PowerPoint - Backgrounds in PowerPoint: First Steps Tutorial

In this video, you will learn about backgrounds in PowerPoint.
The video covers how to work with backgrounds, including starting from scratch and using the theme that controls backgrounds, colors, and fonts.
It demonstrates how to access the background menu, choose solid fill colors, use custom colors with RGB values, and utilize the eyedropper tool to select colors from images.
The video also explains the importance of considering readability and visibility when selecting background colors, especially in dark environments.
Additionally, it shows how to apply preset backgrounds and texture fills, and adjust transparency for better readability.
This knowledge will help you create visually appealing and professional PowerPoint presentations.

3:20
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Available in Microsoft365

Objectifs :

This course aims to teach users how to effectively work with backgrounds in PowerPoint, including how to customize colors, use themes, and apply textures to enhance presentation aesthetics.

Chapitres :

Introduction to Backgrounds in PowerPoint
In this course, we will explore how to work with backgrounds in PowerPoint. You can start with a pre-defined theme that controls backgrounds, colors, and fonts, or you can choose to create a background from scratch. This guide will focus on the latter approach.
Accessing the Background Menu
To access the background menu, ensure you click on a blank part of the slide. If you click on an image or a text box, a different menu will appear. Right-click on the blank area and select 'Format Background' to open the background options.
Choosing a Solid Fill Color
In the Format Background menu, you can select 'Solid Fill.' Click on the fill color box to choose a color. Even in a blank presentation, a theme is applied, which includes a palette of colors. You can opt for standard colors or explore more options by clicking for additional colors. The color wheel allows you to select a color, or you can use the 'Custom' option to input RGB values for precise color matching, such as your company colors.
Using the Eyedropper Tool
PowerPoint 2013 introduced a shortcut for color selection using the Eyedropper tool. Click on the Eyedropper, then hover over a color to see its RGB values. Clicking on the desired color will apply it directly from the image.
Considerations for Background Colors
When selecting background colors, do not hesitate to use white or black. The background should not overshadow the foreground elements of your presentation. Strong colors can limit your color palette; for instance, dark blue backgrounds with black text can be difficult to read. If presenting in a dark auditorium, consider using a dark or black background for better visibility.
Exploring Gradient and Texture Fills
PowerPoint offers various options for blending light and color. For example, you can create a gradient where the top is white and the bottom corner features color. Additionally, you can apply texture fills by selecting from premade options like marble, cloth, or paper bag textures. However, be cautious as strong backgrounds can make text hard to read.
Adjusting Transparency
To improve readability on textured backgrounds, use the Transparency tool. Adjust the transparency level by moving the slider until you achieve the desired lightness. Once satisfied with the background, you can apply it to all slides by clicking 'Apply to All.'

FAQ :

How do I change the background in PowerPoint?

To change the background in PowerPoint, right-click on a blank area of the slide, select 'Format Background,' and choose from options like Solid Fill, Gradient Fill, or Texture Fill.

What is the purpose of using a theme in PowerPoint?

A theme in PowerPoint provides a cohesive design for your presentation by applying a consistent set of colors, fonts, and effects across all slides, enhancing visual appeal.

Can I use custom colors in PowerPoint?

Yes, you can use custom colors in PowerPoint by selecting 'More Colors' in the color menu and entering RGB values to match your specific color requirements.

What should I consider when choosing a background color?

When choosing a background color, consider readability, the setting of your presentation, and how the background color interacts with the text and images on your slides.

How can I apply a background to all slides in PowerPoint?

To apply a background to all slides, after customizing your background, click 'Apply to All' in the Format Background menu to ensure consistency across your presentation.

Quelques cas d'usages :

Corporate Presentation

In a corporate setting, using PowerPoint to create a presentation with a professional theme and custom backgrounds can enhance brand identity and ensure that company colors are represented accurately.

Educational Lectures

Teachers can utilize PowerPoint to create engaging lectures by selecting appropriate background colors and textures that maintain student attention while ensuring text readability.

Marketing Pitches

Marketers can design visually appealing slides with strong backgrounds that highlight key points, using the Eyedropper tool to match colors with their branding for a cohesive look.

Event Planning

Event planners can create presentations for client meetings, using custom backgrounds that reflect the theme of the event, ensuring that the presentation aligns with the overall aesthetic.

