Although not a completely new feature to Office 2016, the screen recording functionality in PowerPoint is being highlighted in the list of what is new for this version. It can be used in a variety of ways to make your presentations really stand out. And, since the opportunity to show things in real-time is not always an option, slideshows can be saved, shared, and referenced later very easily.

Here is how to use the PowerPoint screen capture and five situations where incorporating this distinctive feature can help deliver your message.
How to Use the PowerPoint Screen Capture

The screen recording feature is very simple to use. Whether you have PowerPoint 2013 or Office 2016, simply navigate to the spot in your slideshow where you would like the capture included. Select Insert and then Screen Recording.

A small pop-up window will appear with options to select your screen area, record audio, and capture the pointer as you record. When you are ready to start, click the Record button. You can pause the capture if needed and stop it with a tap when you are done.

The screen recording will automatically be inserted in your chosen spot within your slideshow. You can click the play button to watch your recording, pause it if necessary, move forward or back, and adjust the volume. Here is a brief video showing you how to record your capture, insert it into your slide, and apply basic formatting options.

Typical Applications
1. Make Training More Successful

A training presentation is a wonderful example of when that screen recording feature can be beneficial. You can include a screen capture to demonstrate steps to begin a particular task with, where to perform it, or how to complete it.

Using good visuals during your training can be the key to a successful session. If you notice that your training capture is a bit too long, you can trim it very easily. Just right-click on the recording and select Trim. You can then adjust the start and end time using the slider or enter the times manually. Later, you can share your slideshow with participants as a reference.
2. Make Class Projects More Appealing

Many high school and college students are tasked with creating PowerPoint slideshows for their projects. This allows the students to present their projects in a very organized and visually appealing way. For some added pizzazz, including a screen recording may be the difference between an A and a C for that project.

For instance, it is helpful for showing how to do a task, such as steps to complete an equation, instructions for using a graphic design tool, or how to navigate to settings on a computer.

Then, for making your recording stand out a bit, like in this example where the background is white, you can add a simple border. Just right-click on the recording and select Format Video. When you tap the paint can icon, you can add a solid line or gradient border. This really highlights your screen capture on light backgrounds.
3. Make Online Product Demos More Detailed

When demonstrating new products to other departments in your company, potential investors, or possible clients, think about pulling in a PowerPoint screen recording to show off your product better. If you are on an online retailer, this makes even more sense than just including a screenshot. You can easily move between the product attributes, such as size and color, giving a larger and more detailed picture of the project.

Since your product should take center stage in your presentation, you may want to stretch the recording to the entire slide. Simply right-click on the recording, select Format Video, and then choose the size and position icon. Here you can adjust the size of your capture without distorting it and then change its position to be centered on the slide.

Again, this is very handy for those situations where you can not rely on Internet access, or don’t want to interrupt the flow of your presentation by switching back and forth, to show your online product first hand. It will also allow your viewers to share the information with the executives.
4. Make Business Presentations More Powerful

While there are many ways to show your employees, customers, and coworkers a presentation during a business meeting, a picture can often speak louder than words. Using a screen recording to show a new website design with fresh features, a graph of company growth that has evolved over time, or changes to an organizational structure can be quite powerful.

To describe the picture you are showing in more depth, consider adding audio to your screen recording. Rather than a rehearsed speech during your presentation, you can let it speak for itself. Before you begin recording your screen, just be sure to select Audio from the action panel, make sure your microphone is turned on or plugged in, and then speak loud and clear.
5. Make Processes and Projects More Meaningful

From showing an updated process, a constantly-changing project plan, or task management and movement, a screen recording is a valuable visual. You can easily do the work ahead of time and use the capture to show your team so that they can see how things are moving or have changed. And, letting them hold onto a copy via email or the company intranet means they can reference it when needed.

In addition to saving your recording with your slide show, you can also save it as a separate file. Just right-click on your recording and select Save Media as. You can then save it as an MP4 file and upload it to your YouTube channel, email it to participants, or even edit it first with your preferred tool such as Windows Movie Maker or QuickTime.
How to Make Screen Captures Look Awesome

Now that you have seen various ways that using PowerPoint’s screen recording feature can be beneficial as well as how to use it, it is time to move on to the fun part. Here are some terrific formatting options to spruce up your capture and really make it pop.

Select the recording from your slide and using your context menu, you can see the various options. There are quick buttons to add a little style or even trim your recording. You can also select the Size and Position items and adjust attributes such as height, width, rotation, and scaling options. This option is available within the Format Video menu as well.

To give your recording a special look, you can add a border or gradient, each with its own set of options. You can also add a shadow, make it glow, or give it a 3-D look. There are options for you to recolor your recording and adjust the brightness and contrast for the perfect look.