Apply Soft Edges to Shapes
Author: Geetesh Bajaj
Product/Version: Microsoft PowerPoint 2007
OS: Microsoft Windows XP / Vista
Date Created: March 18th 2009
Last Updated: March 18th 2009
Excerpt/Capsule: Soft Edges adds an eaten-up, feathered edge to a selected shape. Soft edges work best with larger shapes, especially if you use some of the larger soft edge variations available.
We have already explored a few of the effects that PowerPoint 2007 allows to be used on shapes -- and that's the reason they are called Shape Effects. Soft Edges are one of these effects, and we'll look at what you can do with soft edges, which adds an eaten-up, feathered edge to a selected shape. Soft edges work best with larger shapes, especially if you use some of the larger soft edge variations available. PowerPoint provides some ready-to-use soft edges, but there is no option to format soft edges beyond these readymade offerings. In this tutorial, I'll show you how to apply soft edge to a shape.
To see a sample presentation containing shapes with Soft Edges applied in PowerPoint 2007, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
Follow these steps to apply Soft Edges to a shape:
- Select the shape you want to apply the effect to. Selecting a shape activates the Drawing Tools Format tab in the Ribbon -- activate this tab and locate the Shape Effects button that you can see in Figure 1 (highlighted in yellow at the bottom right of the Figure).
Figure 1: Shape Effects
- This brings up the Shape Effects dropdown gallery as you can see in Figure 2. From the Shape Effects dropdown gallery, choose the Soft Edges option.
Figure 2: Soft Edges
- This opens the Soft Edges sub-gallery (refer to Figure 2 above) that provides the following options:
- No Soft Edges: Use this option to remove soft edge from a selected shape. You can use this option only if the shape has a soft edge applied.
- Soft Edge Variations: There are six soft edge styles available in several point sizes ranging from 2.5 points to 50 points. Three of these styles (5 points, 10 points, and 25 points) can be seen in Figure 3, below.
Figure 3: Soft Edge variations.
- No Soft Edges: Use this option to remove soft edge from a selected shape. You can use this option only if the shape has a soft edge applied.
- Mouse over any of the effects within the Soft Edges gallery to see a live preview of the effect. Click on an effect to apply it to the selected shape.
These soft edges can be applied to shapes with picture fills as well, providing a cool effect.
- Remember to save your presentation often.
Related Link: My book Cutting Edge PowerPoint 2007 For Dummies covers many aspects of PowerPoint 2007. A free chapter excerpt PowerPointing with the Best of Them is available on this site.
Sample Presentation
Click above to view on Slideboom
Carmine Gallo is a communications coach for the world’s most admired brands. His client list includes Intel, Chase, Barclays, IBM, Nokia, and many others. 