Webinars and Online Training

In webinars, presenters can use PowerPoint to create backgrounds that are visually appealing yet not distracting, ensuring that the focus remains on the content being delivered.

Glossaire :

PowerPoint

A presentation software developed by Microsoft that allows users to create slideshows composed of text, images, and other multimedia.

Background

The area behind the main content of a slide in a presentation, which can be customized with colors, images, or textures.

Theme

A predefined set of design elements, including colors, fonts, and effects, that can be applied to a PowerPoint presentation.

RGB Colors

A color model that uses red, green, and blue light to create a broad array of colors. Each color is represented by a numerical value.

Eyedropper Tool

A feature in PowerPoint that allows users to select a color from an image or slide by clicking on it, capturing the RGB values of that color.

Transparency Tool

A feature that allows users to adjust the opacity of a background or object, making it more or less see-through.

Texture Fill

A background option in PowerPoint that allows users to apply a textured pattern, such as marble or cloth, to a slide.

00:00:07

You could start with the theme that controls backgrounds

00:00:10

and colors and fonts, but if you want to start from scratch,

00:00:13

that's what we're going to dig into.

00:00:14

So here I have almost a blank slide and to get to the background menu,

00:00:18

I just right click on my mouse

00:00:21

and I can see Format background.

00:00:23

Now one thing, you want to make sure you click on a blank

00:00:26

part of the slide, if I click on this image or I click

00:00:28

over here on this text box, I get a different menu

00:00:31

when I right click, so someplace no element, right click,

00:00:36

Format background and it opens up this menu.

00:00:39

Let's jump into Solid fill and we choose -

00:00:42

we just click on this fill color box and it gives me colors.

00:00:45

Now even though this is a blank presentation it has a theme,

00:00:48

it's called the Office theme and each theme has

00:00:51

its own palette of colors, that's why these are chosen.

00:00:54

But you also can use standard colors or you can click here for more colors.

00:00:59

First there's a color wheel you can choose a color on,

00:01:02

or you can go to Custom.

00:01:04

Custom is great because you can plug in values.

00:01:07

There's a thing called RGB colors and they have a number value;

00:01:11

if you get those from your designer,

00:01:13

you can plug those in and get the exact color, let's say for your company colors.

00:01:16

You can put that in your PowerPoint.

00:01:20

But there's also a shortcut for that and this is new in PowerPoint 2013.

00:01:24

Let me go over here to Color

00:01:26

and go down to this Eyedropper tool and click that and then move our…

00:01:30

Now the very tip of this eyedropper, if you put it on a color -

00:01:35

or if you rest there it shows you the RGB colors - but if you click it,

00:01:39

there you go it turns the background that color right from that image.

00:01:43

A couple of things with the color: 1, don't be afraid to use white-black,

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I mean this is your background.

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This shouldn't be, you know, the star is the foreground of your presentation.

00:01:52

Also if you use a strong color,

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it's going to limit the color palette, I mean think about those PowerPoints

00:01:56

we've seen where you've had those blue,

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dark blue backgrounds they put black text on, it's really hard to read.

00:02:02

Also if you're going to be in an auditorium,

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someplace dark where the audience is dark, make sure you use a dark or black background.

00:02:10

OK, let's go on and show Gradient fill;

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click that and you can see it kind of blends light and color.

00:02:16

In fact the tot part here is white and the color comes in at the bottom corner.

00:02:21

Now if you look over the menu,

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there's tons of different ways you can fiddle with this as much as you want.

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I'll just show you a preset or two; if I click this one,

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now the light is at the bottom and the corners are dark.

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Finally we're going to show a texture fill

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and go down here to this box, this little box here that says Texture

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and shows you some premade ones.

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There's some marble, there's cloth,

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there's some other things you can use, this is a paper bag I kind of like.

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You click on that.

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Now one thing with a strong background is,

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you can see it's hard to read text on that,

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so you can lighten that up with this Transparency tool.

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It's a bar, you just click on it and move it to get

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the lightness that you wanted. You can see what you want, and

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then unclick and there you have it.

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If you like this for the background, any time that you like the background,

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you just go down here to Apply to all

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and you can click that and it applies that background

00:03:15

to all of the slides.

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