How to Map a Process in PowerPoint

March 31, 2015

By: Carol Finch

PowerPoint's SmartArt templates include a number of process graphics. Insert a template to create a base for the process before customizing its layout and adding text to it. After you've created a process, customize its style, color and text.

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Insert a Process

Open SmartArt on the Insert tab.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Open the Insert tab and select SmartArt.

Select Process and choose a template from the list.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Select Process and browse the list of templates. Select an image to see recommendations on how to use the design. Select OK to insert the process in the slide.

Customize the Layout

The template may not contain the right number of steps for your process, in which case add or delete shapes. PowerPoint automatically resizes steps when you change the layout, decreasing size when you add additional shapes and increasing size when you delete.

Add a Process Step

Open the Design tab in SmartArt Tools.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Select the process to open the SmartArt Tools tabs. Select the Design tab.

Use Add Shape to add additional steps to the process.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Go to the Create Graphic area and select Add Shape.

Delete a Process Step

Select the step you want to delete and press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Add Text to the Process

Use the arrow to open the Text Pane.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Select the process and then click the arrow to the left of its frame to open the Text Pane. This contains a list of the fields to which you can add text.

Type text in the Text Pane.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Select the first field in the list. It corresponds to the first step in the process. Enter your text and repeat for the other fields. When you're done, select the X on the pane to close it.

Customize the Layout

To change color and style from the template's defaults, use tools on the Design and Format tabs. You can also customize the process's text.

Change the Color Theme

Open Change Colors on the Design tab.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Select the process and open the Design tab. Select the Change Colors button.

Select a new color theme from the Change Colors menu.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Choose a new theme from the menu to apply it to the process.

Change the Step Style

Select the arrow to open SmartArt styles.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Select the process and open the Design tab. Select the down arrow in the SmartArt Styles pane.

Choose a new style for the steps.

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Choose a design from the Best Match for Document or 3-D areas to apply the style to the process.

Customize Text with WordArt

Use the down arrow on WordArt Styles to open its menu.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

To apply WordArt styles to the text in all steps, select the process; to apply styles to only one step, select the step. Open the Format tab. Select the down arrow on the WordArt Styles pane.

Select a WordArt style from the menu.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Hover your mouse over a style to see a preview on the process. Select a style to apply it.

Change the text's fill and outline and add effects.

credit: Image courtesy Microsoft

Select Text Fill to open its color palette; change the color of the text's fill. Select Text Outline to change its border color. To add additional effects, such as shadow, reflection and glow, select the Text Effects button.