To crop an image:

1. Open a PowerPoint (PPT) screen.

2. On the menu bar, select INSERT. Scroll to Picture and select from File.

3. Click on the picture to make sure the handles appear. (Little circles at corners of picture.)

4. The PICTURE TOOLBAR should appear.

5. Click on  the CROP tool.

6. The handles will change from circles to short, thick black lines that you can "push" to cut away unnecessary parts of the image.

The Crop tool looks like a "T" and you use it to push!

7. When you get the portion you want, CLICK on SAVE AS and save it as a .jpg file in your My Pictures file.

To create TEXT as an Image:

If you need to add a word or two to a mosaic or an Animoto or some other type of Image generator that does not allow for words, you can create an image file in PPT.

This works best for only a single word or VERY brief phrase of no more than 3 short words.

1. Open a PowerPoint (PPT) screen.

2. Click on the Text box OR the Word Art icon.

3. Type your word(s).

4. Click on the word and SAVE AS .jpg into your My Pictures file.

To enhance your word and make it stand out (or behavior better!) in your project, you may want to put a colored box around it.

1. After typing your word either in a Text box or as Word Art, use the Box tool and draw a box around your word.

(You may have to move the box behind your word. See  the Draw toolbar below.)

2. Fill it with a contrasting color. Leave or remove the lines of the box as you see fit.

To save the word and box as ONE image:

1. While holding down the CONTROL key, click on the word and then click on the box.

2. Release the Control key. All objects should have handles showing.

3. Click on DRAW on the lower toolbar of PPT. Usually this is found in the lower left corner.

4. Click on GROUP. All of the handles should disappear and you should only have one set around the entire "object."

5. Right click on the object and SAVE AS .jpg in your My Pictures file.