Create Curved Arrows in PowerPoint

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Arrows can be easily created in PowerPoint. They help to direct the focus of the presentation participants in a certain direction and can highlight elements. There are no limits to creativity with arrows – whether you're visualizing process flows with arrows or depicting a movement. With arrows you bring movement into every presentation.

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1. Arrrows as infographics

Arrows are valuable infographics that are mainly used to visualize processes. Simple arrows indicate a clear direction and guide presentation participants in a reading direction. In addition, arrows can represent dependencies. This avoids listeners having to search for connections for a long time and connections are quickly and clearly recognizable.

2. Insert arrows in PowerPoint

Arrows can be easily created in PowerPoint.

1. Click on Insert and Shapes. Select the arrow you want. In PowerPoint there are block arrows and line arrows to choose from.
   
2. Click on the place where the arrow needs to be inserted. Hold the left mouse and drag the arrow to the desired size.
   
3. To rotate the arrow, click on the circle symbol in the centre and rotate the arrow to the left or right while pressing the mouse button.
   

3. Edit arrows in PowerPoint

Once you have inserted the arrow you want, there are some additional settings that can be made. From drop shadows to light effects, everything is possible in PowerPoint.

1. To do this, right click on the arrow and select Format shape.
   
2. If you want to change the colors of your arrow click on Fill and choose for example Gradient and select your desired colours.
   
3. In the setting Line you can hide the contour of the arrow by choosing No line or make it visible with Solid line.
   
4. Under the pentagonal symbol you will find further items such as Shadow, Reflection or Luminosity. To do this, simply click on the heading and the further settings will be visible.
   

4. Create curved arrows in PowerPoint

In PowerPoint you can also create curved arrows. Curved arrows are suitable for the representation of processes and can be easily extended. This is how it works:

1. Click on Insert and Shapes and select the arc in Standard shapes. Click on the place where the arrow will be inserted.
   
2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the arrow to the desired size. If you hold down the shift key (⇧) while inserting the arrow, it will not be distorted and will be a circle at full length.
   
3. To adjust the length of the arrow, click on a yellow point and drag the point to the desired length while holding down the mouse button.
   
4. Now you have inserted an arc. To turn it into an arrow, click on the arc and in the Shape format tab click on Shape contour. In Arrows you can determine the desired tip and the end of your arrow.
   

5. Create a cycle diagram in PowerPoint

You can create a cycle diagram in PowerPoint with single curved arrows. Another way to quickly visualise a cycle are SmartArts in PowerPoint. And this is how it works:

1. Click on Insert and select SmartArt.
   
2. In the category Cycle you will find some pre-designed diagrams. Select your desired design.
   
3. To be able to insert your text now, click on [Text]. Label all fields and your cycle diagram is ready.
   
4. In the section Change colours you can adjust the colours of the SmartArt graphic.
   
   

6. Create more diagrams in PowerPoint

In addition to a cycle diagram, PowerPoint can also be used to quickly create flowcharts or decision diagrams. Learn how to create a Flowchart in PowerPoint in this blogpost.

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