s all the same” he laughed “let me treat you to lunch! Ochako and I want to say our thanks.”
“Sure, I didn’t have lunch plans anyways” I shrugged as we headed up stairs to the main floor of the agency.
“Great! Let me get my bag” he jogged to the locker room “I’ll be right back!”
I stand there and check my phone for any updates from work. Today was my day off from CEO work but lately the company has been swamped with custom orders and consultations since we added rabbits and reptiles to our companion line. I’m just waiting to get called in by Beizu or Jin to help them out with coat production or new consultations.
“Oh my goodness! If it isn’t Miss CEO herself!” said a very familiar voice.
I look around and don’t see anybody looking my way or trying to get my attention “Who the hell said that?”
“On your left”
I look to my left and there was a face on the wall “oh...it’s you” I said flatly and uninterested “Hello Mirio.”
“Aww you don’t sound excited to see me!” he completely phased out of the wall.
“I’m never excited to see you, I’m not a teenager” I didn’t have to look down to know he was naked “and please for love of SIR NIGHTEYE put on some pants!”
“I heard my name” sternly spoke Nighteye himself “Togata please put on some pants, you’re embarrassing me in front of our esteemed partner here.”
“Yes Sir!” Mirio phased away, almost comical like.
“He was much more bearable without the quirk” he rubbed his temples “at least I didn’t have to get my eyes harassed by nudity in the workplace!” the man sighed as he fixed his glasses “Miss Palma, I thank you for your services, they mean a lot to me. My visions have changed now that you’ve installed that security boost.”
“Didn’t you foresee me installing it?” I questioned his statement, I didn’t believe my choice made that much of a change.
“I didn’t, I think you’re an anomaly to this timeline” he smiled “that’s a good thing, you’ve altered the fates of everyone and everything you come across with, including your own.”
“I have?”
“Yes, thanks to you, a second war between villains and heroes has been replaced by a time of peace” I see the glow of his quirk “and see myself aging gracefully into old age instead of dying before I get a chance to retire.”
“If you say so” I smiled “then I guess it’s what I do best.”
Midoriya jogged back “Sir! Palma-san and I were going to lunch with Ochako” he stopped in front of us “was there something you needed?”
“Oh no, I was just talking” he turned to go back to his office “have a good lunch, tell your wife I said hello.”
We head to lunch and Ochako dropped the biggest news on me.
“You’re pregnant?!” I nearly choked on my water “Oh my god congrats you two! When are you due?”
“In May! I’m so excited to be a mom!” she gushed “but it looks like you have some news to tell us too!”
“I...don’t?” I said confused as they leaned in and looked at my hands.
“You have a ring on, are you and Iida-kun getting married?!” Midoriya had a big dumb smile on his face “how did he propose?!”
“Oh I bet he made it extra perfect with flowers and candles-” Ochako was getting into the fantasy before I interrupted her.
“He hasn’t popped the question yet, I told him to take his time with asking me” I pointed to my ring “this is my official Emperor’s Coup Agent ring. Engagement rings go on the left hand, this is on my right hand.”
“But Palma-san, why aren’t you married yet?” Ochako asked my curiously “you and Shinso were so close that everyone thought you’d get married first. But now that you’re with Iida-kun and seem to have a better dynamic, why take your time for marriage?”
“Well, I learned that nothing good comes out of impatience. I love Tenya with all of my heart, body and soul BUT I want him to feel like he doesn’t have to trap me with marriage right away” I wipe my mouth of the water I choked on earlier “he’s learning how to love me and be a better partner everyday, with all the effort he puts in to make me feel loved, I’m not worried about marriage or kids. Our time will come.”
“I didn’t think of it like that” Midoriya thought about what I said “you must really love him to have him take his time.”
The subject was dropped for the rest of lunch and we parted ways. I got home to wait for Tenya to get out of work but I slipped into deep thought. I’m 23, with 24 fast approaching, all my old classmates are getting married or having kids at this point...my biological clock is ticking and I don’t know if I can carry a baby past my prime. Maybe I should stop my birth control? What a shitty way to make me feel like I’m wasting my prime years on making robotic animals and crunching crime statistics! I try to make myself not fall further into this hole by playing my cheer up playlist but then I fell down the Joji hole and got emo.
“I’m home” Tenya said as he entered the house “I don’t like the sound of that music, that’s some sad hours music” he checked the time “it’s almost 7! Sad hours isn’t for another 5 hours!” he opened the office door to see me slow whip to Fried Noodles (Getter Remix) in my Ingenium hoodie and fuzzy socks “this... is a mood that I don’t understand” he rubbed his chin “what happened?”
“I’m just tryna vibe again” I slow dabbed “the Midoriyas got me fucked up on their vibe, I’ve been a bad mood since I got home but I’ll get over it” I sigh “I didn’t cook a whole lot, I diced some fish and tossed it in some sauces to make poke and there’s rice.”
“Oh alright, I’m here if you want to talk about it some more” he coaxed her to open up more “come eat with me.”
“I already ate, I was trying to get a hold of one of my friends right now” I floated back to my computer desk “it might take a while, so just eat and I’ll come to bed soon.”
“You ate already?” he was a little taken back from this sudden change “well, don’t come to bed too late.” He closed the door behind him to eat dinner, by himself. Tenya didn’t read too much into her dismissive behavior as she teleported to her side of the bed at bedtime.
-The next day, at work-
“Thanks for the extra hand Iida-kun!” Sero thanked Tenya for helping him at a moment’s notice “I really needed help with crowd control today! Who knew the shopping district was going to be this wild today?!”
