Google Slides, a powerful presentation tool by Google, offers a vast array of customization options. One such feature that's often overlooked is the ability to display text vertically. This can add a creative touch to your slides, draw attention to important data, or simply make your content stand out. Let's explore how to use vertical text in Google Slides in a step-by-step guide.
Before we dive in, it's essential to understand when and why you might want to use vertical text. It's perfect for timelines, lists, or showcasing large amounts of text in a compact space. However, use it sparingly, as too much vertical text can decrease readability and clutter your slides.
Enabling Vertical Text in Google Slides
Google Slides doesn't have a one-click option for vertical text. Instead, you'll need to use a workaround involving shapes and text orientation. Here's how:
1. Open a new or existing slide in Google Slides.
Adding a Text Box
First, you'll need to insert a text box. Click on "Insert" in the menu, then select "Text box". A new text box will appear on your slide.
2. Adding Your Text
Click inside the text box and type or paste the text you want to display vertically. To control the size of the text, click on the text box border to select it, then adjust the size using the handles around the box.
Rotating the Text
Now comes the trick to make the text vertical. Select the text inside the text box by clicking on it, then click on the "Format" menu at the top. In the "Arrange" section, select "Rotate" and choose the angle you want for your text. 90 degrees will make it vertical.
3. Positioning the Text
Once your text is vertical, you can position it on the slide as desired. Use the handles around the text box to resize it, and the arrow keys on your keyboard for precise positioning.
While rotating a text box works for small amounts of text, it's not ideal for larger text blocks. Here's why:
1. Text Wrapping: When you rotate a text box, the text doesn't wrap around other objects on the slide. This can lead to awkward layouts and clumsy results.
2. Readability: Very long vertical text can be difficult to read, especially for captions or small font sizes. It's best used for short phrases or bullet points.
Using a Vertical Text Charakteristic
There are third-party extensions and add-ons available that offer vertical text functionality. However, these often come with limitations and may require a subscription or payment. They also pose potential risks, as they involve installing additional software.
3. Creating Vertical Text in another Tool
If you need to use vertical text extensively, you might consider creating your slides in another tool that offers this feature natively, like Microsoft PowerPoint or Canva. You can then export your slides as images and insert them into Google Slides.
Pros and Cons of Vertical Text
Pros: Vertical text can make your slides more visually appealing, showcase large amounts of text in a small space, and create focal points on your slides.
Cons: It can decrease readability, clutter your slides, and make your presentation more difficult to read. It's also not supported natively in Google Slides and requires a workaround.
Vertical text can be a powerful tool in your Google Slides toolkit, but it's important to use it judiciously. It's best used for short phrases, lists, or key points, and sparingly for longer blocks of text. Experiment with it to see what works best for your presentation style. Happy sliding!
