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), such as a digital photo that you took yourself. (In PowerPoint 2007, go to Insert tab> Illustrations group> Picture.) You can find one from the Clip Art collection by choosing Insert> Picture> Clip Art, then making sure that the Results Should Be drop-down list shows only Photographs selected. (In PowerPoint 2007, choose Insert tab> Illustrations group> Clip Art.)
3. Select the photo, and resize it or use the Crop button on the Picture toolbar to crop it, so that it fits the slide. (To crop in PowerPoint 2007, go to Format tab> Size group> Crop.)
4. In PowerPoint 2003, 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. (In PowerPoint 2007, choose Format tab> Adjust group> Recolor, and choose the Washout option, which is the third from the left in the Color Modes section.)

Color Washout from the Picture toolbar

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. (In PowerPoint 2007, the Brightness and Contrast controls are in the Adjust group.) Here you see a before and after example. I did reduce the brightness just a little.

before using the brightness and contrast controls

after using the brightness and contrast controls

Related posts:

1. Create cutouts
2. Layer two fill effects
3. Rotation tips
4. Create a simple border
5. Backgrounds: Using mid-range colors