“It’s no problem! I’m happy to help” Tenya chirps as he takes off his helmet in the safety of the agency building “it’s been a while since I’ve seen you and the others here!”
“Oh shucks Iida-kun, with a girl like Palma-san, I’d be too busy to spend time with the boys too” he nudged “how are you and Palma-san? Anything exciting?!”
“Nothing exciting lately, she’s just really busy but it’s all good” Tenya recalled last night “just last night she was doing work even though it was her day off! So busy that she didn’t cook and ate before I got home for dinner.”
Sero’s smile disappeared “Wait, did she just make rice and made a quick cold dish and told you to serve yourself?”
“Yes actually! She made poke.”
“Oh man F in the chat fellas” Sero pray squatted and Tetsutetsu, Kaminari and Sato followed suite.
“What are you-”
“Iida-kun what did you do to that poor girl?” asked Sato “she never gets upset.”
“I didn’t do anything, she said the Midoriya’s ruined her vibe” he recalled “she said she’ll get over it and it wasn’t a big deal.”
“Naw my man” Tetsutetsu put his arm around Tenya “when your girl does things without you and puts the least amount of effort on dinner, she’s mad at you.”
“She didn’t look-”
“Next thing you know, she’ll be going out with her friends again and stop cooking for you altogether” Sero puts his hand on Tenya’s shoulder “she’s mad because she caught baby fever! Ochako’s preggo and all the girls they know are catching it.”
“I don’t think she wants to have a baby right now” he chopped “we aren’t even married.”
“Even worse! Dude you gotta propose soon or she’s going to leave you” Kaminari warned “do you at least spice it up in the bedroom?”
“We have fun in bed” he turns red in embarrassment “that’s none of your business!”
Sero shakes his head “Oh boy, what did we keep telling you in high school?! DON’T WAIT OR YOU’LL LOSE HER TO SOMEONE ELSE!”
“Thank you for your concerns but we’re fine” he politely said even though he wants to yell “we don’t need any meddling in our relationship, when the time is right, I��ll ask for her hand.”
“If you say so Iida-kun” Sero pat his head “she’s unpredictable.”
This bothered Tenya all day, in his mind he knows it’s illogical for her to run off because of her line of work and in his heart he’s confident that she’ll be loyal and voice her burdens.
“I’m home” he called out as routine.
“I’m in the room!” called out Ita.
He walks up to the room and saw her get ready for a night out “What all this for?” she turned around and he saw that she was wearing the boob window dress “that’s a new dress.”
“I’m going out remember?” I put on my earrings “it’s Mimi’s birthday and we’re going to Daggers.”
“Oh that’s right!” he forgot that she told him 2 weeks ago “you look really tempting in that dress” he put his hand on her shoulder “are you sure we can’t have a little bit of fun before you go?”
“Babe please, the limo is going to be here any minute to come for me” I block his attempt at a quicky “maybe when I get home” I kiss his cheek “I made beef stew, help yourself” I get a text and saw that it was Jin asking me to teleport to Mimi’s place “oof gotta go! I’ll be back before sun up, love you.”
She teleported away before he had a chance to say it back. As he ate dinner alone, he wondered if what the others were right and he should just ask her despite what she said. The days and weeks pass and she’s getting held up at work some nights and there’s no dinner ready or there’s a cold-dish and rice dinner for him on nights she was on-call. Tenya was scared, it’s December and everything that the boys warned him about happened except for her leaving him.
“You have one request from Mama to video-call, would you like to answer?” yipped Muffin 2.0.
“Yes please, pull it up on the office computer” I get up from the couch “I gotta take this, it’s important.”
“Is there something wrong?” asked Tenya as he paused the movie they were watching “don’t you want to answer it on the widescreen?”
“Not this time, I’ll explain later” I dash to the stairs “keep watching without me, it’s cool and I might take a while.”
Tenya sat in silence, staring at the paused screen. It’s her day off and the first one in a while where she wasn’t occupied with something and actually spent time with him. To be fair it was a half day for him but still. They’ve gotten into arguments on her scheduling and sleeping habits, but only because he brought them up to understand why they haven’t spent any time together. He feels like she’s bending his way and isn’t happy. After nearly an hour, she pops back down stairs.
“How was it?”
“Hm? Oh it looks like my family is going to be alright” I was confused for a bit “my brother got injured and they couldn’t afford treatment for a while, I sent them money a few weeks ago to cover everything and my brother is going to be alright.”
“Oh that’s good to hear” he was washed over with relief “also, it’s dinner time, come help me cook.”
I check the time “Cook? Well I guess, it’s already 7″ I sigh with a little lazy groan “let me get my phone real quick.”
At that moment, Tenya was struck with realization, he forced routine onto her! She’s not having fun because of the lack of chaos, she THRIVES in chaos and disorder! He has to think quick!
“Actually, gets go out to eat”
“Go out? But I’m not in the mood for a sit-down restaurant” I whined “I wanna stay in my fuzzy pants and hoodie.”
“That’s fine” he smirked “lets go to McDonalds.”
“Deadass?!” I yelled as I could not believe he suggested it “well lets hop in my car and-”
“No babe, I’M driving” he grabbed his keys before she could argue “I know you love the seat warmers on high.”
“Oh si? alrighty then” I jump onto his back “lets go! I’m hungies.”
We get to the drive through and Tenya realizes that the last time he had McDonalds was in High school only because Ochako and Midoriya were broke and didn’t want him to pay for their food.
“What’s good at McDonalds?” he asked her “do they still have those little cheese burgers?”
