Project Set-Up | Create the Project Folder |
| Submit a Proposal | Client Background |
Pre-Production | Write the Script | Create a Storyboard |
Production | Record the Narration | Edit the Soundtrack | Prepare Images |
Post-Production | Layout Text and Images |
| Add Animation | Add the Soundtrack |
Distribution | Screencastify Set-Up | Google Slides Recording |
| Video Editing | Submit Your Project |
[project menu]
Step 9 – Layout Text and Images
Open the Chrome browser then open Google Slides. Start a new presentation using the Blank option.
Name the presentation using this format: PSA-SPONSOR-NAME and substitute a one or two word name for SPONSOR and your first and last name for NAME. Here is an example:
Choose the Slide menu Apply Layout option and select the Blank format.
From the Themes sidebar choose Simple Dark.
On the left select the slide thumbnail and click [ctrl+C] to copy it.
Use [ctrl+v] to paste copies of the slide until you have one more than the total number of scenes in your storyboard. For example, if there are four scenes in your PSA you will end up with five slide thumbnails.
Double-click the second slide thumbnail. This will be the first scene of your PSA.
Use the Insert menu and select Word Art.
Type the first word or phase that will animate onto the screen. In this example it is GET typed with all caps. Press the enter key and the text will appear in the frame.
Use the select tool to resize the test and position it to where it should end up on the screen.
Use the font selector and to choose a style for the lettering. Once you have a font chosen decide if it should be bold or italic.
Use the Fill Color bucket to change the color of the letters.
Use the Border color and Border weight tools if you want to add a text outline.
Use the Format options for more modifications.
When you are done with your first word or phrase, select it, click [ctrl+C] to copy it, then click [ctrl+V] to paste the copy.
Refer to your storyboard and reposition the copied text to where your next animated word or phrase will appear. Double-click the copy and type new word or phrase in the text box. Press enter when your new text is correct.
If your new text will appear next to the first one, click and drag to select both boxes. Use the box handles to re-size and re-position the text until it appears correctly in the frame.
Repeat the layout and formatting process until you have all of your text within the frame.
If the frame will include an image, open the Insert menu Image option and choose Drive for the location. Navigate to your project’s images folder, select the file and open it.
Once the image has been added to your frame you may re-size and position it as needed.
If you want your text to match a color in your image, open another browser window and use Pixlr.com to open your edited image. Double-click the foreground color tool.
Use the Color picker to select the desired color from the image.
In the HEX: box select all of the text then press [ctrl+C] to copy it.
Back in Google Slides, open the color attribute of the text you want to match to your image. Use [ctrl+V] to paste the copied code into the Hex box, then click the OK button.
In this example, the text outline matches the color of the logo.
If you want to change the frame background, click on the Slide menu and choose the Change background option.
In the Background window you may change the Color.
You may also use an image by using the Choose image button. When your background is set press the Done button.
If you want to undo what you have done, press [ctrl+Z] until you have returned to your previous settings.
After all of your frames are complete, review them to make sure you have a ten percent margin from the edges of the frame. In this example, [ctrl+A] is used to select all items in the frame, then the Select tool is used to change the size and position until the margin is correct.
Once you have the text and any images for all frames of your PSA created and arranged, you are ready to add animation.
[project menu]
Step 10 – Add Animation
Once you are happy with your layout you may start adding animation. Use the select tool to choose the first word or phrase that will appear on screen, then click the Animate button.
Under Object Animations select an option that will make the text appear.
Press the Play button to preview the motion. Once you have decided on an animation, select the next word or phrase that will appear on screen and click the Add animation button.
The object you selected will now appear under the first one. Under Object Animations select an option that will make the text appear.
Repeat the process for each word or phrase that will appear on screen in this frame. Once all animations have been set, decide how they will relate to each other. Select the first word or phrase that will animate on in your first scene. In the Object Animations list click the arrow next to On click and select the After previous option. 
The first object on each of your frames should have the After previous option selected under its Object Animation. Repeat the process for each object animation for this scene. In this example, each of the first three object animations are set to After previous. The last one is set to With previous so that both objects are animated at the same time.
To test your choices press the Play button. The speed of each animation may be adjusted by moving the speed slider.
Experiment with the speed settings for each animation using the Play button. As you the entire scene playback imagine what you will be saying and how long it will take you to say it. When you think the scene’s animation is set, repeat the process for each scene in your storyboard.
The first slide should in your slide show should only be black. It is used to pre-set the presentation. Double-click the second slide in your slide show then click the Transition menu.
For the Slide Transition experiment with the type of transition and the speed.
When you are happy with this slide’s transition, repeat the process for each of the remaining slides.
[project menu]
Step 11 – Add the Soundtrack
Once all of your transitions and animations have been set, double-click the second slide. Open the Insert menu and choose the Audio option.
Find your edited narration then press the Select button.
A player will appear underneath an icon representing the file. You may test it by clicking the play button.
With the sound file selected set the Format options as indicated below.
Start playing should be set to Automatically and Hide icon when presenting should be checked. The volume slider should be at full level. No other options should be checked.
To test the entire PSA, click on the first slide (the black-only one) then click on the Present button. The presentation will start filling the entire screen. When the controls and cursor fade out, press your keyboard spacebar. When the first scene finishes playing, press the spacebar to the next slide. Time your slide changes so the match the narration in your script. When the narration ends press the esc key to stop the presentation.
You may have to make adjustments to the timing of your transitions and animations until you are able to playback the entire PSA according to your script and storyboard. Watch the video below to see the an example of the playback process: