PowerPoint 2010: Animating a Venn Diagram

by AJ George

A typical Venn diagram has two or more related topics. To depict the similarities and differences of these topics, you might create a diagram like the example below. 

If you find yourself in need of a Venn diagram, there are a few basic Venn diagrams available via PowerPoint's SmartArt. The PowerPoint SmartArt Venn diagrams, however, do not function as traditional Venn diagrams in that there is no option to show similar traits, just the option to create outlines on the outlying portions of the overlapping circles. If the Venn diagrams available via SmartArt do not suit your needs, you can easily create your own. All you need to do is draw two or more circles, overlap the shapes and then add some text boxes. But what if you wanted a more full-featured diagram?

Animate a Venn diagram

Using the image above as an example, let's say you want the whole Venn diagram to appear. Then you want to highlight eLearning, followed by mLearning. Next you want the middle section to "come forward" and enlarge.

It would be difficult to add such an animation to a Venn diagram created with shapes and text boxes as outlined above because each section is not an actual shape; rather the sections are products of overlapping shapes. Instead, this is a great opportunity to use the Shape Union and Shape Subtract tools I've written about before.

1. Draw the Venn diagram circles so they appear similar to the example above, leaving the individual elements ungrouped.
   
   
2. Select one of the circles and copy and paste it.
   
   
3. Format the shape as you see fit. (Ensure that the shape does not have a line (right-click and choose Format Shape >Line > No Line).
   
   
4. Overlap the pasted circle so that it fits perfectly within the Venn diagram.
   
   
   
   
5. Copy the filled circle and paste the second copy over the other half of the Venn diagram, lining it up perfectly.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Copy and paste the filled circle one more time and then put it aside for later.
   
   You should now have three filled circles on the slide.
   
   
7. Select the first circle, and then while holding down the [Shift] key, select the second circle (the one overlapping it).
   
   
8. Click the Shape Subtract tool.
   
   The second circle should disappear, leaving you with a shape like this:
   
   
   
   
   
9. Copy the new shape you just created by Subtraction and move the copy out of the way on the slide.
   
   
10. Find the 3rd full circle you created and change the fill color (keeping in mind that there will be text over it).
    
    
11. Drag the copy of the shape you created in Step 9 so that it perfectly overlaps your 3rd circle.
    
    
    
    
    
12. Select the full circle, and then, while holding down the [Shift] key, select the subtracted shape (in this example, the green shape).
    
    
13. Click the Shape Subtract tool.
    
    You are now left with a pointed oval shape.
    
    
14. Copy and Paste the first subtracted shape you made (the green one) again.
    
    
15. Select the copy and flip it horizontally (Drawing Tools Format > Arrange > Rotate > Flip Horizontal).
    
    You should now have three filled shapes.
    
    
16. Arrange the shapes so they line up properly over the Venn diagram.
    
    
17. Hold down the [Shift] key and select all three shapes.
    
    
18. Send all three shapes to the back (Drawing Tools Format > Arrange > Send Backward > Send to Back).
    
    
19. Insert text boxes (Insert > Text > Text Box) over each section of the diagram, entering your text as you go.
    
    
    
    
    
20. Select the first filled shape, and, while holding down the [Shift] key, select the text box (or boxes if you added a title in a separate text box) overlapping it.
    
    
21. Group the shape and text box(es) together (Drawing Tools Format > Arrange > Group > Group).
    
    
22. Add an animation (I like Zoom for this purpose, but select whatever you like) by choosing Animations > Add Animation > More Entrance Effects.
    
    
23. Repeat steps 20-22 for the other two sections of the diagram.

A couple variations:

1. Don't group the text to the colored background shapes. Instead have the text appear at the same time as the lines of the diagram. Have the colored background shapes animate in as you talk about each section to emphasize whatever section you are talking about.
   
   
2. Forgo the colored backgrounds altogether and just have the text boxes for each section come in one at a time.

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About the author: AJ George is IconLogic's lead Technical Communicator and author of both "PowerPoint 2007: The Essentials" and "PowerPoint 2008 for the Macintosh: The Essentials."