Basic Clip-Art Editing

Insert the clip-art object you would like to edit from the Microsoft Clip-Art Library. Select Draw > Ungroup, and click OK when you are asked whether you would like to proceed. Then select Draw > Ungroup again.

Each element of the clip-art object should now have its own resizing and rotating handles, similar to those present on an Autoshape object. These individual elements can be deleted, rotated, flipped, or have fill or line effects changed or applied to them.

It is important to remember in editing clip art that "lines" in clip art objects are never really lines in PowerPoint’s definition of the word, but are shape objects with very complex path shapes. This is because line effects will not scale properly with clip-art objects, even when they are regrouped.

Mulitple elements can be selected by clicking outside of the clip-art object's area and dragging the cursor to "lasso" a set of shapes. Conveniently, the selector only "picks up" those objects that have been completely encompassed by your selection area.

Editing Points

Right-click on a shape object in PowerPoint and select Edit Points. (It is not possible to perform this action with Autoshapes, but is with clip art elements or custom-drawn objects.) A small square will appear in each corner of the shape. In the case of a curved object surface, "corners" might be nearly overlapping each other to create the curve.

Each of these points can be moved by clicking and dragging on it with your mouse cursor. When you have finished editing points, hit Enter to exit the edit mode.