PresentationMaps.com - PowerPoint Map Tutorial

clip art, Illustrator, vector maps, editable maps

Browse maps: Map Sets/CDs, Globes/World, Continents/Regions, Countries, USA, USA States

PLEASE NOTE: WE NOW SELL MAPS ONLY IN THE POWERPOINT FORMAT. WE NO LONGER SELL WMF CLIPART MAPS. ALL POWERPOINT MAPS ARE ALREADY PLACED ON A POWERPOINT SLIDE. ONCE DOWNLOADED FROM OUR SITE, YOU SIMPLY OPEN THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FILE AND START EDITING THE MAP. CLICK ON A MAP CATEGORY ABOVE TO START YOUR MAP SEARCH. YOU ARE READING THIS PAGE BECAUSE IT IS STILL INDEXED BY MANY SEARCH ENGINES.

Graphical tutorial for using WMF format clipart maps in PowerPoint

All of our other WMF maps work the same way, too! Not just the USA map used in the examples below.

Steps 1 & 2 in this tutorial do not apply to our .PPT maps, which are actual PowerPoint presentation files and do not require the insertion of any additonal graphics to be used.

Our WMF format maps can be completely edited in PowerPoint. Every country, state, county or text feature is an individual editable element. Each can be customized, moved or deleted as you desire. PowerPoint has easy to use editing tools located on the Drawing toolbar.

The proper steps for inserting and basic editing of our WMF maps in PowerPoint are outlined below. These steps are meant to show you the basics of getting a map onto a PowerPoint slide and ungrouping it so you can change fill colors, etc. Please review PowerPoint's documentation for a review of all the editing capabilities available to you.

1. Downloading and Unzipping
Most of our maps are downloaded to your computer in a compressed Zip file. Map files must first be extracted from the Zip file and saved to a folder on your computer's hard drive before attempting any of the steps below. The WinZip program can be downloaded here. Newer versions of the Windows OS are now able to open Zip files without the need to install the WinZip program. Without WinZip, Zip files open in what is called a compressed folder. If a Zip is opened in a compressed folder, the map file (ending in .wmf) should be copy to a different folder before inserting into PowerPoint.

2. Inserting a WMF Map into PowerPoint
Note: Double-clicking a WMF map filename from My Computer or within WinZip will usually open the map in Windows Picture and Fax Viewer. If this is done, close Windows Picture and Fax Viewer and do not click Save, as this will convert the map to a non-editable bitmap image. Additionally, do not use PowerPoint's Open command, this is for opening PowerPoint presentation documents (.ppt files).

The first thing to do is to open a new or existing PowerPoint presentation and set your view to a new or blank slide. Then choose menu option Insert > Picture > From File as seen below.

In the Insert Picture dialog box, go to the folder containing the map and select the desired map filename and then select the Insert button. The map will now be placed on the PowerPoint slide.

3. Ungrouping the Map
Notice the 8 white edit handle boxes when the map is placed on the slide. Those can be cleared by single clicking your mouse cursor in any area away from the map. However, leave the map selected for now. Right now, all of the map elements are grouped together, in order to edit the individual map parts we must ungroup the map.

First, verify that the Drawing toolbar is displayed by choosing the menu option View > Toolbars as seen below. If the word Drawing has a check by it then the Drawing toolbar is already open, otherwise select Drawing. The Drawing toolbar may appear either above or below your slide.

With the map selected, click Draw > Ungroup from the Drawing toolbar as seen below. If needed, the Select Objects tool (white arrow) on the Drawing toolbar can be used to first select the map again.

Select Yes if the below message box appears. If the complete map does not appear ungrouped then issue the Ungroup command again. This is really only required for our more complex and detailed maps.

After the map is ungrouped all of the individual map components will be selected. Click your mouse cursor away from the map to clear all of the edit handles and text edit boxes.

4. Changing Fill Color/Editing
At this point, individual countries, states or counties can be selected and edited as needed. To edit fill colors hold down the SHIFT key and select the countries, states, etc. needed.

From the Drawing toolbar select the paint bucket, or the small arrow beside the paint bucket to bring up a color palette. The selected regions will take on the color of that selected through the paint bucket tool.

Click your cursor away from the map to clear the selected objects.

Much, much more...
We've given you the basics, but keep in mind that any selectable feature can have its appearance changed, including text, by first selecting it with the Select Object tool and using the edit tools on the Drawing toolbar. You can also select several countries, states, etc. and pull them away from the main map by holding down your mouse button and dragging. Selected objects can also be deleted.

The Regroup command allows you to group together only those features selected. This if useful for resizing certain map features. Any white edit handle that displays when a map or map feature is selected can be dragged with your mouse cursor to resize the map. Holding down the SHIFT key when resizing keeps the map or feature(s) in proportion.

Text and other graphic elements can be added to your map slide and even on top of your map. PowerPoint also gives you the ability to add drop shadows and 3D effects to selected map features.

Have fun and be creative.