Use PowerPoint as a graphics program

If you don’t know or have other graphics software, you can use PowerPoint — and many people do. It’s not high end, but if your needs are simple, the fact that you know and have it is a great plus. PowerPoint 2007 improved the graphics engine and you can add many more effects, such as soft edges, beveled edges, and soft shadows.

You can insert photos (Insert> Picture> From File or Insert tab> Picture), then crop, resize, format, and move them. You can use AutoShapes/shapes as well.

When you have a look that you want, group everything. Go to the Drawing toolbar> Draw> Group. (In PowerPoint 2007, press Ctrl+G.)

Finally, right-click and choose Save as Picture. You can save in a variety of formats.

You can then use that image in another program, to upload to a Web site, or to reinsert into PowerPoint.

Here you see a Twitter background that I created in PowerPoint. Please follow me on Twitter for additional tips that I don’t publish on my site. Go to www.twitter.com/EFinkelstein.

Related tips:

• Turn AutoShapes into Pictures
• Recolor graphics in PowerPoint 2007
• Magnify an image

Related posts:

1. Use PowerPoint as a graphics program
2. Managing Graphics to Reduce Size
3. Recolor graphics in PowerPoint 2007
4. PowerPoint Tips: Turn AutoShapes into Pictures
5. Crop around an image in PowerPoint 2003