How to Subtract Shapes in PowerPoint

By: Carol Garrett

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
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What Does it Mean to Subtract Shapes?

To take away one shape (or many) from an original shape

resulting in a new cut out shape.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
 Before After

Subtraction Subtraction
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 Examples of Subtracted Shapes

Before:

After:

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Step 1: Click on the “Insert” tab on the top ribbon.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 2: Locate and click on the “Shapes” icon.

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac

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Step 3: From the shape drop box, Step 3a: Click on the first rectangle.
locate “Rectangles.”

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 4: Use cursor to drag Step 4a: In shape format tab, adjust
shape to size. “Height” and “Width” to 4.3”

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 5: Click on ”Shape Format” in ribbon.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
 Step 5a: Click on the Step 5b: Click on the fourth
”Shape Fill” drop box. gold tone from the top.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 6: Click “Shape Outline.” Step 6a: Click “No Outline.”

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
 Let’s Review!
Does your shape look like the one below? If not, please repeat
previous steps. If yes, let’s move on!

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Step 7: Click on “Insert” from the ribbon.

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac

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Step 7a: Locate the “Shapes” icon. Click to open drop box.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 7b: From shape drop box, locate “Basic Shapes,” insert cloud
shape. Drag to size. Repeat three times.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 8: Use cursor to drag each shape roughly to the sizes pictured below.

1
2
3

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 9: In shape format tab, adjust each shape to the following
“Height” and “Width.”

1 2 3
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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 10: Click on the yellow rectangle.
Drag it to the center of your slide.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 11: Click on the largest blue cloud. Drag it to the
upper right-hand corner of the yellow rectangle.

Shape Note:
Leave half of the
cloud out of the
rectangle.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 11a: Click on the medium blue cloud. Drag to the (almost) center of yellow rectangle.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 11b: Click on the smallest blue cloud. Drag to the right bottom corner of the rectangle.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 12: Click and drag cursor over entire collection of shapes to
highlight. Small boxes will appear around each shape.

Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac

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Step 13: Once all shapes are selected, click on
“Shape Format” in ribbon.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
 Step 14: Locate the ”Merge Shapes” drop box.
(Hint: it will look like two intersecting circles.)

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Step 15: From the drop box, click the “Subrtact” option.

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Microsoft Office PowerPoint 365 For Mac
Step 16: Once the subtract option has been selected and
applied, the final image should reflect the image below!

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