Instead of PNG files, can I bring shapes into PowerDirector through clipboard?

Anna1998

Newbie Joined: Oct 09, 2017 18:57 Messages: 11 Offline

Solved by

Oct 15, 2017 11:41

In Microsoft Office PowerPoint we have many nice shapes (including arrows and callouts) that are very suitable for creating educational videos.

I understand that I can put them in a PNG file and bring them into PD but that is a long and tedious workflow.

Is there any way to quickly copy/paste from Office shapes (or any transparent background image) to PD16 timeline?

Thank you,

Anna

1Nina

Senior Contributor Location: Norway, 50km southwest of Oslo Joined: Oct 08, 2008 04:12 Messages: 1070 Offline

Oct 15, 2017 13:06

No, Anna, I don't think you can copy/paste from Office in to PD - or most video editors I should think.
Anna; I have been making educational videos for many years.
I find using png files is not at all a tideous workflow. I have some folders where I have stored png assets over the
years and I can quickly find and import them.
I wonder; are your videos for students? Collegues?
Or do you have pehaps a channel you wish to promote as an "edu-channel"?

Have you had a look at Office Mix?
You could then use PowerPoint.

Cheers
Just something.
https://www.petitpoisvideo.com

vn800rider

Senior Contributor Location: Darwen, UK Joined: May 15, 2008 04:32 Messages: 1949 Offline

Oct 15, 2017 13:42

As far as I know Nina is right, but here's a nifty trick that might help out in building up a collection of office based shapes, SmartArt etc.

Insert your shapes into a blank excel workbook, save as and choose webpage, follow the dialog boxes to suit your choice of location etc. and eventually you will find all your shapes as .pngs in a folder within your chosen location.

I haven't explored the limits etc of this technique but it seems to work quite well.

Might be of some use??

Adrian Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. (see below)
Confucius
AMD Phenom IIX6 1055T, win10, 5 internal drives, 7 usb drives, struggling power supply.

Anna1998

Newbie Joined: Oct 09, 2017 18:57 Messages: 11 Offline

Oct 15, 2017 14:23

Quote No, Anna, I don't think you can copy/paste from Office in to PD - or most video editors I should think.
Anna; I have been making educational videos for many years.
I find using png files is not at all a tideous workflow. I have some folders where I have stored png assets over the
years and I can quickly find and import them.
I wonder; are your videos for students? Collegues?
Or do you have pehaps a channel you wish to promote as an "edu-channel"?

Have you had a look at Office Mix?
You could then use PowerPoint.

Cheers

Thank you for help.

Office Mix is a neat idea. My videos must be viewable in Youtube.

ynotfish

Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Offline

Oct 15, 2017 16:16

Hi Anna, Nina & Adrian -

Lately, I've had more of a need for this sort of thing (helping uni students), so your posts have helped me out.

Nina - I've never used Office Mix but I'll check it out.

Adrian - I'd be too embarrassed to describe the steps I take to get Smart Art from Word into PDR. It's way more roundabout than your "Save As" suggestion, even though it works adequately. I'll give that a look-see. Thanks.

Cheers - Tony
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