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1. In normal view, display the slide that has the text or objects you want to create a motion path (motion path: The path that a specified object or text will follow as part of an animation sequence for a slide.) for.
2. Select the text item or object you want to animate (animate: To add a special visual or sound effect to text or an object. For example, you can have your text bullet points fly in from the left, one word at a time, or hear the sound of applause when a picture is uncovered.).

   For text items, you can select a placeholder (paragraph: Text that has a carriage return (hard return) at the end of it, such as when you press ENTER. Each item in a bulleted or numbered list is a paragraph; a title or subtitle is also a paragraph.) or paragraph (including a bullet).

3. If the Custom Animation task pane (task pane: A window within an Office application that provides commonly used commands. Its location and small size allow you to use these commands while still working on your files.) is not displayed, on the Slide Show menu, click Custom Animation.
4. In the Custom Animation task pane, click , point to Motion Paths, and do one of the following:

   Apply a preset motion path

   • Click a preset path or click More Motion Paths to choose from more options.

   Create a custom motion path

   1. Point to Draw Custom Path and then do one of the following:
      • Click Freeform to draw a path with both curved and straight segments. Drag to draw freehand shapes; click and move the mouse to draw straight lines.

      • Click Scribble and drag to draw a path that looks more like it was drawn with a pen or to create smooth curves.

      • Click Line and drag to draw a straight path.
      • Click Curve and click where you want the curved path to start, and then continue to move the mouse and click wherever you want to add a curve.
   2. Do one of the following:
      • If you want to end the freeform (freeform: Any shape that you draw by using the Curve, Freeform, and Scribble tools. Freeform shapes can include straight lines and freehand curves. They can be drawn opened or closed and can be edited by using the drawing tools.) or curved path and leave it open, double-click at any time.
      • If you want to end a line or scribbled path, let go of the mouse button.

      • If you want to close a shape, click at its starting point.

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