Creating an Animated Video in Keynote

Unfortunately, when it comes to making videos or digital stories, PowerPoint for Mac does not have the same functionality as the Windows version. However, it is very easy to add these elements in Apple’s Keynote App:

1. Clear the slides of any templates or default boxes. You can do this by selecting a black or white theme and deleting any text boxes (make sure to use a “Wide” template for a widescreen video). You want this to look like your video, not a presentation you’ve seen a million times.

2. Next you will start to build your graphics. Use either one bold image or create a scene that will have some movement to it. To add animation, click on the “Animate “button in the top right-hand corner:

Choose either entrance effects (“Build In”), movement to an object already on screen (“Action”), or an exit effect (“Build Out”):

You can choose something simple like fade or something more complex like flying in from a specific location. Whatever you choose, try to make it simple or smooth, you don’t want people getting sea-sick from watching your video.

The general rule for videos is that you want something happening on screen every 3-5 seconds. Longer than that and viewers might lose interest shorter than that and it might seem too frenzied.

3. Make sure you use bold colours, like black, white, or yellow. Pale graphics might get lost on the screen. And make sure your graphics fill the entire screen. Most importantly Don’t use too much text. 

4. Now you can add some background music. 

Click on the “Document” icon in the top right hand corner of Keynote, then click on the “Audio” tab. Drag your audio file into the soundtrack box. If you don’t have a music track you can find one on a site like jamendo.com or the YouTube Audio Library (youtube.com/audiolibrary):

You can add as many songs/tracks to the video as you wish. Select “Loop” if your song is shorter than your video. Use the volume slider to adjust the volume of your track: 

5. Now you can get set up to do some narration. First you’ll need a headset, you can borrow one from the library or purchase one for around $20. Plug your headset into your computer and edit the settings:

a) Click on the Apple symbol and open “System Preferences”:

b) select “Sound”: 

c) under “Input,” choose your microphone as the default recording device:

6. When you are ready to record, select your first slide, then click on “Document,” go to the “Audio” tab and click on “Record…”. 

7. Your presentation will open up with your first slide on the left-hand side and the next slide on the right hand slide. To begin recording, click on the red button in the lower –right-hand corner of the screen. A countdown will alert you when the recording starts. 

8. As you record the narration, just transition through the animations and slides like you normally would in a presentation. 

When you are done your narration, click on the red record button in the lower left-hand corner to stop recording. 

If you would like to rerecord your narration, click on “Clear” in the Document /Audio area and try again. Please note that clicking on clear will remove the recordings on all of your slides.

To listen to your recording, click on “Play” and choose “Play Recorded Slideshow.”

9. Save a copy of your Keynote presentation so you can go back and make changes if needed. If you are ready to save the presentation as a video go to File > Export to > QuickTime…

Choose “Slideshow Recording from the “Playback” dropdown menu. Select either 720p or 1080p as your Format (please note 1080p will result in a much larger file size).

Exporting the file may take some time, so don’t be alarmed if your video takes a while to save.