“Tenya, did your parents not love you enough to take you to McDonalds past the age of 5?” I question as I know it’s common knowledge what’s good at McDonalds because of all the advertisements on tv and in public “personally, the triple cheeseburgers and sweet tea are my go to’s but anything on the deluxe menu is the good stuff.”
“Can you order for me?” he asked shyly, like a child asking their mother for help “I trust your food judgment and I don’t know what to get.”
When it was our turn to order, I ordered all of my favorites like the McMuffins, Triple cheeseburgers, nuggets, a cone, McDonald’s Sprite and Sweet Tea. I got recognized only because I frequent that McDonalds.
“Okay we should go home and-” I say as I set the food on my side of the car with a cone floating in my face.
“Lets go eat at the peer-over” Tenya interrupted her “I don’t want to go home to eat.”
I was in shock “Excuse me Mr. Don’t Eat In My Car! but did you just suggest we eat in YOUR car?” I watch him nod and flip his turn signal the opposite way from home “well if you say so.” We park at the peer-over and we’re the only car there. To be fair it was too cold to go on the walking trail that connects to the peer over and it was dark. We start eating and Tenya gets his first taste of that McDonald’s Sprite.
“Oh that’s why the boys get large cups of this” he shivers a bit “it tastes like electricity.”
“RIGHT?! It will baffle me on why it tastes better than canned or anyone else’s Sprite!” I laugh as I see him another sip and shiver again “what impulsed you to do this?” I poked his forehead “what’s going on in here?”
“I just felt the need to try something new” he didn’t want to admit the truth “and I thought you might want to go out because it’s been a while since we went on a date.”
“Hm...” I didn’t believe him and squinted at him “fine, keep your secrets” I eat my triple cheeseburger “but it has been a while since we’ve gone on a date, routine got me fucked up.”
That made Tenya’s jazz music stop in his head, she just confirmed his fear. What is he going to do?! What can he do to make the situation better or change? “Yeah! Isn’t it nice to just get away from home for a bit?”
“Yeah, it’s nice” I pulled the seat recliner all the way down so I could lay down and eat “I needed this, I love you.”
He reclined back too to see her better, the most he looks at her, the more he feels at ease. It’s a full moon tonight and the moonlight peers through the sunroof and illuminates her. In his mind, this was a sign from the universe and who was he to ignore the universe?
“I could get used to this sight” he sighed lovingly at her messy eating, a fry in her hair, licking the sauce from her fingers “from now, into forever.”
“Heh was that a proposal?” I joked at what he said because it sounded overly romantic for what’s actually going on.
He grabbed her hand and held it with both of his hands “Yes actually” he cleared his throat “I want to spend the rest of my life in your world, your the disorder that balances my routine, the spice in my food and the moonlight when the daylight leaves. Will you marry me?”
I couldn’t believe what was going on that I almost dropped my nugget “Oh Tenya, of course I’ll marry you!” I laughed and almost started crying “how the hell did I end up getting off guard like that! You sneaky little boy!”
“I can’t believe you said yes! To be honest I didn’t set out with the intention of proposing” he laughed with me “but the universe was swaying me to ask you at this moment” he rubbed his thumb over my knuckles “No ring or anything, just my aching heart and soul.”
“I don’t care if you gave me the biggest pearl in the ocean or the rarest rock in the galaxy” I squeezed his hand “I don’t need a ring to prove that you love me, money can’t buy what we have.”
They spent the rest of the evening scheming how they were going to tell their family and friends. It was exciting to see how this new chapter in their lives was going to unfold, in more ways than one.
To be continued...
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#bnha#mha#self insert au#chapter 40#not canon#will update regularly#ask me anything#//Palma-sama Speaks#yall like this Nighteye cameo? He'll show up later too!#since this part of the AU is so big; I decided to split it up in 3 parts. Kinda telenovela style when they have wedding eps or season finale#after this part of the AU comes some mini-chapters that are just life events that pivot the plot THEN comes a big time skip#yall gonna like this big time skip into the next part! It ties in everything before the 'will I return home?' conclusion
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14 PowerPoint Presentation Tips to Make More Creative Slideshows [+ Templates]
I like to think of Microsoft PowerPoint as a test of basic marketing skills. To create a passing presentation, I need to demonstrate design skills, technical literacy, and a sense of personal style.
If the presentation has a problem (like an unintended font, a broken link, or unreadable text), then I’ve probably failed the test. Even if my spoken presentation is well rehearsed, a bad visual experience can ruin it for the audience.
Expertise means nothing without a good presentation to back it up. For starters, grab your collection of free PowerPoint templates below, and use the tips that follow to perfect your next presentation.
No matter your topic, successful PowerPoints depend on three main factors: your command of PowerPoint's design tools, your attention to presentation processes, and your devotion to consistent style. Here are some simple tips to help you start mastering each of those factors, and don't forget to check out the additional resources at the bottom of this post.
PowerPoint Presentation Tips
Don't let PowerPoint decide how you use PowerPoint.
Create custom slide sizes.
Edit your slide template design.
Make sure all of your objects are properly aligned.
Use "Format Menus" to better control your objects' designs.
Take advantage of PowerPoint's shapes.
Create custom shapes.
Crop images into custom shapes.
Present websites within PowerPoint.
Embed your font files.
Save your slides as JPEGs.
Embed multimedia.
Bring your own hardware.
Use "Presenter View."
PowerPoint Style
1. Don’t let PowerPoint decide how you use PowerPoint.
Microsoft wanted to provide PowerPoint users with a lot of tools. But this does not mean you should use them all. Here are some key things to look out for:
Make sure that preset PPT themes complement your needs before you adopt them.
