How to make a 3D translucent ball in PowerPoint

March 4, 2009 · by Jan Schultink

Here is how you make 3D balls used in these images, or these images. Click on the chart for a larger picture.

You should experiment with the “top height” and “top width” to find a value that best fits the size of the object you are working on.

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12 comments

Jan Schultink2010-03-28 03:46:53

My pleasure

Anonymous2011-10-22 13:15:36

THANK YOU ever so much for sharing the method! - I've been trying to do this for ages. Saved me loads of time. Cheers. Ms Moc.

Anonymous2009-08-29 23:41:31

Do you know how to make and insert a 3D globe in a Keynote or powerpoint presentation? Thank you.

Jan Schultink2009-08-30 09:10:37

@Anonymous, hmmm, not really. Probably a stock image?

Jan Schultink2009-03-04 14:54:00

Hi Alessandra, click the "material" box, and then select one of the "translucent" materials at the bottom. I picked the bottom right one. Best, Jan

Jan Schultink2009-04-04 03:12:00

Yes,

Draw a rectangle or a square
Give it some 3D rotation
Do not use a bevel
Instead in 3D options: give it depth, a lot to create the 3rd dimension
Change the material to translucent

Thank you for asking, I might create a separate blog post about this.

Anonymous2010-03-27 21:06:23

thanks...really help full

Jan Schultink2009-04-26 11:28:00

@Anonymous. The easiest is the add a custom animation, "emphasize", "spin", to it. It will rotate around the center of the circle, and not like a planet around its axis. It is not simple to create that effect.

Anonymous2009-04-03 18:51:00

is it possible to do it to a 3d style box?

Jan Schultink2011-10-22 13:33:24

At your service

Alessandra2009-03-04 13:41:00

Jan,
I don't understand the last step, what do you mean by "Material (bottom right)"?

Anonymous2009-04-25 15:58:00

Do you know how to make the ball rotate