Pictures can make any PowerPoint presentation more visually engaging and memorable But simply inserting images into slides willy-nilly won’t maximize their impact Follow this comprehensive tutorial to truly optimize PowerPoint pictures for resonance and effectiveness,
We’ll cover how to
- Insert pictures from various sources
- Customize image placement and sizing
- Format pictures with borders, effects, etc.
- Work with multiple pictures
- Leverage PowerPoint’s image editing tools
- Fine-tune images for professional quality
- Avoid common mistakes
You’ll learn tips and tricks that take your presentations to the next level visually. So let’s get started making powerful PowerPoints with pictures!
Inserting Pictures into PowerPoint
The first step is getting your image content into the presentation. PowerPoint offers several options for inserting pictures:
From Your Computer:
- On the Insert tab, click Pictures and select a photo from your hard drive.
From Online:
- Type a keyword to use Bing image search right inside PowerPoint to find web pictures.
From Stock Libraries:
- The Online Pictures option links to Getty Images, Pixabay and others to access royalty-free stock photos.
Screenshot Tool:
- Instantly screenshot and crop any app or web page as a slide image.
Camera Tool:
- Take a photo directly through PowerPoint’s built-in camera tool.
Microsoft Cloud Storage:
- Insert pictures from OneDrive or SharePoint document libraries.
With this wide array of options, you should never struggle to locate relevant, high-quality pictures for your slides.
Adjusting Size, Aspect Ratio and Placement
Once your pictures are inserted, you’ll want to optimize their size and positioning on the slides. Here are some best practices:
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Adjust size by dragging the image corners in or out.
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Maintain the original aspect ratio to avoid distortion.
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Avoid overly massive pictures that dominate slides.
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Position images thoughtfully using alignment tools.
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Layer images for visual interest.
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Insert blank text boxes if needed to control image overlay.
Don’t just plunk photos down haphazardly. Thoughtful positioning creates a clean, professional look.
Formatting Pictures for Maximum Impact
PowerPoint provides countless formatting options to make your images look their best. Consider applying:
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Borders – Outline the pictures to make them stand out.
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Cropping – Remove distracting parts of images.
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Color saturation – Increase or decrease intensity.
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Brightness/contrast – Enhance using presets or custom settings.
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Transparency – Dial down opaque images so text shows through.
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Picture effects – Shadow, glow, soft edges, 3D, and more.
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Compress pictures – Reduce file size without impacting visual quality.
Don’t go overboard, but do use formatting judiciously to elevate images beyond the default settings.
Working with Multiple Pictures
You’ll often need to incorporate several different pictures into your PowerPoint presentation. A few tips for seamless multi-image workflows:
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Reuse pictures by saving them as a custom photo album to access again easily.
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Maintain consistency with fonts, sizes, borders, etc.
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Align evenly – Use gridlines and align/distribute tools.
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Group images to move/format them together as one object.
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Layer pictures instead of cramming everything onto one slide.
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Balance image-heavy and text-heavy slides.
With some strategic planning, you can include lots of pictures without the slides becoming visually cluttered.
PowerPoint Image Editing Tools
PowerPoint provides a mini photo editing suite right within the application. You can:
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Crop and re-crop to focus the composition or resize.
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Resize by adjusting height and width independently.
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Rotate and flip images
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Adjust sharpness to reduce blur.
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Alter brightness, contrast, saturation, etc.
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Remove picture backgrounds to isolate the main subject.
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Apply artistic filters like pencil sketch, watercolor, vintage, etc.
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Compress images without sacrificing perceivable quality.
So rather than toggling back and forth between PowerPoint and photo editors, you can achieve most image modifications directly in the slides.
Picture Optimization Best Practices
Follow these tips and tricks to take your PowerPoint pictures from good to great:
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Choose selective focus – Avoid cluttered images with tons going on.
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Pick appropriate resolutions – Don’t use tiny, pixelated web images.
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Enhance wisely – Don’t overdo adjustments and effects.
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Watch file sizes – Limit the MBs to keep presentations nimble.
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Include attribution – Credit photographers if using stock images.
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Use captions – Explain what the audience is viewing.
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Cite data sources – If presenting charts, graphs, etc.
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Refresh periodically – Update stale pictures as needed over time.
Investing a little extra effort makes a big difference in elevating beyond generic slide templates.
Common PowerPoint Picture Mistakes to Avoid
It’s just as important to know what not to do as well as the best practices outlined above:
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Don’t use excessive large images that crowd out text.
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Don’t pick low-resolution, pixelated images.
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Don’t apply too many enhancements and effects.
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Don’t stretch images unevenly.
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Don’t use unauthorized copyrighted photos.
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Don’t neglect captions and attribution.
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Don’t leave images stagnant for years.
Following the guidelines in this article will help you sidestep these all-too-common image mistakes in PowerPoint.
The right pictures make presentations pop but only if purposefully chosen and formatted. By tapping into PowerPoint’s robust image insertion and editing toolset and following the best practices outlined here, you can make visually engaging slides that resonate with your audience.
With this comprehensive guide under your belt, you’ll approach image content in your PowerPoints holistically – not just an afterthought. Well-utilized pictures will help your message stand out and stick in your audiences’ minds long after the presentation ends.
Answered By: Berkeley College Library Views: 49022
In PowerPoint, you can add pictures from your computer, from the internet, or from a screenshot.
To add a picture to your PowerPoint slide, click on the Insert ribbon. In the s grouping, choose Pictures, Online Pictures, or Screenshot. Select the you want to add, then click Insert. The will appear on the current slide.
Add an image from your computer
1. Click on the Insert ribbon. In the s grouping, choose Pictures.
2. A dialog box will appear. Using the left sidebar, navigate to where your picture is stored on your computer. Select the picture you want to add and click Insert in the bottom right corner of the dialog box.
3. Your will appear on your slide. A new ribbon, Picture Tools, will appear in the menu bar when you are clicked on the . This ribbon gives options for editing your within the PowerPoint slide.
How to Add Picture in PowerPoint
How do I add a picture to a slide?
Select the picture type you’d like to add to your slide from the tab list at the top. Access the Search box and enter the name of the image you’re looking for. Select your image on the list and choose Insert at the bottom. You can add multiple images by selecting them on the list and choosing Insert at the bottom of the window.
How do I insert a picture in Photoshop?
Choose the folder containing your saved image in the dialogue box. Take note of the file location you have saved the image. Using the “Insert Picture” dialogue box, highlight your image by clicking “Insert” from the lower right hand corner. You can also double click your image from the “Insert Picture” directory to insert it.
How do I insert a picture into a slide note?
In the “Notes Page” view, scroll through to open the slide note where you want to insert a picture. Then click on the “Insert” tab in the menu ribbon. Step-3: Click on the “Pictures” option In the “Images” section of the “Insert” tab, click on the “Pictures” option. Then select the picture source from the dropdown menu.
How do I add a picture?
Pictures can be added from your device, OneDrive, or a Bing online search. Tables, Shapes, or SmartArt can be selected by the drop-downs attached to each button. Selecting Icons opens a menu of more than 400 icons you can search for, insert, then edit. You can insert Online Videos by entering the URL in the box provided.
