Apply or draw a motion path

In normal view, display the slide that has the text or objects you want to create a motion path for.

Select the text item or object you want to animate.

For text items, you can select a placeholder or paragraph (including a bullet).

If the Custom Animation task pane is not displayed, on the Slide Show menu, click Custom Animation.

In the Custom Animation task pane, click Add Effect button image

, point to Button image

Motion Paths, and do one of the following:

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.
Do one of the following:
- If you want to end the freeform 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.

To make the path mimic an exit effect, set effect options to fade or hide the item after the animation plays, or draw the motion path off the slide.