Tutorials

Microsoft PowerPoint Tutorials

Using Color Schemes to Enhance Your Presentation

This tutorial explains how to add color schemes and background images to slides.

Adding Color Schemes

1. Select Format>Slide Color Scheme from the menu bar.
2. Click one of the preset color scheme thumbnail images in the Color schemes box. These schemes are based upon the design template you have chosen for your presentation. If you are working on a blank presentation, there are seven basic color schemes which are available for use with blank presentations.
   
   
   


3. Click the Preview button to see how the scheme will be applied to your presentation.
4. To make changes detailed changes to the color scheme, click the Custom tab on the dialog box.
   
   
   


5. You can change the colors of the slide elements by selecting the "color swatch" beside the name of the element and clicking the Change color button.
6. Highlight one of the colors from the Text and Line Color window or select the Custom tab to view more color choices. Click OK when finished.
   
   



7. When you have completed your selection for all colors, click Apply to All to apply the modified color scheme to all the slides in your presentation or you can click Apply to add the scheme to the current slide only.

Working with Slide Backgrounds

The following steps will show you how to add background colors and patterns to a slide:

1. Select Format>Background from the menu bar.
   
   
   
2. Next, select a color from the drop-down menu below the Background fillor you can select More Colors... for a larger selection of colors.
3. Select Fill Effects from the drop-down menu to add gradients, texture, patterns, or a picture to the background.
   
   
   


4. Gradient tab
   
   • Select One color if the color chosen will fade into the background and select the color from the Color 1 drop-down menu.
   • Choose Two colors if the gradient will use two colors and select those colors from the Color 1 and Color 2 drop-down menus.
   • Preset provides a selection of color combinations. Select one from the Preset colors drop-down menu.
   • Select the type of gradient from Shading styles.
   • Click one of the four Variants as presented.
     
   
   
   


5. Using the Texture Tab
   From the Texture window, select a repeating background by scrolling through the thumbnail images or click Other Texture... to select an image from a file located on your computer.
   
   
   
   
6. Understanding the Pattern Tab
   Select a two-tone pattern by clicking one of the pattern swatches and then selecting the Foreground and Background colors.
   
   
   
   
7. Working with the Picture Tab
   Click the Using the Picture button to choose a picture from a file. After the picture is selected, a preview and description will be shown in this window.
8. Click OK to apply the changes made from the Fill Effects windows.
9. Click Apply to All to add the changes to every slide or Apply to make changes only to the current slide.

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