Have you ever wanted to create a unique shape in PowerPoint, but couldn’t find the right one in the built-in library?
Did you know that you can merge existing shapes to create new, custom shapes?
Here's a Cool Tip: PowerPoint Merge Shapes feature.
To merge shapes in PowerPoint, follow these steps:
Insert the shapes you want to merge by going to the Insert tab
Select Shapes found in the Illustrations group.
Draw your shapes by clicking and dragging your cursor.
Make sure the shapes are overlapping.
Select both of the shapes that you want to merge by holding the Ctrl key while clicking each shape in turn.
A new tab will appear on the top ribbon menu—the Shape Format tab.
Select that tab.
In the Insert Shapes group, click the Merge Shapes button.
From the drop-down menu that appears, select your desired merge type.
fig. 1 - PowerPoint Merge Shapes - Union
Your selected objects will merge based on the choice you selected.
fig. 2 - PowerPoint Merge Shape Created
That’s it!
You can experiment with different merge types and shapes to create a wide variety of custom objects.
If you’re using an older version of PowerPoint, such as PowerPoint 2007, you may need to enable the Merge Shapes command within the Office Ribbon or Quick Access Toolbar.
Have you ever copied something important, only to accidentally overwrite it with something else before pasting?
Have you ever wished you could access your clipboard history and retrieve something you copied earlier?
Here's a Cool Tip: Use the Windows Clipboard History
With Windows 10 and Windows 11 you can use Windows Clipboard History and the keyboard shortcut Windows key + V on both operating systems to make your life easier.
Here's how to do it:
Windows 10 - Enable Clipboard History
Open the Settings app by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon.
Click on System, then select Clipboard from the left-hand menu.
Under Clipboard history, toggle the switch to On.
Windows 11 - Enable Clipboard History
Open the Settings app by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon.
Click on System, then select Clipboard.
Under Clipboard history, toggle the switch to On.
fig. 1 - Windows System Clipboard Option Screen
If you want to sync your copies across devices, set that On as well.
Now that Clipboard History is enabled, you can access it by pressing the Windows key + V on your keyboard.
fig. 2 - Windows Clipboard History
This will bring up a small window showing your clipboard history, with the most recent item at the top.
You can scroll through the list and click on an item to paste it into your current application.
Are you tired of using the same old design templates for your projects?
Do you want to create stunning visuals, social media posts, invitations, and more with ease?
Here's a Cool Tip: Check out the new preview Microsoft Designer.
Microsoft Designer is a graphic design tool in Microsoft 365 that uses cutting-edge AI technology to help you unleash your creativity.
The good news is that it is currently free in preview.
Here's how to use it:
Access Microsoft Designer:
Log in with your Microsoft account,
Go to the Microsoft Designer website, https://designer.microsoft.com/ or click on the Designer icon within the Microsoft Edge sidebar.
Get started with a prompt:
To start creating with Microsoft Designer, simply describe what you want in the prompt box.
Powered by generative AI technology, you’ll get one-of-a-kind images, including accompanying text and visuals, and design suggestions to meet your needs.
Customize your design:
Once you have a design generated by the AI, you can customize it to your liking.
Add your own images or text, change the layout or colors, and more.
Use advanced AI tools:
Take advantage of Microsoft Designer’s advanced AI tools to enhance your design.
Use the Replace background feature to instantly remove photo backgrounds and replace them with anything you can imagine.
Get writing assistance and automatic layout suggestions for anything you add.
Create a Brand Kit:
Make your creative consistent by creating a Brand Kit that lets you apply your colors and fonts consistently across designs.
Here's a quick example to enter a prompt:
Create an Instagram post showcasing the benefits of visiting the tech website, www.onecooltip.com.
Onecooltip offers technology tips.
Use blue as the primary color to match the brand.
Include an image of a person using the software on their computer in a creative workspace.
Microsoft Designer suggested several options, including this one:
fig. 1 - Example of Microsoft Designer output
I then customized the text and saved the graphic to my local PC.
So why not give Microsoft Designer a try and unleash your creative superpowers?
Get started today and see what amazing designs you can create!
Check out this Cool Tip that shows how to use Google Bard's new export feature. This allows you to copy the output response from Google AI into text that you can use easily in other applications.