Try to get away from using Microsoft Office’s default fonts, Calibri and Cambria. Using these two typefaces can make the presentation seem underwhelming.
Professionals should never use PPT’s action sounds. (Please consider your audience above personal preference).
PowerPoint makes bulleting automatic, but ask yourself: Are bullets actually appropriate for what you need to do? Sometimes they are, but not always.
Recent PPT defaults include a small shadow on all shapes. Remove this shadow if it's not actually needed. Also, don’t leave shapes in their default blue.
2. Create custom slide sizes.
While you usually can get away with the default slide size for most presentations, you may need to adjust it for larger presentations on weirdly sized displays. If you need to do that, here's how.
In the top-left corner, choose "File."
Select "Page Setup."
Type the height and width of the background you'd like, and click "OK."
A dialogue box will appear. Click "OK" again.
Your background is resized!
Tip: Resize your slides before you add any objects to them or the dimensions of your objects will become skewed.
3. Edit your slide template design.
Often, it's much easier to edit your PowerPoint template before you start -- this way, you don't have design each slide by hand. Here's how you do that.
Select "Themes" in the top navigation.
In the far right, click "Edit Master," then "Slide Master."
Make any changes you like, then click "Close Master." All current and future slides in that presentation will use that template.
4. Make sure all of your objects are properly aligned.
Having properly aligned objects on your slide is the key to making it look polished and professional. You can manually try to line up your images ... but we all know how that typically works out. You're trying to make sure all of your objects hang out in the middle of your slide, but when you drag them there, it still doesn't look quite right. Get rid of your guessing game and let PowerPoint work its magic with this trick.
How to align multiple objects:
Select all objects by holding down "Shift" and clicking on all of them.
Select "Arrange" in the top options bar, then choose "Align or Distribute."
Choose the type of alignment you'd like.
How to align objects to the slide:
Select all objects by holding down "Shift" and clicking on all of them.
Select "Arrange" in the top options bar, then choose "Align or Distribute."
Select "Align to Slide."
Select "Arrange" in the top options bar again, then choose "Align or Distribute."
Choose the type of alignment you'd like.
PowerPoint Design
5. Use "Format Menus" to better control your objects' designs.
Format menus allow you to do fine adjustments that otherwise seem impossible. To do this, right click on an object and select the "Format" option. Here, you can fine-tune shadows, adjust shape measurements, create reflections, and much more. The menu that will pop up looks like this:
Although the main options can be found on PowerPoint’s format toolbars, look for complete control in the format window menu. Other examples of options available include:
Adjusting text inside a shape.
Creating a natural perspective shadow behind an object.
Recoloring photos manually and with automatic options.
6. Take advantage of PowerPoint's shapes.
Many users don’t realize how flexible PowerPoint’s shape tools have become. In combination with the expanded format options released by Microsoft in 2010, the potential for good design with shapes is readily available. PowerPoint provides the user with a bunch of great shape options beyond the traditional rectangle, oval, and rounded rectangle patterns, unlike even professional design programs like Adobe Creative Suite or Quark.
Today’s shapes include a highly functional Smart Shapes function, which enables you to create diagrams and flow charts in no time. These tools are especially valuable when you consider that PowerPoint is a visual medium. Paragraphing and bullet lists are boring -- you can use shapes to help express your message more clearly.
7. Create custom shapes.
When you create a shape, right click and press "Edit Points." By editing points, you can create custom shapes that fit your specific need. For instance, you can reshape arrows to fit the dimensions you like.
Another option is to combine two shapes together. When selecting two shapes, right-click and go to the "Grouping" sub-menu to see a variety of options.
Combine creates a custom shape that has overlapping portions of the two previous shapes cut out.
Union makes one completely merged shape.
Intersect builds a shape of only the overlapping sections of the two previous shapes.
Subtract cuts out the overlapping portion of one shape from the other.
By using these tools rather than trying to edit points precisely, you can create accurately measured custom shapes.
8. Crop images into custom shapes.
Besides creating custom shapes in your presentation, you can also use PowerPoint to crop existing images into new shapes. Here's how you do that:
Click on the image and select "Format" in the options bar.
Choose "Crop," then "Mask to Shape," and then choose your desired shape. Ta-da! Custom-shaped photos.
Learn more about creating images for your marketing channels in the video below.
youtube
9. Present websites within PowerPoint.
Tradition says that if you want to show a website in a PowerPoint, you should just create link to the page and prompt a browser to open. For PC users, there’s a better option.
Third party software that integrates fully into PowerPoint’s developer tab can be used to embed a website directly into your PowerPoint using a normal HTML iframe. One of the best tools is LiveWeb, a third-party software developed independently.
By using LiveWeb, you don’t have to interrupt your PowerPoint, and your presentation will remain fluid and natural. Whether you embed a whole webpage or just a YouTube video, this can be a high-quality third party improvement.
Unfortunately, Mac users don’t have a similar option. Agood second choice is to take screen shots of the website, link in through a browser, or embed media (such as a YouTube video) by downloading it directly to your computer.
PowerPoint Process
10. Embed your font files.
One constant problem presenters have with PowerPoint is that fonts seem to change when presenters move from one computer to another. In reality, the fonts are not changing -- the presentation computer just doesn’t have the same font files installed. If you’re using a PC and presenting on a PC, then there is a smooth work around for this issue. (When you involve Mac systems, the solution is a bit rougher. See Tip #11.) Here’s the trick: When you save your PowerPoint file (only on a PC), you should click Save Options in the "Save As …" dialog window. Then, select the "Embed TrueType fonts" check box and press "OK." Now, your presentation will keep the font file and your fonts will not change when you move computers (unless you give your presentation on a Mac).
