How to Edit an Image in PowerPoint: The Complete Guide

PDF download Download Article
A step-by-step guide to editing images with basic PowerPoint tools
PDF download Download Article

If you thought that Microsoft PowerPoint was just for creating presentations, think again. You can use PowerPoint to edit the pictures you've added to your slides, just like any photo editor. PowerPoint makes it easy to add effects, change colors, add borders, crop, resize, and recolor images on the Picture Format tab. This wikiHow article teaches you how to use PowerPoint's picture editing tools to edit images in your presentation.

Quick Steps

  1. Click a picture in your presentation to select it.
  2. Click the Picture Format tab.
  3. Adjust brightness, color, and contrast.
  4. Select effects from the Artistic Effects menu.
  5. Add borders, adjust alignment, crop, resize, and more.
Section 1 of 7:

Cropping and Resizing

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you want to crop an image or make it larger or smaller, use the Crop and Resize tools in PowerPoint. The Picture Format tab appears at the top of PowerPoint when an image is selected. [1]
    • If you haven't added a picture to your slide yet, click the Insert tab and select Pictures to do so now.
  2. To crop, click the Crop icon at the upper-right corner, then drag the box around the image to the desired size. You can also click the menu beneath the Crop icon to see other cropping options, such as the ability to crop the image to a specific shape.
    Advertisement
  3. Also, when the image is selected, you'll see boxes for Height and Width on the Picture Format tab. The current size in inches appears in each box, and you can edit the boxes to make the image larger or smaller.
    4. Advertisement
Section 2 of 7:

Brightness, Contrast, and Color

PDF download Download Article
  1. The Picture Format tab, which is only visible when you click the image, has plenty of options for editing your picture's colors, brightness, and contrast.
    • If you haven't added a picture to your slide yet, click the Insert tab and select Pictures to do so now.
  2. Click the Corrections menu to find the brightness and contrast options. Choosing an option from the menu instantly applies the effect to the picture.
    • You'll also see Sharpness options here. If the image seems blurry, you can increase the sharpness. If it's too sharp, select one of the Softness options instead.
  3. Click the Color menu to find coloring options. Here you'll find multiple options for recoloring the image.
    4. Advertisement
Section 3 of 7:

Artistic Effects

PDF download Download Article
  1. PowerPoint's "Artistic Effects," which you'll see on the Picture Format tab, allows you to select from various stylized filters.
    • If you haven't added a picture to your slide yet, click the Insert tab and select Pictures to do so now.
  2. To see how your image will look with an artistic effect, just hover your mouse cursor over an effect. When you find an effect you like, click to apply it to your picture.
  3. There are two places to find fun effects for your photos. Click Artistic Effects to find fun effects to change the lines in the photo, or Picture Effects for more 3D-type effects like drop-shadow, bevel, and glow.
  4. You can then use the tools in the right sidebar to tweak the selected effect or create your own.
    5. Advertisement
Section 4 of 7:

Backgrounds and Transparency

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you want to adjust the opacity of the image or give it a transparent background, you'll find the options for doing so on PowerPoint's Picture Format tab. The tab is only visible when a picture is selected.
    • If you haven't added a picture to your slide yet, click the Insert tab and select Pictures to do so now.
  2. By default, adding a picture to a slide hides everything behind it. If you want to make the picture more translucent so you can see a bit of the background or objects behind it, click the Transparency menu and select an option.
  3. If the picture is of a subject on a background, you can remove the background. Just click Remove Background in the toolbar, mark the parts of the image you want to keep, then click Keep changes .
    4. Advertisement
Section 5 of 7:

Borders

PDF download Download Article
  1. To create a border around the picture in your slide, you can use the Borders options on the Picture Format tab. You'll see this tab at the top of PowerPoint when a picture is selected.
    • If you haven't added a picture to your slide yet, click the Insert tab and select Pictures to do so now.
  2. Click the Picture Border menu to add a border to the image. You can select a custom color, weight, and even a pattern to surround your picture.
    3. Advertisement
Section 6 of 7:

Arrangement and Positioning

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you've added multiple pictures and/or objects to a slide, you might need to move one to the front or back to make it visible. You can also rotate and align an image to fit properly with your text and other objects. These options are on the Picture Format tab, which you'll see at the top of PowerPoint when an image is selected.
    • If you haven't added a picture to your slide yet, click the Insert tab and select Pictures to do so now.
  2. To bring the selected object forward, just click Bring Forward , or click the menu and select Bring to Front to bring it all the way to the front. Send Backward works the same, but moves the selected image or object behind the object it's in front of.
    • To change the arrangement of a different picture or object, select it, then use the same tools.
    • Click Selection Pane to see a list of all objects and pictures on the slide.
  3. Here you can center the picture, flush it left or right, or even align it to the top, middle, or bottom of the slide.
  4. If the picture is upside-down or facing the wrong direction, use the Rotate menu to change its position.
    5. Advertisement
Section 7 of 7:

Adding Text and Shapes

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you want to add text, objects, or a drawing to an image, you can do so from the Insert tab.
    • If you haven't added a picture to your slide yet, click the Insert tab and select Pictures to do so now.
  2. Click Text Box , then draw a text box on the part of the image where you want the text to appear. Type your text—you can then change how the text looks by selecting it and choosing options from the text formatting menu that appears.
  3. Click Shapes to draw circles, squares, and other shapes anywhere on the picture.
    4. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    I need to change/edit an existing picture. Is this possible without the original?
    Community Answer
    Yes. If you double-click on the picture in your PowerPoint, an option to "crop" the photo should pop up. Click on this and move the edges around to change the borders and cut out parts of the picture.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 2
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • If the file size of your presentation is too large, try compressing larger images in PowerPoint to make the file smaller . To do this, select an image on a slide, click the Picture Format menu, and click Compress Pictures . You can then opt to compress only the selected picture or all pictures in the presentation.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Other Microsoft 365/Office products like Microsoft Word also have the same Picture Format tab.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Add Background Graphics to Powerpoint
      How to
      Create Flash Cards in PowerPoint
      How to
      Make a PowerPoint Template
      Simple Steps to Make a PowerPoint Presentation
      How to
      Cite Images in PowerPoint
      How to
      Open a PPTX File on iPhone or iPad
      How to
      Insert Slide Numbers in PowerPoint
      How to
      Fix a Corrupted PowerPoint PPTX File
      Easy Steps to Add a Header & Footer in PowerPoint
      2 Simple Ways to Move or Delete a Slide in PowerPoint
      2 Easy Ways to Change the Background on PowerPoint Slides
      How to
      Add Images to a PowerPoint Presentation
      How to
      Open a PPT File on PC or Mac
      How to
      Save a PowerPoint Presentation on a Thumbdrive
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/change-the-brightness-contrast-or-sharpness-of-a-picture-48f8f54b-3db7-4652-8928-9ace995240c7

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 92,629 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement