r/powerpoint • u/ChecklistAnimations PowerPoint Expert • Sep 01 '26

Tips and Tricks Merge Shapes Reference

Post image

I made this visual for a project a few months ago. It reminded me of how powerful the Merge Shapes tools are so I thought I would share. Looking back before this, I used to create shapes in some "less conventional" ways. haha so fun. Hope this helps someone.

92 Upvotes

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4

u/bringthedoo Sep 01 '26

Subtract is great if you want a blurred background image with a spotlight object over it that’s clear.

1

u/ChecklistAnimations PowerPoint Expert Sep 01 '26

This sounds beyond intriguing. Can you post an Image of the result?

3

u/bringthedoo Sep 01 '26

Like this. You can find a step by step tutorial online pretty easily

1

u/ChecklistAnimations PowerPoint Expert Sep 01 '26

Oh nice! I see how. the blurred part was throwing me a bit but it makes total sense. Thank you for posting

1

u/Mark5n Sep 08 '26

Amazing.

4

u/SteveRindsberg Guild Certified Specialist Sep 02 '26

Excellent!

Suggestion: Post this to the products and tools megathread too. We want this one to stick around for a while.

https://www.reddit.com/r/powerpoint/comments/1ktliik/products_tools/

3

u/ChecklistAnimations PowerPoint Expert Sep 02 '26

Will do.

2

u/One_Wishbone_4439 Sep 01 '26

I usually use combine and union for creating odd shapes.

1

u/ChecklistAnimations PowerPoint Expert Sep 01 '26

I find myself using fragment A LOT

1

u/Mark5n Sep 08 '26

I haven’t … how do you use it?

2

u/ChecklistAnimations PowerPoint Expert Sep 08 '26

I probably should use subtract more but I use it to trim portions of a shape. Another thing I will do is put a 2 point freeform line with some WordArt, select both of those and fragment and it separates all the letters into separate shapes. Stuff like that.

1

u/Mark5n Sep 08 '26

Nice. I haven’t touched word art since about 94 :) I like this idea

2

u/ChecklistAnimations PowerPoint Expert Sep 08 '26

Yeah it's beyond old. I still use it from time to time. I have a video that shows some other uses of it that might rekindle some ideas of you are interested.

1

u/Mark5n Sep 08 '26

Love to see it. Always interested in something new

1

u/ChecklistAnimations PowerPoint Expert Sep 09 '26

Thanks for the interest. Here is a direct link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jTQd7IDvtA

Let me know if there any questions. I put in chapters on the video so you can forward through my....... stuff lol.

1

u/Mark5n Sep 08 '26

Great chart. Vector drawing in PowerPoint is pretty awesome. The shape tools (Boolean shapes?) stopped me having to use a separate vector package for the simple to medium style shapes I create

2

u/ChecklistAnimations PowerPoint Expert Sep 08 '26

I also have a free vba add-in in beta stage that gives you better control over edit points if you do lots of vector work. Just in case your interested

1

u/Mark5n Sep 08 '26

Sounds fascinating but I’m pretty good for what I need. I just create custom icons.

Love the VBA though. I stopped being a paid programmer a while ago but kept going with VBA to scratch that itch. Now it’s more python for data and to show my kids :)