11. Save your slides as JPEGs.
In PowerPoint for Mac 2011, there is no option to embed fonts within the presentation. So unless you use ubiquitous typefaces like Arial or Tahoma, your PPT is likely going to encounter font changeson different computers.
The most certain way of avoiding this is by saving your final presentation as JPEGs, and then inserting these JPEGs onto your slides. On a Mac, users can easily drag and drop the JPEGs into PPT with fast load time. If you do not use actions in your presentation, then this option works especially well.
If you want your presentation to appear "animated," you'll need to do a little tinkering. All you need to do is save JPEGs of each "frame" of the animation. Then, in your final presentation, you'll just display those JPEGs in the order you'd like the animation to appear. While you'll technically have several new slides in place of one original one, your audience won't know the difference.
An important consideration: If your PPT includes a lot of JPEGs, then the file size will increase.
12. Embed multimedia.
PowerPoint allows you to either link to video/audio files externally or to embed the media directly in your presentation. You should embed these files if you can, but if you use a Mac, you cannot actually embed the video (see note below). For PCs, two great reasons for embedding are:
Embedding allows you to play media directly in your presentation. It will look much more professional than switching between windows.
Embedding also means that the file stays within the PowerPoint presentation, so it should play normally without extra work (except on a Mac).
Note: Mac OS users of PowerPoint should be extra careful about using multimedia files.
If you use PowerPoint for Mac, then you will always need to bring the video and/or audio file with you in the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation. It’s best to only insert video or audio files once the presentation and the containing folder have been saved on a portable drive in their permanent folder. Also, if the presentation will be played on a Windows computer, then Mac users need to make sure their multimedia files are in WMV format. This tip gets a bit complicated, so if you want to use PowerPoint effectively, consider using the same operating system for designing andpresenting, no matter what.
13. Bring your own hardware.
Between operating systems, PowerPoint is still a bit jumpy. Even between differing PPT versions, things can change. One way to fix these problems is to make sure that you have the right hardware -- so just bring along your own laptop when you're presenting.
14. Use "Presenter View."
In most presentation situations, there will be both a presenter’s screen and the main projected display for your presentation. PowerPoint has a great tool called Presenter View, which can be found in the "Slide Show" tab of PowerPoint 2010 (or 2011 for Mac). Included in the Presenter View is an area for notes, a timer/clock, and a presentation display.
For many presenters, this tool can help unify their spoken presentation and their visual aid. You never want to make the PowerPoint seem like a stack of notes that you use a crutch. Use the Presenter View option to help create a more natural presentation.
Pro Tip: At the start of the presentation, you should also hit CTRL + H to make the cursor disappear. Hitting the "A" key will bring it back if you need it!
With style, design, and presentation processes under your belt, you can do a lot more with PowerPoint than just presentations for your clients. PowerPoint and similar slide applications are flexible tools that should not be forgotten.
Want more? Read 20 Great Examples of PowerPoint Presentation Design.
0 notes
Text
14 PowerPoint Presentation Tips for Building More Creative Slideshows[+Templates]
I like to think of Microsoft PowerPoint as a test of basic marketing skills. To create a passing presentation, I need to demonstrate design skills, technical literacy, and a sense of personal style.
If the presentation has a problem (like an unintended font, a broken link, or unreadable text), then I've probably failed the test. Even if my spoken presentation is well rehearsed, a bad visual experience can ruin it for the audience. Expertise means nothing without a good presentation to back it up.
No matter your topic, successful PowerPoints depend on three main factors: your command of PowerPoint's design tools, your attention to presentation processes, and your devotion to consistent style. Here are some simple tips to help you start mastering each of those factors, and don't forget to check out the additional resources at the bottom of this post.
PowerPoint Tips: Style
Step 1: Don't let PowerPoint decide how you use PowerPoint.
Microsoft wanted to provide PowerPoint users with a lot of tools. But this does not mean you should use them all. Here are some key things to look out for:
Make sure that preset PPT themes complement your needs before you adopt them.
Try to get away from using Microsoft Office's default fonts, Calibri and Cambria. Using these two typefaces can make the presentation seem underwhelming.
Professionals should never use PPT's action sounds. (Please consider your audience above personal preference).
PowerPoint makes bulleting automatic, but ask yourself: Are bullets actually appropriate for what you need to do? Sometimes they are, but not always.
Recent PPT defaults include a small shadow on all shapes. Remove this shadow if it's not actually needed. Also, don't leave shapes in their default blue.
Step 2: Create custom slide sizes.
While you usually can get away with the default slide size for most presentations, you may need to adjust it for larger presentations on weirdly sized displays. If you need to do that, here's how.
In the top-left corner, choose "File."
Select "Page Setup."
Type the height and width of the background you'd like, and click "OK."
A dialogue box will appear. Click "OK" again.
Your background is resized!
Tip: Resize your slides before you add any objects to them or the dimensions of your objects will become skewed.
Step 3: Edit your slide template design.
Often, it's much easier to edit your PowerPoint template before you start -- this way, you don't have design each slide by hand. Here's how you do that.
Select "Themes" in the top navigation.
In the far right, click "Edit Master," then "Slide Master."
Make any changes you like, then click "Close Master." All current and future slides in that presentation will use that template.
Step 4: Make sure all of your objects are properly aligned.
Having properly aligned objects on your slide is the key to making it look polished and professional. You can manually try to line up your images ... but we all know how that typically works out. You're trying to make sure all of your objects hang out in the middle of your slide, but when you drag them there, it still doesn't look quite right. Get rid of your guessing game and let PowerPoint work its magic with this trick.
