Highlighting Like a Pro: The Definitive Guide to Highlighting in Google Slides

Want to make key information pop in your Google Slides presentations? You’re in the right place. Highlighting is more than just a visual flourish; it’s a powerful tool to guide your audience’s attention, reinforce your message, and ensure your presentation sticks. While Google Slides doesn’t have a dedicated “highlight” button like you might find in a word processor, there are several clever and effective workarounds. This article will walk you through the best methods to highlight in Google Slides, transforming your presentations from bland to brilliant.

How to Highlight in Google Slides?

The most common and straightforward methods to highlight in Google Slides involve using the shape tool and adjusting its fill, border, and transparency. Here are a few approaches:

1. The Rectangle Highlight: This is your go-to method. Insert a rectangle shape from the shapes menu (Shapes -> Rectangle -> Rectangle). Position the rectangle over the text or area you want to highlight. Then, adjust the fill color to a light, attention-grabbing hue (yellow, light blue, or light green work well). Crucially, reduce the fill transparency to around 50-70% so the underlying text remains legible. Remove the border for a cleaner look.
2. The Circle/Oval Highlight: For emphasizing specific words or small phrases, a circle or oval can be more visually appealing. Follow the same steps as with the rectangle, but select a circle/oval shape instead. This works particularly well for highlighting verbs or key nouns.
3. The Custom Shape Highlight: Want something more unique? Use the Polyline or Curve tool to create a completely custom highlight shape. This allows you to trace around irregular areas or emphasize a specific design element. Adjust the fill, border, and transparency as needed. This requires a bit more finesse but allows for greater control.
4. Text Box Background Color: While not technically highlighting, you can change the background color of the text box itself. Select the text box, go to Format options > Fill color and choose a color. This is most effective when highlighting entire sentences or paragraphs within a larger body of text.
5. Font Color and Bolding: Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best. Changing the font color of key words or phrases to a brighter color (like red, blue, or green) and bolding them simultaneously can provide effective emphasis without the need for shapes. This works best for concise terms and keywords.

Remember to always prioritize readability and clarity. Over-highlighting can be just as distracting as not highlighting at all. Use these techniques strategically to guide your audience’s attention and reinforce your key messages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I make a highlight stay in place while presenting in Google Slides?

Once you’ve created your highlight using a shape, group the highlight shape with the underlying text or object. Select both the shape and the text box (hold Shift while clicking to select multiple items). Right-click and choose “Group.” This ensures that the highlight and the text move together if you need to reposition them on the slide.

2. Can I animate the highlights in Google Slides?

Absolutely! Animation can add dynamism to your presentation. Select your highlight shape, go to “Animate” (either from the toolbar or via Insert -> Animation). Choose an animation type (e.g., “Fade in,” “Fly in,” “Appear”). You can control the timing, speed, and trigger (e.g., “On click,” “After previous,” “With previous”) to synchronize the highlight animation with your spoken words or other slide elements.

3. How do I create a highlighter pen effect in Google Slides?

While there isn’t a direct “highlighter pen” tool, you can simulate the effect using the “Scribble” tool (Insert -> Line -> Scribble). Draw a line over the text you want to highlight. Then, adjust the line weight (thickness) and color to resemble a highlighter. Reduce the line transparency for a more authentic look. Note that this can be less precise than using shapes.

4. What are some good color choices for highlighting in Google Slides?

Yellow is the classic choice, offering good contrast against most text colors. However, consider your overall presentation theme and the colors used in your slides. Light blues, light greens, and light oranges can also be effective. Avoid dark or overly saturated colors, as they can obscure the underlying text. Experiment to find what works best for your specific context.

5. How do I highlight a table cell in Google Slides?

To highlight a table cell, select the cell(s) you want to highlight. Then, click on the “Fill color” icon in the toolbar and choose a color. As with other highlighting techniques, use a light color and consider reducing transparency to ensure the content within the cell remains readable. You can also adjust the border color and thickness for added emphasis.

6. How can I highlight multiple areas on a slide quickly?

The key is to duplicate your highlight shape. Create one highlight shape as desired (size, color, transparency). Then, select it, copy it (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C), and paste it (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V) multiple times. You can then drag and reposition the duplicates to highlight other areas of the slide. This saves you from having to recreate the formatting each time.

7. Is there a way to highlight text directly without using shapes?

As mentioned earlier, you can change the background color of the text box. However, for more targeted highlighting within a text box without changing the entire background, consider using bolding, italics, and font color changes as alternatives. These techniques can provide emphasis without requiring separate shapes.

8. How do I ensure my highlights don’t cover up important parts of my text?

Transparency is key! Always adjust the transparency of your highlight shapes. Aim for a transparency level of 50-70% so that the underlying text is clearly visible. Also, ensure your highlights are properly sized and positioned so they don’t obscure crucial words or details.

9. How do I remove highlighting from a Google Slide?

To remove a highlight created with a shape, simply select the shape and press the “Delete” key. If you’ve highlighted a table cell using fill color, select the cell and choose “Transparent” from the fill color options. If you changed the text box fill, select the text box and choose “Transparent” from the fill color options.

10. What’s the best way to highlight code snippets in Google Slides?

Highlighting code requires a slightly different approach. The best option is to use a code syntax highlighting tool or website to format your code with appropriate colors for keywords, operators, etc. Then, take a screenshot of the highlighted code and insert it as an image into your slide. This preserves the code formatting. Alternatively, you can manually apply font colors and styles, but this is more time-consuming.

11. Can I use a GIF as a highlight in Google Slides?

Yes! You can insert a GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) to create a dynamic highlight. Find or create a GIF that resembles a spotlight or shimmer effect. Insert the GIF into your slide (Insert -> Image -> Upload from computer or Search the web). Position the GIF over the area you want to highlight. Be cautious about using distracting GIFs and always preview the animation in presentation mode before the final presentation.

12. How do I maintain consistent highlighting styles across all my slides?

Create a “master slide” with your preferred highlight style. To access master slides, go to View -> Master. Create a highlight shape on the master slide with your desired color, transparency, and border settings. Every slide you add after this will inherit this highlighting style. You can then adjust the size and position of the highlight on individual slides as needed. This ensures consistency and saves time.