Apply Preset Effects to Shapes in PowerPoint 2016 for Windows

PowerPoint provides six types of Shape Effects; more than one of these effects can be applied to a selected shape. Some combinations of these effects look better than others. Having said so, practicing restraint not to go overboard with all effects is always a good thing. Also, trying out all the effect combinations may take a lot of time. Fortunately, the Presets option comes to your rescue. This option lets you use pre-combined combinations of the different effects. Figure 1, below shows some Preset effects applied to the same shape.


Figure 1: Preset effects

To see a sample presentation containing Preset effects in PowerPoint, scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Follow these steps to apply a Preset effect to a shape in PowerPoint 2016:

1. Open your presentation and select the shape that you want to format. We inserted and selected a Smiley Face, as shown in Figure 2. Selecting the shape brings up the Drawing Tools Format tab in the Ribbon, as shown highlighted in blue within Figure 2. Activate this Ribbon tab by clicking on it.
   
   
   Figure 2: Drawing Tools Format tab of the Ribbon
   
   
   Note: The Drawing Tools Format tab is a contextual tab. These tabs are special tabs in the Ribbon that are not visible all the time. They only make an appearance when you are working with a particular slide object which can be edited using special options.
2. Within the Drawing Tools Format tab, click the Shape Effects button (highlighted in red within Figure 2, above).
3. This bring up the Shape Effects drop-down gallery, as shown in Figure 3. In this gallery, select the Preset option to bring up the Preset sub-gallery (refer to Figure 3 again).
   
   
   Figure 3: Preset sub-gallery
   
   The options within the Preset sub-gallery are explained below, as marked in Figure 4, above. You'll need to choose any one of these options for the effects:
   
   

   A. No Presets

   This is the option you can use to remove an existing preset effect that's already applied to a shape.
   
   

   B. Presets

   There are twelve preset effects which can be applied to a selected shape. All these presets are combinations of the other six effect types that PowerPoint provides: Shadow, Reflection, Glow, Soft Edges, Bevel, and 3-D Rotation.
   
   

   C. 3-D Options

   This option takes you to the Effects tab of the Format Shape Task Pane. This is something that is covered as part of our Bevel and 3-D Options tutorial.
4. Move the cursor over any of the effects within the Preset gallery to see a Live Preview of the effect, as shown in Figure 4.
   
   
   Figure 4: Live preview of the Preset effect
   
   
   Tip: Place your shape in the area that is not covered by the Shape Effects drop-down gallery as shown in Figure 4 above, so that you can see the Live Preview.
5. Click on the effect to apply it to the selected shape. In Figure 5 you can see the previously selected Smiley Face applied with a Preset effect.
   
   
   Figure 5: Smiley Face applied with a Preset effect
6. Remember to save your presentation often.

Sample Presentation:

Click below to view on SlideShare

Click below to view on YouTube

See Also:

Apply Preset Effects to Shapes in PowerPoint 2013 for Windows
Apply Preset Effects to Shapes in PowerPoint 2010 for Windows
Apply Preset Effects to Shapes in PowerPoint 2007 for Windows