How to align multiple objects:
Select all objects by holding down "Shift" and clicking on all of them.
Select "Arrange" in the top options bar, then choose "Align or Distribute."
Choose the type of alignment you'd like.
How to align objects to the slide:
Select all objects by holding down "Shift" and clicking on all of them.
Select "Arrange" in the top options bar, then choose "Align or Distribute."
Select "Align to Slide."
Select "Arrange" in the top options bar again, then choose "Align or Distribute."
Choose the type of alignment you'd like.
PowerPoint Tips: Design
Step 5: Get more control over your objects' designs using "Format" menus.
Format menus allow you to do fine adjustments that otherwise seem impossible. To do this, right click on an object and select the "Format" option. Here, you can fine-tune shadows, adjust shape measurements, create reflections, and much more. The menu that will pop up looks like this:
Although the main options can be found on PowerPoint's format toolbars, look for complete control in the format window menu. Other examples of options available include:
Adjusting text inside a shape.
Creating a natural perspective shadow behind an object.
Recoloring photos manually and with automatic options.
Step 6: Take advantage of PowerPoint's shapes.
Many users don't realize how flexible PowerPoint's shape tools have become. In combination with the expanded format options released by Microsoft in 2010, the potential for good design with shapes is readily available. PowerPoint provides the user with a bunch of great shape options beyond the traditional rectangle, oval, and rounded rectangle patterns, unlike even professional design programs like Adobe Creative Suite or Quark.
Today's shapes include a highly functional Smart Shapes function, which enables you to create diagrams and flow charts in no time. These tools are especially valuable when you consider that PowerPoint is a visual medium. Paragraphing and bullet lists are boring -- you can use shapes to help express your message more clearly.
Step 7: Create custom shapes.
When you create a shape, right click and press "Edit Points." By editing points, you can create custom shapes that fit your specific need. For instance, you can reshape arrows to fit the dimensions you like.
Another option is to combine two shapes together. When selecting two shapes, right-click and go to the "Grouping" sub-menu to see a variety of options.
Combine creates a custom shape that has overlapping portions of the two previous shapes cut out.
Union makes one completely merged shape.
Intersect builds a shape of only the overlapping sections of the two previous shapes.
Subtract cuts out the overlapping portion of one shape from the other.
By using these tools rather than trying to edit points precisely, you can create accurately measured custom shapes.
Step 8: Crop images into custom shapes.
Besides creating custom shapes in your presentation, you can also use PowerPoint to crop existing images into new shapes. Here's how you do that:
Click on the image and select "Format" in the options bar.
Choose "Crop," then "Mask to Shape," and then choose your desired shape. Ta-da! Custom-shaped photos.
Step 9: Present websites within PowerPoint.
Tradition says that if you want to show a website in a PowerPoint, you should just create link to the page and prompt a browser to open. For PC users, there's a better option.
Third party software that integrates fully into PowerPoint's developer tab can be used to embed a website directly into your PowerPoint using a normal HTML iframe. One of the best tools is LiveWeb, a third-party software developed independently.
By using LiveWeb, you don't have to interrupt your PowerPoint, and your presentation will remain fluid and natural. Whether you embed a whole webpage or just a YouTube video, this can be a high-quality third party improvement.
Unfortunately, Mac users don't have a similar option. Agood second choice is to take screen shots of the website, link in through a browser, or embed media (such as a YouTube video) by downloading it directly to your computer.
PowerPoint Tips: Process
Step 10: Embed your font files.
One constant problem presenters have with PowerPoint is that fonts seem to change when presenters move from one computer to another. In reality, the fonts are not changing -- the presentation computer just doesn't have the same font files installed. If you're using a PC and presenting on a PC, then there is a smooth work around for this issue. (When you involve Mac systems, the solution is a bit rougher. See Tip #11.) Here's the trick: When you save your PowerPoint file (only on a PC), you should click Save Options in the "Save As " dialog window. Then, select the "Embed TrueType fonts" check box and press "OK." Now, your presentation will keep the font file and your fonts will not change when you move computers (unless you give your presentation on a Mac).
Step 11: Save your slides as JPEGs.
In PowerPoint for Mac 2011, there is no option to embed fonts within the presentation. So unless you use ubiquitous typefaces like Arial or Tahoma, your PPT is likely going to encounter font changeson different computers.
The most certain way of avoiding this is by saving your final presentation as JPEGs, and then inserting these JPEGs onto your slides. On a Mac, users can easily drag and drop the JPEGs into PPT with fast load time. If you do not use actions in your presentation, then this option works especially well.
If you want your presentation to appear "animated," you'll need to do a little tinkering. All you need to do is save JPEGs of each "frame" of the animation. Then, in your final presentation, you'll just display those JPEGs in the order you'd like the animation to appear. While you'll technically have several new slides in place of one original one, your audience won't know the difference.
An important consideration: If your PPT includes a lot of JPEGs, then the file size will increase.
Step 12: Embed multimedia.
PowerPoint allows you to either link to video/audio files externally or to embed the media directly in your presentation. You should embed these files if you can, but if you use a Mac, you cannot actually embed the video (see note below). For PCs, two great reasons for embedding are:
Embedding allows you to play media directly in your presentation. It will look much more professional than switching between windows.
Embedding also means that the file stays within the PowerPoint presentation, so it should play normally without extra work (except on a Mac).
Note: Mac OS users of PowerPoint should be extra careful about using multimedia files.
