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Using abstract images to create unique backgrounds for slides and shapes

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You can use abstract images to create interesting, textured backgrounds for slides or shapes. Just as important, they will be unique. You’ll see why as you read further…

Here’s an example, using abstract images as a fill for the shapes of a diagram.

First, you have to find an abstract image. That’s fairly easy. For example, go to pixabay.com or your favorite stock images site and enter abstract in the search box. Find some images and download them. Here are 3 that I downloaded from pixabay.com:

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Another easy technique is to take your own abstract photos! Any object with a texture that is mostly one color works well. Here are some ideas:

  • A close-up of a piece of fabric or carpet
  • A close-up of the hair of a pet
  • A piece of wood or furniture

Here’s a photo of a gravel pathway that I took>>>

Modify the texture image

You can make many modifications to the texture image. Select the image, and choose the Picture Format tab. For example, you can do the following:

  • In the Adjust section of the ribbon, choose Corrections to soften or sharpen the image, as well as change the brightness and contrast. For more precise changes, choose Picture Corrections Options at the bottom.
  • Choose Color to change the saturation or tone, or to recolor the image.
  • Choose Artistic Effects to choose one of the preset effects.

Here, I took the abstract image on the left, then blurred it, colored it, and reduced the contrast to create the one on the right.

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Use the image as a fill for a shape

To use an image as a fill for a shape, follow these steps:

  1. Click the shape to display the Picture Format tab and click the tab.
  2. Choose Shape Fill> Picture> From File, navigate to the picture you saved, and double-click the picture file you want to use. (See an alternative method below.)
  3. If you want to remove the outline (I often do), choose Shape Outline> No Outline.
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If you have already inserted the abstract image you want to use on a slide — since you may have created and modified it there — follow these steps:

  1. Copy the abstract image to the clipboard.
  2. Right-click the shape and choose Format Shape to open the Format Shape task pane.
  3. On the Fill & Line tab, expand the Fill section and choose Picture or Texture Fill. (PowerPoint automatically fills the shape with the default texture and changes the name of the task pane to Format Picture.)
  4. Choose Clipboard
  5. If you want to remove the outline, choose Shape Outline> No Outline from the ribbon or from the Line section of the Format Picture task pane.

Use an abstract image as a slide background

To use an image as a slide background, display either the slide or the slide master. If you want to apply the background to all layouts, click the top, larger layout in the left pane of the slide master.

  1. Right-click an empty area of the slide or slide master and choose Format Background.
  2. In the Format Background dialog box, for the Fill category, choose Picture or Texture Fill.
  3. Choose Clipboard if you have the image on the clipboard or choose Insert> From a File, navigate to the file, and double-click the picture file that you want to use.

These options give you unlimited possibilities!

How do you use abstract images?

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Use materials and lighting for interesting fills

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You can fine tune the fills of your AutoShapes (Shapes, in 2007) by applying a variety of surface materials and lighting treatments. The differences are subtle but can impart a more professional result and create a realistic 3D look. PowerPoint 2007 has added many additional material and lighting settings. I’ve covered PowerPoint 2007 separately below.

For PowerPoint 2002/2003

In PowerPoint 2002 & 2003, you have a few options for changing the surface characteristics of an AutoShape by choosing one of 4 surfaces. You can also change the direction of the light and its brightness. These settings are all on the 3D Settings toolbar.

To start experimenting with these settings, follow these steps:

  1. Insert an AutoShape on a slide. Even better, insert several identical AutoShapes so that you can try out variations and compare them.
  2. Select one of the AutoShapes.
  3. Click the 3-D Style button on the Drawing toolbar.
  4. The 3-D Style menu pops up. For this exercise, choose the upper-left button, called 3-D Style 1. You need to choose a 3D style to use these features.

    5. the 3-D Style menu

    the 3-D Style menu

  5. Click 3-D Settings at the bottom to open the 3-D Settings toolbar.

    6. the 3-D Settings toolbar

    the 3-D Settings toolbar

  6. Click the Surface button to open the Surface menu.

    7. the Surface menu

    the Surface menu

  7. Choose the surface that you want:
    • Wire Frame: Doesn’t fill in the AutoShape, just showing the outlines
    • Matte: The default. Doesn’t show highlights
    • Plastic: Has slightly more highlights than Matte
    • Metal: Has the most highlights, but appears darkest
  8. Click the Lighting button on the 3-D Setttings toolbar.

    9. the Lighting button

    the Lighting button

  9. Choose a direction.
  10. Click the Lighting button again and choose Bright, Normal, or Dim.
  11. Apply the 3D, surface, and lighting effects to other AutoShapes.

Here are some results:

For PowerPoint 2007

PowerPoint 2007 has added to the number of options that you have for surface and lighting effects. Follow these steps:

  1. Insert a Shape on a slide. Even better, insert several identical AutoShapes so that you can try out variations and compare them.
  2. Select a Shape.
  3. Choose Drawing Tools Format tab>Shape Styles group >Dialog box launcher button (Format Shape dialog box)>3-D Rotation.
  4. Click the Presets drop-down list. Choose the Perspective Above rotation, or another rotation that you like. This is equivalent to choosing a 3-D Style in PowerPoint 2003.
  5. Click the 3-D Format category.

    6. the 3-D Format category

    the 3-D Format category

  6. In the Depth section, enter a depth for the object, to make it 3D. In this example, I set the depth to 11 points.
  7. In the Surface section, click the Material drop-down list, and choose a material. You can see that there are many more options than in PowerPoint 2003. Of special interest are the Special Effect and Translucent materials.

    8. the Surface section

    the Surface section

  8. Click the Lighting drop-down list and choose a lighting option. Note that lighting affects the entire slide, not just the selected object.

    9. Tip: For a description of the various materials and lights, click the ? at the top of the Format Shape dialog box.

  9. Try out other settings on other shapes, and then click Close.

This slide displays all of the materials, with assorted lighting settings.