Microsoft PowerPoint is a great tool to build slide decks. With it, you can share text, images, and multimedia of all kinds. This can include custom shapes, which PowerPoint lets you draw with ease. It can be useful to merge shapes in PowerPoint, too.
Here, you can combine multiple shapes that you’ve drawn into a single one. This way, you can create stunning shapes that are truly one-of-a-kind. These help you capture the attention of your audience in a new, fun way.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn PPT merge shapes steps. We’ll look at how to combine shapes in PowerPoint. And we’ll walk through the process of shape combination step-by-step.
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Why Use PowerPoint Merge Shapes?
PowerPoint Merge Shapes is a cool feature included in the app. But why would you want to merge shapes in PowerPoint? What are the benefits? Well, before we learn how to combine shapes in PowerPoint, let’s think about some key advantages:
- Creative control. Sure, PowerPoint slides often feature shapes. But with the ability to merge shape PPT designs, you can create effects that are completely new and different.
- Unforgettable designs. Audiences will love merge shapes in PowerPoint. With this skill, you can help ensure that you’re adding memorable geometric layouts.
- Added emphasis. Custom merge shapes in PPT help you add emphasis. By nature, they’re eye-catching. Add them where you want audiences to focus their attention anywhere on a given slide.
As you can see, you definitely want to learn about PPT merge shapes. Let’s look at how to merge shapes in PowerPoint now, quickly and easily.
How to Combine Shapes in PowerPoint
To practice the art of PPT merge shapes, let's use pre-build designs. We'll use a premium PowerPoint template. Envato Elements has thousands of these available, and we’ll work with one. It’s the beautiful Calista PowerPoint Template, and you can download it today to follow along with our tutorial.
With the template downloaded and open in PowerPoint, let’s get started.
1. Add Shapes to a Slide
Scroll through the template and choose a slide to work with. Herein lies the flexibility of the PowerPoint Merge Shapes tool - you can add shapes to any slide in any slide deck.
Then, you can merge them together seamlessly. In this deck, let’s choose slide #2. It’s an attractive layout with plenty of open space. To it, we’ll add shapes of our own. Then, we’ll combine shapes PowerPoint techniques to create an all-new unique shape.
Let’s get started by adding the first shape. To do that, find the Insert tab. It’s located on PowerPoint’s ribbon, the row of menu tabs across the top of your screen. Click Insert, and then look at the new menu options.
In the Illustrations group on the Insert tab, find the Shapes dropdown arrow. Click on it. In the gallery menu that opens, you’ll see an array of shape options to choose from. They’re grouped into categories: Lines, Rectangles, Basic Shapes, and more. These work with our PPT merge shapes steps.
You can use any of these to create a merged shape. But for the most dramatic effects, it pays to use those like Block Arrows or Basic Shapes.
For our PPT merge shapes example, let’s draw an Oval. It’s the second option in the first row of the Basic Shapes group. Click on the Oval shape once to activate it.
When you do, watch what happens to your cursor. Instead of the usual mouse pointer, it transforms into a crosshair. This tells you that the shape you selected is activated.
Move over an open spot on the slide and hold down your cursor. You’ll see an oval appear! Continuing to hold your cursor down, you can drag across the slide to draw an oval shape in the exact size that you want. Release your cursor when you’re ready to lock it into place.
Just like that, you’ve added your first shape. But to use PowerPoint merge shapes, you’ll want to add at least one more.
You can do this in two ways. First, you can return to Insert > Shapes, and then draw one or more new shapes. Or you can copy and paste the shape you’ve already drawn. To do that, select the shape.
Then, press Command + C on Mac (Control + C on Windows). Paste with Command/Control + V and move the shape where you want it.
As you can see here, these shapes are moved into an overlapping position. But before we merge shape PPT designs, let’s add some stylistic features.
2. Set the Overall Style
With a shape selected in PowerPoint, you can change up the look and feel with the Shape Format tab. For example, you can choose a new Shape Fill color. For this shape, let’s apply a red gradient effect.
Gradients help your shapes look more three-dimensional. You can also add Shape Effects or even a Shape Outline. But this reveals an important detail about merge shape PPT.
Think of what you’re doing: a combine shapes PowerPoint transforms multiple shapes into one. By nature, then, your finished shape will have only one set of formatting.