If you use PowerPoint for Mac, then you will always need to bring the video and/or audio file with you in the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation. It's best to only insert video or audio files once the presentation and the containing folder have been saved on a portable drive in their permanent folder. Also, if the presentation will be played on a Windows computer, then Mac users need to make sure their multimedia files are in WMV format. This tip gets a bit complicated, so if you want to use PowerPoint effectively, consider using the same operating system for designing andpresenting, no matter what.
Step 13: Bring your own hardware.
Between operating systems, PowerPoint is still a bit jumpy. Even between differing PPT versions, things can change. One way to fix these problems is to make sure that you have the right hardware -- so just bring along your own laptop when you're presenting.
Step 14: Use "Presenter View."
In most presentation situations, there will be both a presenter's screen and the main projected display for your presentation. PowerPoint has a great tool called Presenter View, which can be found in the "Slide Show" tab of PowerPoint 2010 (or 2011 for Mac). Included in the Presenter View is an area for notes, a timer/clock, and a presentation display.
For many presenters, this tool can help unify their spoken presentation and their visual aid. You never want to make the PowerPoint seem like a stack of notes that you use a crutch. Use the Presenter View option to help create a more natural presentation.
Pro Tip: At the start of the presentation, you should also hit CTRL + H to make the cursor disappear. Hitting the "A" key will bring it back if you need it!
Conclusion
With style, design, and presentation processes under your belt, you can do a lot more with PowerPoint than just presentations for your clients. PowerPoint and similar slide applications are flexible tools that should not be forgotten.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in 2013 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
0 notes
Text
14 PowerPoint Presentation Tips for Building More Creative Slideshows[+Templates]
I like to think of Microsoft PowerPoint as a test of basic marketing skills. To create a passing presentation, I need to demonstrate design skills, technical literacy, and a sense of personal style.
If the presentation has a problem (like an unintended font, a broken link, or unreadable text), then I've probably failed the test. Even if my spoken presentation is well rehearsed, a bad visual experience can ruin it for the audience. Expertise means nothing without a good presentation to back it up.
No matter your topic, successful PowerPoints depend on three main factors: your command of PowerPoint's design tools, your attention to presentation processes, and your devotion to consistent style. Here are some simple tips to help you start mastering each of those factors, and don't forget to check out the additional resources at the bottom of this post.
PowerPoint Tips: Style
Step 1: Don't let PowerPoint decide how you use PowerPoint.
Microsoft wanted to provide PowerPoint users with a lot of tools. But this does not mean you should use them all. Here are some key things to look out for:
Make sure that preset PPT themes complement your needs before you adopt them.
Try to get away from using Microsoft Office's default fonts, Calibri and Cambria. Using these two typefaces can make the presentation seem underwhelming.
Professionals should never use PPT's action sounds. (Please consider your audience above personal preference).
PowerPoint makes bulleting automatic, but ask yourself: Are bullets actually appropriate for what you need to do? Sometimes they are, but not always.
Recent PPT defaults include a small shadow on all shapes. Remove this shadow if it's not actually needed. Also, don't leave shapes in their default blue.
Step 2: Create custom slide sizes.
While you usually can get away with the default slide size for most presentations, you may need to adjust it for larger presentations on weirdly sized displays. If you need to do that, here's how.
In the top-left corner, choose "File."
Select "Page Setup."
Type the height and width of the background you'd like, and click "OK."
A dialogue box will appear. Click "OK" again.
Your background is resized!
Tip: Resize your slides before you add any objects to them or the dimensions of your objects will become skewed.
Step 3: Edit your slide template design.
Often, it's much easier to edit your PowerPoint template before you start -- this way, you don't have design each slide by hand. Here's how you do that.
Select "Themes" in the top navigation.
In the far right, click "Edit Master," then "Slide Master."
Make any changes you like, then click "Close Master." All current and future slides in that presentation will use that template.
Step 4: Make sure all of your objects are properly aligned.
Having properly aligned objects on your slide is the key to making it look polished and professional. You can manually try to line up your images ... but we all know how that typically works out. You're trying to make sure all of your objects hang out in the middle of your slide, but when you drag them there, it still doesn't look quite right. Get rid of your guessing game and let PowerPoint work its magic with this trick.
How to align multiple objects:
Select all objects by holding down "Shift" and clicking on all of them.
Select "Arrange" in the top options bar, then choose "Align or Distribute."
Choose the type of alignment you'd like.
How to align objects to the slide:
Select all objects by holding down "Shift" and clicking on all of them.
Select "Arrange" in the top options bar, then choose "Align or Distribute."
Select "Align to Slide."
Select "Arrange" in the top options bar again, then choose "Align or Distribute."
Choose the type of alignment you'd like.
PowerPoint Tips: Design
Step 5: Get more control over your objects' designs using "Format" menus.
Format menus allow you to do fine adjustments that otherwise seem impossible. To do this, right click on an object and select the "Format" option. Here, you can fine-tune shadows, adjust shape measurements, create reflections, and much more. The menu that will pop up looks like this:
Although the main options can be found on PowerPoint's format toolbars, look for complete control in the format window menu. Other examples of options available include:
Adjusting text inside a shape.
Creating a natural perspective shadow behind an object.
Recoloring photos manually and with automatic options.
Step 6: Take advantage of PowerPoint's shapes.
Many users don't realize how flexible PowerPoint's shape tools have become. In combination with the expanded format options released by Microsoft in 2010, the potential for good design with shapes is readily available. PowerPoint provides the user with a bunch of great shape options beyond the traditional rectangle, oval, and rounded rectangle patterns, unlike even professional design programs like Adobe Creative Suite or Quark.
