PowerPoint Tips & Tutorials

Create an instant background from a photo

Would you like a quick way to create a background from any photo? You don’t need to use expensive software like Photoshop -- whether because you don't have it or find it hard to use. Instead, use a simple PowerPoint tool for instant results.

Follow these steps:

1. Display the slide or the slide master.
2. Insert a photograph (Insert > Picture > From File). You can find one from the Clip Art collection (Insert > Picture > Clip Art) or use a digital photo that you took yourself.
3. With the photo selected, resize it or use the Crop button on the Picture toolbar to crop it, so that it fits the slide.
4. If the Picture toolbar isn't displayed, right-click any toolbar and choose Picture from the list of toolbars.
5. With the picture still selected, choose Color > Washout from the Picture toolbar, as you see here.

This lightens the image so that text shows up easily.

If you find that the photo is too light, use the Brightness and Contrast controls on the Picture toolbar for more control. Here you see a before and after example. I did reduce the brightness just a little.

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