Adding an image behind text in Google Slides is a great way to make your text stand out on a slide. The image creates an interesting background while allowing the text to remain readable. This effect can help emphasize important points, make your presentation more visually appealing, and keep your audience engaged.
In this blog post, we’ll walk through the steps to easily put an image behind text in Google Slides using the desktop and mobile apps. We’ll also provide tips to optimize this effect for readability and visual impact.
Benefits of Putting an Image Behind Text
Before we dig into the how-to, let’s look at some of the reasons you may want to put an image behind text in a Google Slides presentation:
- Draws attention to key text: An image background makes your text pop, immediately grabbing your audience’s focus. Use this to emphasize important statistics, quotes, or headings.
- Enhances visual appeal: Using images and text together creates a more dynamic, visually-interesting slide than text alone. This engages viewers and brings energy to your presentation.
- Reinforces messaging: Choose an image that conceptually relates to your text to reinforce what you’re communicating. For example, pair text about growth with an image of a sprouting plant.
- Breaks up heavy text: Large blocks of text can be daunting to read. An image behind text helps break up long passages so they’re less intimidating and easier to digest.
Tips for Readability
When placing an image behind text, readability should be a top priority. Follow these tips:
- Use high contrast between text and background colors. Dark text on a light background, or vice versa, is best.
- Avoid busy images with too much detail, as these will compete with the text visually. Choose a simple, faded image.
- Use a transparent text box so the image shows through clearly. White text boxes block the background.
- Increase text size if needed so it remains clear against the image.
- Keep text to 1-2 paragraphs when placed over an image to prevent heavy blocking.
Now let’s look at the step-by-step process!
How to Put an Image Behind Text in Google Slides on Desktop
Putting an image behind text using the Google Slides desktop interface is quick and easy. Follow these instructions:
1. Insert an Image on the Slide
- Navigate to the slide where you want to place an image behind text.
- Insert > Image to upload your desired image.
- Size and position the image how you like.
2. Insert a Text Box Over the Image
- Click Insert > Text box to add a text box overlaying the image.
- Drag the edges to size and position the text box. Ensure the whole text area covers part of the image.
3. Format the Text Box
- In the right sidebar, switch the text box fill color to No fill so the image shows through.
- Choose a bold text color with strong contrast to the underlying image.
- Increase text size if needed for clarity against the background image.
- Add your desired text paragraphs into the text box.
And you’re done! The image should now be visible in the background of the text box, creating an eye-catching layered effect.
![Example of image behind text in Google Slides]
How to Put an Image Behind Text in Google Slides Mobile App
The Google Slides mobile app makes it simple to put an image behind text right from your phone or tablet. Just follow these steps:
1. Insert an Image on the Slide
- Open your presentation and navigate to the desired slide.
- Tap the + icon > Image to insert your chosen background image.
- Use one finger to drag and scale the image as needed.
2. Insert a Text Box Over the Image
- Tap Text box from the toolbar.
- The cursor will change to a + sign. Drag to draw out a text box overlaying part of the image.
3. Format the Text Box
- Select the text box to open formatting options.
- Tap Color and choose No fill so the image shows through.
- Select a high-contrast Text color.
- Use the slider to adjust Text size for clarity over the image.
- Type in your text paragraphs.
That’s all there is to it! The mobile app makes layering images and text boxes a breeze.
![Example of image behind text in Google Slides mobile app]
Creative Ideas for Using Images Behind Text
Now that you know how to place images behind text in Google Slides, get creative with this versatile effect! Here are some ideas to spark inspiration:
- Put inspiring quotes over images related to the quote’s meaning
- Overlay presentation titles or section headers on faded images
- Use an image of a document or book page as a background for text
- Pair conceptual images with related statistics and facts
- Help key statements stand out by putting them on colorful backgrounds
The possibilities are endless for creating eye-catching slides with images and text together. Use this technique to engage your viewers and make key information pop!
Let us know in the comments if you have any other questions on working with images and text boxes in Google Slides. And we’d love to see examples of how you utilize this effect in your own presentations!
