Formatting an Image

We will now explore some of the different ways that we can format an image in PowerPoint. We will work with the images on slide 4. PowerPoint gives us several options for altering images. We can add a border, change the color of an image, and even remove parts of some images.

Adding a Picture Style

The Picture Styles gallery makes it possible to add frames to an image. Let's add a picture style to an image now.

Step 1. To move to slide 4, in the slide thumbnail list,

Click slide 4

Step 2. To select the image,

Click the image of the bulletin board

Step 3. To begin editing the picture, under Picture Tools, on the Ribbon,

Click the Format tab

NOTE for MacOS Users: The tab is labeled Picture Format.

This tab is called a contextual tab because it appears only when needed. If you deselect the image, you will notice that the tab disappears. Select the image again, and the tab reappears.

Step 4. To see the various picture styles that are available, in the Picture Styles group,

Click

The Picture Styles gallery opens.

Step 5. To view some of the different styles available in the Picture Styles gallery,

Click on several different styles

Step 6. To add a picture style,

Click the second icon in the gallery (Beveled Matte, White)

We have successfully added a style to an image. Now let's see how to recolor an image in PowerPoint.

Recoloring an Image

PowerPoint also provides an easy way to recolor images. Let's see how this works using the image of the calendar.

Step 1. To select the correct image, on slide 4,

Click on the graphic of the calendar

This image is in black and white. Our other images are all brightly colored. We can alter this graphic so that it more closely matches the other images in our presentation.

Step 2. To see the recoloring options, in the Adjust group,

Click

The Recolor gallery appears. We can change the saturation or tone of the image, or we can recolor it.

Step 3. To change the color of the image, in the Recolor group,

Click the pink icon in the last row (Pink, Accent color 5 Light)

The image is colorful now, but it would look better if it was sharper. We can use the Corrections tool to sharpen the lines in the calendar.

Step 4. To sharpen the lines in the calendar, on the Ribbon,

Click , Click the last icon in the Sharpen/Soften row (Sharpen: 50%)

Now that we've learned how to recolor and sharpen images, let's see how to make part of the image transparent.

Setting a Transparent Color in an Image

We can use the Set Transparent Color tool to make a single color in an image transparent. Let's use this feature to remove the white background from the image of the mouse.

NOTE: For a walkthrough of this section, as well as the following one, view this video.

Step 1. To select the image,

Click on the mouse graphic

Step 2. To open the Recolor gallery again,

Click

Step 3. To activate the Transparency tool, at the bottom of the Recolor gallery,

Click Set Transparent Color

When we move our cursor over the slide in the Slide pane, it changes and looks like this:

Step 4. To make the background color in the image transparent,

Click on the white background of the mouse graphic

The white background disappears.

Step 5. To deselect the image,

Click on the outer edge of the slide

Since the background of this image was a solid color, the Transparency tool worked well. However, there is another way to remove the background of an image. Let's see how to do that now.

Removing a Background on an Image

The Set Transparent Color tool will only remove one color. If we want to remove several colors in an image, we must use a different tool. Let's use the Remove Background tool to remove the background from the last image.

Step 1. To select the remaining image,

Click on the graphic of the notepad and markers

Step 2. To move to the correct tab, if necessary, on the Ribbon,

Click the Format tab

Step 3. To begin removing the background from this image, from the Adjust group, on the Ribbon,

Click

The Ribbon changes and we see commands listed under a Background Removal tab.

We also see the image with a purple overlay and a frame with resizing handles:

NOTE for MacOS Users: The Ribbon does not change. There is a small panel that provides some instructions.

Based on the makeup of the picture, PowerPoint guesses what we want to remove and places the purple tint over that section of the image. In many cases, PowerPoint guesses correctly and all we have to do is activate the removal by using the Keep Changes button on the Ribbon. In this case, however, we want to keep the micro disc on the right side of the notepad. Since it is currently covered with a purple tint, we will need to do some additional work before activating the removal.

Step 4. To select the part of the image that we want to keep,

Press & Drag the resizing handles on the top and bottom side of the frame until it includes all of the notebook and the small disk

Now we must specify which additional parts of the image we want to keep. Remember, any area covered with the purple tint will be removed.

It may be easier to select the correct areas if we zoom in and make our image larger on our screen.

Step 5. To zoom in on the notebook image, on the status bar,

Click several times

The notebook image is larger and easier to see.

NOTE for MacOS Users: Step 6 through step 8 may not be necessary.

Step 6. To specify which additional elements of the image we want to keep, on the Ribbon,

Click

A pencil icon appears when we hover the cursor over the image. This pencil can be used to mark the areas of the image that we wish to keep. We wish to keep the micro disk, too.

Step 7. To continue,

Press & Drag a line over the micro disk

As we draw the line, the purple tint lifts from the disk. When we are satisfied with our image, we can accept the changes and close the Background Removal tab.

Step 8. To make sure that all areas on the left side of the notebook are visible, if necessary,

Press & Drag lines over any sections of the notebook which are currently covered by a purple tint

Step 9. To activate the background removal, on the Ribbon, on the Background Removal tab,

Click

NOTE for MacOS Users: To activate the background removal, on the Ribbon, Click the Remove Background button.

The wooden background is removed from the image, but the notebook and micro disk are visible.

NOTE: To reset the picture, we can use the Discard All Changes button on the Ribbon.

Step 10. To deselect the image,

Click on the outer edge of the slide

Step 11. To zoom out,

Click until the entire slide is visible

Step 12. Save the presentation Creating_a_Presentation.pptx.

That is all of the image formatting we're going to do today. Let's move on to working with video files.

Inserting Pictures from Other Sources

The images we have used in this presentation are all in the public domain. This means they can be used freely for commercial or non-commercial purposes.

It is important to remember that all images are automatically copyrighted, therefore, it is not legal to use them unless the source (web site, artist, publication, etc.) explicitly states so.

To ensure we have the right to use the image, we should create our own pictures, purchase the rights, or find images on a reputable site that clearly states copyright protocols.

No matter where we find images, we should take care to follow Indiana University copyright policy:

• http://www.iu.edu/copyright/
• Copyright Tutorial