So where do you find no-cost vector icons that can be used without restrictions? When I say without restrictions, I am referring to a license that does not require you to place attribution text on each slide using an icon, or a license that requires you to share your presentation publicly if you use an icon. Common vector file formats include EPS, SVG, and EMF.

Vector files are far less common than image files. Because the file contains the information about each shape, you can separate the shapes and edit them. These files allow you to resize while maintaining quality because the information in the file allows for drawing the shapes at any size. Vector files do not store information about dots of different colors like image files do, they store information on the lines or shapes that make up the icon you see. Common image file types include PNG, JPG, TIF, or BMP.Īs Nolan pointed out in his session, your preference should be to find vector icons. If you resize a small image icon, it gets fuzzy, and as an image, you can’t separate the pieces of the icon to make changes. These images work well if you don’t need to resize them, edit them, or recolor them.

Many icons you see are images, usually PNG images with a transparent background. It seems like icons are icons, but that is not the case. There are three areas I want to address in this article: what icons you should look for, where to find vector icons, and how to convert common vector formats for use in PowerPoint. Instead of creating icons on your own, which takes artistic talent, it is much easier to use ones that are available from artists who have shared their work under an appropriate license.

Powerpoint icons download