How to Crop Graphics in PowerPoint

You can crop graphics in PowerPoint 98/2000 to make them fit better on a slide. Cropping is a photographic term. When you crop a photo or graphic, you trim off an unwanted part of the picture to enhance the impact on the viewer.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Microsoft Powerpoint

1. Click the slide graphic to select it.

2. If you don't see the Picture toolbar, go to the View menu and select Toolbars. Select Picture and wait for the Picture toolbar to open.

3. Click the Crop tool.

4. Position the Crop tool on one of the handles (hollow boxes) around the graphic.

5. Slowly drag toward the center of the graphic to crop out the part you don't want to include.

6. Notice the dotted line that forms around the graphic as you're cropping; this shows how much is being cropped.

7. Let go of the mouse button when you're finished, and the cropped graphic will appear on the slide.

8. Click on an area outside the slide when you finish cropping, or press the Esc key.

Tips & Warnings

• You can crop only the outside edges of graphics, not the center.
• To locate the Crop tool, point at each item on the Picture toolbar. A description of the tool appears.
• To learn how to insert a picture onto a slide, see the eHows "How to Insert Graphics Into PowerPoint Presentations" and "How to Insert Microsoft Clip Art Into a PowerPoint Presentation."