Adding a picture as a background to your PowerPoint slides can make your presentation look more visually appealing. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to add a background picture in PowerPoint 2010:
Select the Slide to Add the Background
- Open the PowerPoint presentation and select the slide you want to add the background picture to. If you want the same background on all slides, select any slide for now.
Access the Format Background Pane
- Go to the Design tab and click on Format Background in the Customize group.
- Alternatively, you can right-click on the slide and select Format Background from the context menu.
Choose the Picture
- In the Format Background pane, select Picture or texture fill.
- Click on File to select a picture from your computer.
- Browse to the location of the picture file and select it.
- Click Insert.
Adjust the Picture
- Use the Transparency slider to adjust how see-through you want the picture to be.
- Check Tile picture as texture if you want the picture repeated.
- Use the Offset boxes to move the picture around.
Apply to All Slides (Optional)
- If you want the same background picture on all slides, click Apply to All.
- Otherwise, click Close.
Tips
- Choose an appropriate picture for your presentation topic.
- Make sure any text is clearly visible over the background image.
- Adjust the transparency so text is readable.
- Compress large pictures to reduce file size.
Remove a Background Picture
To remove a background picture:
- Select the slide and access the Format Background pane.
- Choose Solid fill or another option besides Picture or texture fill.
- Click Apply to All if you want it removed from all slides.
Alternative Method
You can also insert a picture directly onto a slide:
- Insert the picture onto a slide.
- Right click the picture and select Send to Back.
- Optionally, adjust transparency.
This makes the picture act as a full slide background image.
Using PowerPoint’s tools to add and format background pictures can greatly enhance the look of your presentations. Experiment with different images and settings until you get the design you want. The tips in this article should help you add background images to your slides quickly and easily.