How to Print PowerPoint Slides with Animation: Expert Guide

When creating a PowerPoint presentation, animations can add a dynamic touch that engages your audience. However, when it comes to printing those slides, retaining the animation effects isn’t straightforward. Printing PowerPoint slides with animation is a process that requires specific steps since standard print options do not support animations.

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to print your animated PowerPoint slides effectively, ensuring that your printed slides reflect the intended flow and sequence of your presentation.

Understanding PowerPoint Animations

What Are PowerPoint Animations?

PowerPoint animations are visual effects applied to elements on a slide, such as text, images, or shapes, that create movement or change how content appears during a presentation. These animations can help emphasize key points, guide the audience’s attention, and make the presentation more engaging.

Types of Animations

There are several types of animations available in PowerPoint:

1. Entrance Animations: These effects control how an object appears on the slide. For example, text might fade in or fly from the side.
2. Emphasis Animations: These effects apply to an object that’s already on the slide, such as changing its color or making it spin.
3. Exit Animations: These control how an object leaves the slide, such as fading out or zooming away.
4. Motion Paths: These animations move an object along a specified path on the slide, such as a line, curve, or custom path.

Common Uses of Animations in Presentations

Animations are commonly used to:

• Highlight important information: Gradually revealing information helps the audience focus on each point without distraction.
• Illustrate a process or workflow: Animations can guide the audience through steps in a process.
• Add visual interest: Subtle animations can make presentations more dynamic and engaging.

Challenges in Printing PowerPoint Slides with Animations

Why Animations Don’t Print Directly

When you attempt to print a PowerPoint slide that contains animations, the printed version will only show the final state of the slide. This is because printers are static devices that cannot reproduce the dynamic nature of animations. Consequently, you lose the step-by-step progression that animations provide.

Workarounds for Printing

To print PowerPoint slides with animations, you need to find a workaround that captures each stage of the animation. The most effective methods include using specialized add-ins, converting the presentation into a PDF, or capturing screenshots of each animation step.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Print PowerPoint Slides with Animation

1. Use the “PPspliT” Add-in

One of the most efficient ways to print PowerPoint slides with animations is by using the PPspliT add-in. This tool automatically splits slides based on the animation sequences, allowing you to print each stage of the animation separately.

To print slides with animations using the PPspliT add-in in PowerPoint, follow these steps:

Step 1: Download and Install PPspliT Add-in

1. Download PPspliT:
   • Go to the PPspliT GitHub repository.
   • Download the latest release of the PPspliT add-in file.
2. Install the Add-in:
   • Open PowerPoint and go to the File menu.
   • Select Options to open the PowerPoint Options dialog box.
   • Click on Add-ins from the left-hand menu.
   • At the bottom, find the Manage drop-down menu, select PowerPoint Add-ins, and click Go.
   • In the Add-ins dialog box, click Add New.
   • Navigate to the location where you saved the PPspliT add-in file, select it, and click OK.
   • The PPspliT add-in will now be available in your PowerPoint ribbon under a new tab.

Step 2: Use PPspliT to Split Slides

1. Open Your Presentation:
   • Launch PowerPoint and open the presentation with animations that you want to print.
2. Select the Slides:
   • Click on the PPspliT tab in the PowerPoint ribbon.
   • Select the slides that contain animations. You can select multiple slides if necessary.
3. Split the Slides:
   • In the PPspliT tab, click the Split button.
   • The add-in will automatically create new slides for each stage of the animation. Each new slide will represent a different point in the animation sequence, effectively breaking down the animation into static slides.

Step 3: Review and Print the Split Slides

1. Review the New Slides:
   • Once the slides are split, go through the newly created slides to ensure that each stage of the animation is captured accurately.
2. Print the Slides:
   • Go to File > Print.
   • Choose your desired print settings, such as the number of slides per page, color options, and printer type.
   • Click Print to produce a hard copy of your slides with animations represented as individual static slides.

By using PPspliT, you ensure that each step of your animation is clearly captured in the printed slides, allowing your audience to follow the intended flow of your presentation even on paper.

2. Convert the Presentation to a PDF

Another method to print animated slides is by converting the presentation into a PDF format. PowerPoint allows you to save each slide as it appears during the animation.

Using PowerPoint’s Built-in PDF Converter

Here’s how to convert your presentation into a PDF:

1. Open your animated PowerPoint presentation.
2. Go to File > Save As.
3. Choose PDF from the list of file types.
4. In the Options menu, select Create PDF/XPS.
5. Under Publish What, choose Slides to ensure each slide’s state is captured.
6. Click Save.

Retaining Animations in the PDF

While converting to PDF, remember that animations won’t directly carry over. However, by using PPspliT before conversion, you can create a PDF that effectively represents each animation stage.

3. Capture Screenshots of Each Animation Stage

If the other methods don’t suit your needs, capturing screenshots of each animation stage can be a manual yet effective way to print your slides with animations.

Using PowerPoint’s Screenshot Tool

To capture screenshots:

1. Play your PowerPoint slideshow.
2. At each stage of the animation, press Shift + PrtScn (or use a snipping tool) to capture the screen.
3. Save each screenshot.

Inserting Screenshots into a New Presentation

Once you’ve captured the screenshots:

1. Open a new PowerPoint presentation.
2. Insert each screenshot onto a new slide.
3. Save and print the presentation as usual.

Comparing the Methods

Best Practices for Printing PowerPoint Slides

Optimizing for Clarity

• Use High-Resolution Images: Ensure all images and screenshots are high-resolution to avoid blurriness.
• Simplify Content: Keep text minimal and avoid overcrowding slides to maintain clarity.
• Consistent Formatting: Use uniform fonts and sizes to keep the printed slides professional.

Choosing the Right Paper and Printer Settings

• Select High-Quality Paper: Choose paper with a good weight and brightness to enhance color and contrast.
• Adjust Printer Settings: Set your printer to the highest quality setting for the best output. For color slides, select the appropriate color profile.

Final Thoughts

Printing PowerPoint slides with animations requires extra steps to capture the dynamic nature of your presentation. By using the PPspliT add-in, converting to a PDF, or manually capturing screenshots, you can effectively print your slides while preserving their animated sequences.

Each method has its advantages, so choose the one that best suits your needs and the complexity of your animations. With these tools and techniques, you can ensure that your printed slides accurately represent the engaging and interactive experience of your digital presentation.

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Trish Dixon

Trish Dixon is the founder of PPTBliss and a PowerPoint expert with over a decade of experience in presentation design. Passionate about visual storytelling, Trish shares her expertise through easy-to-follow tutorials on slide design, animations, transitions, and best practices, helping professionals create impactful presentations across industries.

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