PowerPoint Tips & Tutorials

PowerPoint lets you insert an image in four ways. Which way is best and when should you use each method? It all depends on the result you want.

Place on the background of the slide master

When you place an image on the background layer of the slide master, you can easily apply the image to every slide in the presentation, or you can apply it to one or more individual slides. The image automatically stretches to fill up the whole slide. It's difficult to remove the image accidentally or inadvertently hide text behind the image.

When you want to create one background for the entire presentation that fills the slides, this method is easy and effective.

1. Choose View > Master > Slide Master to display the slide master.
2. Choose Format > Background.
3. Click the drop-down list and choose Fill Effects.
4. On the Picture tab, click the Select Picture tab to choose an image file.

Place directly on the slide master

When you place an image on the slide master, you can easily apply it to every slide in the presentation, or you can apply it to one or more individual slides. The image doesn't automatically stretch to fill up the whole slide, so you avoid distorting the image. As with the previous option, it's hard to remove or move the image accidentally, or lose text behind the image.

When you want to add an image to every slide, this is a good option.

1. Choose View > Master > Slide Master to display the slide master.
2. Choose Insert > Picture > From File and choose an image file to insert.
3. Select the image and move it to the desired location.

Place on the background of a slide

Placing an image on the background of a slide applies the image to that slide only. The image automatically stretches to fill up the whole slide. It's difficult to remove the image accidently or inadvertently hide text behind the image.

When you want to create a background for one slide that covers the entire slide, this is a good option.

1. Display the slide.
2. Choose Format > Background.
3. Choose Insert > Picture > From File and choose an image file to insert.

Place on a slide

When you place an image on a slide, the image appears only on that slide and doesn't automatically stretch to fill up to whole slide, so you don't distort the image.

When you want to place an image on one slide and don't want it to take up the whole slide, use this option.

1. Display the slide.
2. Choose Insert > Picture > From File and choose an image file to insert.
3. Select the image and move it to the desired location.

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