Computers and Technology > Software > Using Custom Backgrounds in Microsoft PowerPoint
0
Reviews [ add review ],
Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Gary Lewis
The first step in using a custom background in Microsoft
PowerPoint is to obtain or create a compatible file type in the
proper dimensions for your display hardware.
Many online sources offer pre-sized, royalty-free
backgrounds in every subject imaginable. For presenters
familiar with painting and photo software like Adobe
PhotoShop, creating an original background may be an
option worth exploring.
For use on a standard American computer screen, video
monitor or projected screen, your file should be in a 4:3
ratio. That means four parts horizontal to three parts vertical.
The area in pixels may vary but the proportion will remain
the same. 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 are the two most
common sizes. Either size will stretch perfectly out to every
corner of your slide.
The default setting in PowerPoint for a "Blank Presentation"
as "On-screen Show" display will have the 4:3 ratio.
PowerPoint deals in inches rather than pixels however, and
the 4:3 ratio will display as a 10" by 7.5" horizontal
(landscape) format.
Creating a widescreen 16:9 ratio background is a simple
matter of having wider artwork and adjusting PowerPoint
dimensions in Page Setup. The canvas size for your artwork
should be 1024x576 and your PowerPoint dimensions
should be 14.22 x 8.00 inches.
JPEG (.jpg) files with a maximum quality setting are highly
recommended as the file type of choice. Photographic detail
is good and the file sizes are typically much smaller than
other methods of file saving. In a large presentation that can
make a huge difference, especially if you will need to send
your file to others via e-mail.
Another way to keep your file size down when using older
versions of PowerPoint is to use the background common
to the largest number of your slides, in your Slide Master. If
your presentation is twenty slides long and fifteen of them
are bullet-point slides, then the background created for
bullets should be in your Master. The remaining slides
would each have their own custom background applied at
the Slide level. In newer versions of PowerPoint, multiple
Slide Masters are supported, rendering the decision moot.
Once you have a background file selected, and the
PowerPoint file is sized properly using Page Setup, you’re
ready to insert your background artwork. There are two ways
to add backgrounds -- by inserting or formatting.
Inserting the background file into your presentation is as
easy as using any piece of clip-art. From your pull-down
menu choose "Insert" > "Picture" > "From File…" A window
will pop-up allowing you to search your PC and find the file
you would like to use. Your background will always land on
top of anything already on the slide, so you will then need to
click through the "Draw" > "Order" > "Send to Back"
sequence.
Using the Insert > Picture method is fast and simple, but
there is always a chance the background may get nudged
while preparing your slides. This will result in a border
along one or two edges of your screen when you go into
Slide Show mode. The secure method for adding a custom
background is through the use of "Format."
By formatting your background, you lock it in place and
electronically pin it to every corner of your slide. This
ensures a perfect fit and covers any other background you
may have had previously. The process takes a little longer,
but will become second nature after a few tries.
To format, click "Format" > "Background." Then choose the
colored window (white is the default color) and select "Fill
Effects." A "Picture" tab will be visible, and clicking that will
reveal a button to "Select Picture…" After finding your file, you
will click out of the menu sequence with "Insert," "OK," and
"Apply." That’s all there is to it!
Custom backgrounds in PowerPoint are a great way to take
your presentation up a notch and give it that professional
edge top executives prefer. They are also a subtle way to
show your audience you care about the presented material
by adding visual value to your slides.
Gary Lewis is a graphic designer with over twenty years of
experience in television production, post production and
presentation design.
For creative, Royalty-Free backgrounds and stock photos
(and plenty of free samples!) visit Pro Background
Art today!
Article reviews
Post your review
[ Note : no HTML/URLs - will removed automatically ]
More articles from Computers and Technology > Software
|
