Although similar to shadows, 3-D effects can make an object look like it has sides, like it's ready to jump off the slide. You can use 3-D effects, for example, to make a circle look like a pillar or a rectangle look like a box. You can also create some interesting effects with WordArt by applying 3-D. Some of the WordArt Gallery samples already have 3-D applied to them, in fact. Figure 7-29 shows some examples of objects that have been enhanced with 3-D effects.
Figure 7-29: Some 3-D effects applied to various types of objects.
You can use either a shadow or a 3-D effect on an object, but not both. When you apply one, it cancels the other.
To apply a basic 3-D effect, select the object and click the 3-D button on the Drawing toolbar. A pop-up menu of effects appears. Click the button for the type of effect you want, or to turn the 3-D effect off, choose No 3-D (see Figure 7-30).
Figure 7-30: Choose a 3-D effect from the menu to apply to your object, or choose 3-D Settings to display the toolbar.
There is also a special toolbar for 3-D effects, which you can display by choosing 3-D Settings from the menu shown in Figure 7-30. Table 7-4 lists and describes its buttons.
|
Button
|
Name
|
Purpose
|
|---|---|---|
|
|
3-D On/Off
|
Toggles the 3-D effect on/off
|
|
|
Tilt Down
|
Rotates the shape down slightly
|
|
|
Tilt Up
|
Rotates the shape up slightly
|
|
|
Tilt Left
|
Rotates the shape left slightly
|
|
|
Tilt Right
|
Rotates the shape right slightly
|
|
|
Depth
|
Opens a list on which you can select the depth of the 3-D effect
|
|
|
Direction
|
Opens a list on which you can select the direction of the 3-D effect
|
|
|
Lighting
|
Opens a list on which you can select where the "light" is coming from for the object shading
|
|
|
Surface
|
Opens a list of surface types for the object
|
|
|
3-D Color
|
Opens a list of colors for the 3-D sides of the object
|
If you want to experiment with the 3-D settings, try the following:
Create an AutoShape or some WordArt, and select it.
Click the Shadow button and then pick the first shadow on the first row.
Click the 3-D button and pick the first 3-D setting on the first row. Notice that the shadow goes away.
Click the 3-D button and click 3-D Settings. The 3-D toolbar opens.
Click the Tilt Down button twice and the Tilt Left button twice.
Click the Depth button, and then click 72 pt.
Click the Direction button, and click the bottom right icon to switch the direction.
Click the Lighting button, and click the top left lighting option.
Click the Surface button, and then click Wireframe. Repeat to choose each of the other available options on the Surface button's menu, to see what they look like.
Open the 3-D Color button's list and choose a different color for the 3-D effect. Make it a dramatically different color, so you can see the effect more easily.
Delete the object when you are done experimenting with it.