Describe how transitions and animations in presentation design are used effectively.

What will be an ideal response?

A transition effect specifies how a slide replaces the previous slide during a presentation. Transitions include fades, wipes, and dissolves. You can also select sound effects to accompany a transition. If you do not specify a transition, the current slide simply cuts to a new slide.

An animation effect adds motion to slide elements, such as titles or bulleted list items. A frequently-used animation effect makes bulleted list items glide onto a slide one by one under the control of the person delivering the presentation. Other effects include enlarging, shrinking, and spinning.

Transitions and animations can be set to occur when you click a mouse button or press a key during a presentation. They can also be set to occur automatically after a specified period of time. Use the automatic settings when a transition or animation does not have to coordinate with a specific statement you make during the presentation.

It is easy to get carried away with spiffy transitions and animations; but after the fourth slide that spins onto the screen accompanied by blaring trumpets or your favorite rap ring tone, the audience might get a bit irritated. Use transitions and animations sparingly for highlighting the most important points or for a change of pace during the more lengthy segments of your presentation.