3. Merge Shapes Together
Now, it’s time to look at how PowerPoint Merge Shapes works. Get started by clicking on the shape that uses the style and formatting that you want to use in the combined shape. Here, we’ll use the red circle that we just edited. Click to select it.
Then, holding down Shift on your keyboard, click on each of the other shapes in turn. Once you’ve selected the shape with the formatting you want in the beginning, the order does not matter.
Now, go up to the Shape Format tab on the ribbon again. Over on the left, find the Insert Shapes group. In it, you’ll see the Merge Shapes dropdown. Click this and look at the options listed.
4. Explore and Choose Merge Effects
There are five ways to merge shapes PowerPoint. All five are on the Merge Shapes menu. Hover over each one, and you can see the effect previewed on the slide using the shapes that you’ve drawn and selected.
Think of these as various ways that merge shapes in PowerPoint can work. In order, they are:
- Union. The selected shapes combine to form one, single shape. Overlapping parts are merged.
- Combine. The selected shapes combine to form one shape, but overlapping parts are removed. Where there was an overlap, you’ll now see the slide beneath.
- Fragment. Shapes, including their overlapping areas, form new shapes.
- Intersect. Only overlapping areas are retained, while other parts of the shape are removed.
- Subtract. In this merge shape PPT option, only the original shape is kept, with any parts of it that overlap other shapes also deleted.
Explore the different options. Remember, Merge Shapes in PowerPoint is a feature that lets you create totally unique shapes. In this case, Combine is a cool feature. It joins two shapes but removes overlapping areas.
You’ll see the four circles combine into one. But notice that the areas where they overlap will be removed. The end result is a beautiful butterfly effect in the middle. Click Combine and you’ll see it apply on your slide preview.
Always remember to explore your options. No set of shapes will be perfectly identical. The effects you can achieve are limitless! Explore your options and get started now.
Don’t forget - you can edit your PPT merged shape just like any other shape. You can move it around the slide, add formatting, and so much more. It’s amazingly easy. Try it today.
The Top Source for PowerPoint Merge Shapes Templates (With Unlimited Downloads)
Envato Elements is the ultimate source for the very best merge shape PPT templates in 2023. With thousands of premium designs to choose from, finding the right one for your next project could not be easier. To each of these you can add your own custom shapes and merge them together.
The Elements offer is powerful: unlimited downloads. For a flat monthly rate, you can download and use as many premium combine shapes PowerPoint templates as you want!
And that’s not all. Elements includes over 15 million digital assets. You’ll enjoy fonts, stock photos, music, and more. Imagine how useful these will be in your next presentation.
Choose an Envato Elements template and you’ll unlock premium styling far superior to what you’ll find in free templates online. The benefits are many, including:
- Designer-quality layouts. Merge shapes in PowerPoint templates from Elements are hand-crafted by creative experts. Throughout, you’ll enjoy sleek layouts with cool design features.
- Inspiring features. Need help deciding how to share your favorite slide content? Templates are here to help. Simply fill in the blanks with our own multimedia.
- Time savings. Don’t waste hours building slide decks from scratch. Embrace a premium template and you can drop in your own content with ease.
These templates take your merge shape PPT technique to the next level. As you can see, Elements is the best value for creatives in 2023 and beyond. Join today and start exploring the vast library of digital content!
Learn More Microsoft PowerPoint Techniques
You just learned key steps that taught you how to combine shapes in PowerPoint. While shapes are impressive on their own, combining them gives you unlimited possibilities. Use these merge shapes in PowerPoint steps for unique styles.
There's no reason to stop here! Learn more about PowerPoint with the help of our resource, How to Use PowerPoint (Ultimate Tutorial Guide.) Sample our favorite tutorials from the guide below:
How to Make Business Proposal Presentations in PowerPoint (+ Video)
How to Make a Circle Picture in PowerPoint & Other Picture Shapes
What Are the Best Fonts to Use in PowerPoint PPT Presentations? (Complete 2023 Guide)
Merge Shapes in PowerPoint Today
In this tutorial, you learned how to combine shapes in PowerPoint. The ability to merge shapes PowerPoint is a key part of your creative toolbox. It helps your slides stand out from the crowd, without advanced design skills needed. When you merge shape PPT layouts, you can inspire your audience and create cool effects with ease.
What are you waiting for? Start imagining the unlimited possibilities of PowerPoint merge shapes. Any two (or more) overlapping shapes can be merged together. Use this powerful idea next time you want to build inspiring, engaging slides of your own.
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