How to create spot shapes for numbering

PowerPoint 365
It is usual to use numbering in your presentation (remember that you can use just 3-5 points in one slide). There are many pre-defined variations and types of numbering lists you can use, and, for sure, there are unnumbered templates on the Internet. But, do you really want to be like anyone else? Why don't you try to create your own unique numbering style for your presentation?

This tip is about how to use predefined SmartArt graphics for creating numbering (see also how to create blots for numbering or how to use 3D cubes for numbering).

See also the numbering list.

Spot shapes for numbering in PowerPoint 2016

To create spot shapes, do the following:

   1.   Create one spot:

   1.1.   On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, select SmartArt:

SmartArt graphic in PowerPoint 2016

   1.2.   In the Choose a SmartArt Graphic dialog box, on the Relationship tab, and then select Circle Relationship:

Relationship SmartArt graphic in PowerPoint 2016

The new SmartArt graphic will be added to your slide:

New SmartArt graphic in PowerPoint 2016

   1.3.   Format circles by:

   1.3.1.   Selecting any of the circle and changing their size:

Shape in SmartArt graphic PowerPoint 2016

   1.3.2.   Change positions of some circles by drugging and dropping shapes:

Shapes in SmartArt graphic PowerPoint 2016

If you want to use identical spots, you can skip the next step.

   2.   Create other spots:

   2.1.   Select just added SmartArt graphic and then under SmartArt Tools, on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click on the Group dropdown list and select Ungroup:

Ungroup shapes in PowerPoint 2016

After this operation, it is not a SmartArt graphic anymore.

   2.2.   Select the object and then under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click on the Group dropdown list and select Ungroup. It ungroups all shapes:

Ungrouped shapes in PowerPoint 2016

   2.3.   Select some of the circles and group them, for example into three different groups:

Regrouped shapes in PowerPoint 2016

Note: To group objects, just select them and then under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click on the Group dropdown list and select Group.

Note: See How to select and format objects in the slide with a big number of objects for for more comfortable selections.

   2.4.   Positioning and rotating groups by using the rotation handle in the top of the selecting border:

Rotation handle in PowerPoint 2016

New blots will look like you want:

Rotated shapes 1 in PowerPoint 2016    or    Rotated shapes 2 in PowerPoint 2016    or    Rotated shapes 3 in PowerPoint 2016

Note: After rotation and positioning the objects, it is recommended to group them:

Grouped shapes 1 in PowerPoint 2016    or    Grouped shapes 2 in PowerPoint 2016    or    Grouped shapes 3 in PowerPoint 2016

   3.   Format spots by changing the fill and line color:

   3.1.   Right-click on the object and choose Format Shape... in the popup menu:

Format shape in popup in PowerPoint 2016

   3.2.   On the Format Shape pane, choose the Shape Options tab, on the Fill & Line group:

  • In the Fill section, select Solid fill or even Gradient fill and then customize colors according to your preferences:
    Fill in Format Shape pane in PowerPoint 2016
  • In the Line group, select No line:
    Line in Format Shape pane in PowerPoint 2016

After all these changes, the shapes will look like:

Shape 1 in PowerPoint 2016    or    Shape 2 in PowerPoint 2016    or    Shape 3 in PowerPoint 2016

   4.   Add text to the shapes – just double-click on the shape and enter the text.

See also this tip in French: Comment créer des taches d'encre pour la numérotation.

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