Working with Images in PowerPoint

Making your Images Work

Images make PowerPoint a powerful visual tool. Attractive presentations with powerful messages require more than just inserting pictures.

Sometimes you have to manipulate the graphic so that text is more readable.

Other times you'll want to add more than one graphic to a slide. This involves resizing and layering.

Possibilities are nearly endless. This page contains tips and tricks to help you manipulate your images for a better visual presentation.

Using PowerPoint in worship is different than using it in office or classroom settings.

The number one rule in worship, is not to take the focus off of worship. Poorly presented graphics can do that in a heartbeat.

Experience is a great teacher. Here are some things we've learned.

Your background picture does not have to fill the entire slide

Sometimes less is more.

You can add more than one graphic to a slide

Using shaded or patterned boxes behind text helps to improve readability

Transitions should be avoided as much as possible.

Start with a blank slide as opposed to a preset layout

How to Insert a Picture

Lets start with the basics first. To insert a graphic, on the menu, select Insert and then Picture.
Notice that you are given several choices of where to get your picture.

Most of the time, you will select From File.

These are pictures or graphics stored on your computer.

After inserting your picture, you usually have to resize it.

You'll notice eight little boxes outlining the picture. They are circled in red in this image. Use these boxes to resize the picture.

Move your cursor over the box, and while holding the left mouse button down, move the cursor in the direction you'd like to go.

However, note that moving only one side of a picture will distort it. This may or may not be a problem. To keep the proportions, drag from one of the four corners.

What Next?

You can add as many pictures or graphics to a slide as you like. Resize and move them to create the visual layout you want.
Add text on top of your pictures. It could be sermon notes, liturgy, scripture, or anything else.

Sometimes your picture is too busy or bright for text. There are several things you can do to help solve this problem.

Change the brightness or contrast of your image

Make the picture a watermark

Add a shaded or patterned box on top of the picture

In this example, we've added a shaded box on top of our photo.

Notice how our background photo now acts as a frame. This a cool little trick that works with just about any picture.

Changing the Brightness and Contrast

Right clicking on your picture brings up a menu. Select Format Picture.
A new window comes up with several options. In it, you can change the brightness, contrast, and color of your picture. The best part is that you have total control over how much you want to change a picture.

Changes are in percentage. So you can increase or decrease the brightness of a picture by any percentage you like.

Using the pull-down arrow next to color, you can make your picture black and white or a watermark.

Want to cut out part of your picture? Crop it.

Experiment with the different options. Check out other powerpoint examples to discover other tricks.

Add Video Images to PowerPoint

Return to PowerPoint Help

Return to Home Page

Copyright © 2007 All Rights Reserved
Focus On Him!



	Making your Images Work Images make PowerPoint a powerful visual tool. Attractive presentations with powerful messages require more than just inserting pictures. Sometimes you have to manipulate the graphic so that text is more readable. Other times you'll want to add more than one graphic to a slide. This involves resizing and layering. Possibilities are nearly endless. This page contains tips and tricks to help you manipulate your images for a better visual presentation. Using PowerPoint in worship is different than using it in office or classroom settings. The number one rule in worship, is not to take the focus off of worship. Poorly presented graphics can do that in a heartbeat. Experience is a great teacher. Here are some things we've learned. Your background picture does not have to fill the entire slide Sometimes less is more. You can add more than one graphic to a slide Using shaded or patterned boxes behind text helps to improve readability Transitions should be avoided as much as possible. Start with a blank slide as opposed to a preset layout How to Insert a Picture Lets start with the basics first. To insert a graphic, on the menu, select Insert and then Picture. Notice that you are given several choices of where to get your picture. Most of the time, you will select From File. These are pictures or graphics stored on your computer. After inserting your picture, you usually have to resize it. You'll notice eight little boxes outlining the picture. They are circled in red in this image. Use these boxes to resize the picture. Move your cursor over the box, and while holding the left mouse button down, move the cursor in the direction you'd like to go. However, note that moving only one side of a picture will distort it. This may or may not be a problem. To keep the proportions, drag from one of the four corners. What Next? You can add as many pictures or graphics to a slide as you like. Resize and move them to create the visual layout you want. Add text on top of your pictures. It could be sermon notes, liturgy, scripture, or anything else. Sometimes your picture is too busy or bright for text. There are several things you can do to help solve this problem. Change the brightness or contrast of your image Make the picture a watermark Add a shaded or patterned box on top of the picture In this example, we've added a shaded box on top of our photo. Notice how our background photo now acts as a frame. This a cool little trick that works with just about any picture. Changing the Brightness and Contrast Right clicking on your picture brings up a menu. Select Format Picture. A new window comes up with several options. In it, you can change the brightness, contrast, and color of your picture. The best part is that you have total control over how much you want to change a picture. Changes are in percentage. So you can increase or decrease the brightness of a picture by any percentage you like. Using the pull-down arrow next to color, you can make your picture black and white or a watermark. Want to cut out part of your picture? Crop it. Experiment with the different options. Check out other powerpoint examples to discover other tricks. Add Video Images to PowerPoint Return to PowerPoint Help Return to Home Page Copyright © 2007 All Rights Reserved Focus On Him!