Today's shapes include a highly functional Smart Shapes function, which enables you to create diagrams and flow charts in no time. These tools are especially valuable when you consider that PowerPoint is a visual medium. Paragraphing and bullet lists are boring -- you can use shapes to help express your message more clearly.
Step 7: Create custom shapes.
When you create a shape, right click and press "Edit Points." By editing points, you can create custom shapes that fit your specific need. For instance, you can reshape arrows to fit the dimensions you like.
Another option is to combine two shapes together. When selecting two shapes, right-click and go to the "Grouping" sub-menu to see a variety of options.
Combine creates a custom shape that has overlapping portions of the two previous shapes cut out.
Union makes one completely merged shape.
Intersect builds a shape of only the overlapping sections of the two previous shapes.
Subtract cuts out the overlapping portion of one shape from the other.
By using these tools rather than trying to edit points precisely, you can create accurately measured custom shapes.
Step 8: Crop images into custom shapes.
Besides creating custom shapes in your presentation, you can also use PowerPoint to crop existing images into new shapes. Here's how you do that:
Click on the image and select "Format" in the options bar.
Choose "Crop," then "Mask to Shape," and then choose your desired shape. Ta-da! Custom-shaped photos.
Step 9: Present websites within PowerPoint.
Tradition says that if you want to show a website in a PowerPoint, you should just create link to the page and prompt a browser to open. For PC users, there's a better option.
Third party software that integrates fully into PowerPoint's developer tab can be used to embed a website directly into your PowerPoint using a normal HTML iframe. One of the best tools is LiveWeb, a third-party software developed independently.
By using LiveWeb, you don't have to interrupt your PowerPoint, and your presentation will remain fluid and natural. Whether you embed a whole webpage or just a YouTube video, this can be a high-quality third party improvement.
Unfortunately, Mac users don't have a similar option. Agood second choice is to take screen shots of the website, link in through a browser, or embed media (such as a YouTube video) by downloading it directly to your computer.
PowerPoint Tips: Process
Step 10: Embed your font files.
One constant problem presenters have with PowerPoint is that fonts seem to change when presenters move from one computer to another. In reality, the fonts are not changing -- the presentation computer just doesn't have the same font files installed. If you're using a PC and presenting on a PC, then there is a smooth work around for this issue. (When you involve Mac systems, the solution is a bit rougher. See Tip #11.) Here's the trick: When you save your PowerPoint file (only on a PC), you should click Save Options in the "Save As " dialog window. Then, select the "Embed TrueType fonts" check box and press "OK." Now, your presentation will keep the font file and your fonts will not change when you move computers (unless you give your presentation on a Mac).
Step 11: Save your slides as JPEGs.
In PowerPoint for Mac 2011, there is no option to embed fonts within the presentation. So unless you use ubiquitous typefaces like Arial or Tahoma, your PPT is likely going to encounter font changeson different computers.
The most certain way of avoiding this is by saving your final presentation as JPEGs, and then inserting these JPEGs onto your slides. On a Mac, users can easily drag and drop the JPEGs into PPT with fast load time. If you do not use actions in your presentation, then this option works especially well.
If you want your presentation to appear "animated," you'll need to do a little tinkering. All you need to do is save JPEGs of each "frame" of the animation. Then, in your final presentation, you'll just display those JPEGs in the order you'd like the animation to appear. While you'll technically have several new slides in place of one original one, your audience won't know the difference.
An important consideration: If your PPT includes a lot of JPEGs, then the file size will increase.
Step 12: Embed multimedia.
PowerPoint allows you to either link to video/audio files externally or to embed the media directly in your presentation. You should embed these files if you can, but if you use a Mac, you cannot actually embed the video (see note below). For PCs, two great reasons for embedding are:
Embedding allows you to play media directly in your presentation. It will look much more professional than switching between windows.
Embedding also means that the file stays within the PowerPoint presentation, so it should play normally without extra work (except on a Mac).
Note: Mac OS users of PowerPoint should be extra careful about using multimedia files.
If you use PowerPoint for Mac, then you will always need to bring the video and/or audio file with you in the same folder as the PowerPoint presentation. It's best to only insert video or audio files once the presentation and the containing folder have been saved on a portable drive in their permanent folder. Also, if the presentation will be played on a Windows computer, then Mac users need to make sure their multimedia files are in WMV format. This tip gets a bit complicated, so if you want to use PowerPoint effectively, consider using the same operating system for designing andpresenting, no matter what.
Step 13: Bring your own hardware.
Between operating systems, PowerPoint is still a bit jumpy. Even between differing PPT versions, things can change. One way to fix these problems is to make sure that you have the right hardware -- so just bring along your own laptop when you're presenting.
Step 14: Use "Presenter View."
In most presentation situations, there will be both a presenter's screen and the main projected display for your presentation. PowerPoint has a great tool called Presenter View, which can be found in the "Slide Show" tab of PowerPoint 2010 (or 2011 for Mac). Included in the Presenter View is an area for notes, a timer/clock, and a presentation display.
For many presenters, this tool can help unify their spoken presentation and their visual aid. You never want to make the PowerPoint seem like a stack of notes that you use a crutch. Use the Presenter View option to help create a more natural presentation.
Pro Tip: At the start of the presentation, you should also hit CTRL + H to make the cursor disappear. Hitting the "A" key will bring it back if you need it!
Conclusion
With style, design, and presentation processes under your belt, you can do a lot more with PowerPoint than just presentations for your clients. PowerPoint and similar slide applications are flexible tools that should not be forgotten.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in 2013 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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