A header image is an important design element on most websites. It creates visual interest at the top of the page and often contains a logo, tagline or call-to-action. Header images help brand a site and set the tone for the content.
In this blog post, we’ll walk through how to easily create a customized header image for your website using PowerPoint. PowerPoint provides all the tools you need to make a visually appealing header graphic without needing expensive design software. Follow along as we go through the complete process step-by-step.
Step 1: Set Up Your PowerPoint Slide
First, open a new blank PowerPoint presentation. Go to the “Design” tab and click on “Slide Size”. Change the slide size to match the dimensions you need for your header image. Common header sizes are:
- Full-width header: 1920 x 1080 px
- Boxed header: 1600 x 500 px
For this example, let’s make our header 1600 px wide by 500 px tall.
Next, click on the background color for the slide and select the base color you want for your header. It could be a solid color or subtle gradient.
You now have a blank PowerPoint slide set up at the exact size for your header image.
Step 2: Add a Background Graphic
Most header images have some type of background graphic or texture. This helps add visual interest.
Go to the “Insert” tab in PowerPoint and click “Pictures”. Select a high-quality image to use for the background. This could be an abstract geometric pattern, splashes of color, illustration graphic or even a photo.
Place the image in the center of the slide. If needed, crop or resize it to fill the entire background.
Make sure the image resolution is high enough for web use (at least 72 ppi). Apply artistic effects like brightness/contrast adjustment if you want to tweak the look.
Step 3: Include Your Logo and Tagline
Now it’s time to incorporate branding elements – namely your company logo and tagline or subtitle.
Go back to the “Insert” tab and select “Pictures” to add your logo. Make sure it’s an SVG or other web-ready file type. Place the logo prominently, resizing as needed.
For the tagline or subtitle, go to “Insert Text Box” and add a text box over the image. Type in your headline or tagline using a bold font style and large font size. You can apply text effects like shadows or outlines for prominence.
Experiment with logo and text box placement for proper visual hierarchy. Align and distribute elements for balanced design.
Step 4: Add Additional Design Elements
To take your header beyond just a logo and tagline, consider adding complementary graphics and text. These additional elements can help reinforce branding, highlight products/services, or convey site purpose.
From the “Insert” tab, add relevant icon graphics, illustrations or photos. Insert text boxes for short value propositions, calls to action or service descriptions.
Some element ideas:
- Icons or list of key products/services
- Photos of customers or products
- Call-to-action button graphics
- Special offer or promotion headline
- Short taglines describing offering
Keep additional elements minimal and make sure they align cleanly with the other header components.
Step 5: Apply Final Touches
Do a final review of the header image design in PowerPoint. Make any tweaks needed to text, colors, layout or graphic elements.
Some finishing touches you can add:
- Background graphic effects like slight blur or desaturation to make foreground elements pop
- Text effects like inner/outer glows, shadows or 3D rotation to add dimension
- Transparency effects on graphics for extra depth
- Color overlay layer across the entire graphic for tinting
Finesse all elements for clean, professional design that effectively communicates your brand and site purpose.
Step 6: Export and Optimize Your Header Image
Once your PowerPoint header image looks perfect, it’s time to export it for web use.
Go to “File” then “Save As” and browse to where you want the image file saved. Change the file type drop-down to “JPEG File Interchange Format”.
Set the quality to at least 60-70% for sufficient image resolution. Enable the “Embed Fonts” checkbox so text stays crisp. Then click save.
Next, open the exported JPEG file in a free image optimization tool like Optimizilla. Use the optimizer to further compress and sharpen the file for faster site loading without quality loss.
You now have a lightweight, optimized header image custom-designed for your website in PowerPoint!
Implement Your Header Image on Your Website
The last step is to actually implement the header image on your live website. The process will vary depending on your site platform.
On popular CMS platforms like WordPress and Squarespace, you can simply upload the header image file and select it as the header graphic within theme customization settings.
For coding a custom site HTML/CSS, use the image as the background graphic for the main header container element. Set it to fill the entire width of the screen.
Once added, preview your site to ensure the header renders perfectly across desktop and mobile. Adjust width/height or add media queries if needed.
