In this article, we will see how to insert a picture in PowerPoint Auto Shapes and the benefits of doing so. By inserting a picture into an Auto Shape you can manipulate it in ways that are not normally possible in PowerPoint.
You can insert a picture into an Auto Shape and make it look like you cropped the image in different shapes. Here are some simple examples:
We will see how you can insert pictures and the different ways to manipulate pictures in an interesting way.
First create an auto shape from the shapes menu.
After selecting the shape, go to ‘Shape fill’ > Picture.
You will get options to insert a picture either from a file on your computer or from an online source as shown below:
Select a source and a picture and the result will be something like this:
There are three significant benefits to adding a picture to a shape.
Benefit 1: Adjust the transparency of the picture.
This allows you to blend two images like in Photoshop. Note that you can’t change the transparency of an image unless you insert it into an auto shape.
Benefit 2. Use these auto shapes to serve as picture placeholders.
This helps you plan your slide layout easily. You can replace the picture by changing the picture fill even after applying animation to the auto shape with picture fill. The animation will still be retained. This unique feature allows you to create useful slide templates like the following:
Benefit 3 : Use the auto shapes for consistency in pictures
When you use multiple images in a presentation, each image tends to be of a different size and shape. To ensure that all images look consistent, we use the autoshape fill option. This ensures that every image is of the same size when replaced within the autoshape. This is the 3rd benefit – it allows for images to be consistent across your presentation.
These are some of the ways you benefit by adding pictures to auto shapes in PowerPoint.
Example 1: Using Auto shapes to Show Picture as Puzzle
Example 2: Curved Image displayed in slide
The above curved image effect is created with Auto Shape. So, any image that replaces the existing one will take on the same curved effect.
Example 3: Images that blend in with text in a shape
In the above template as well, you can replace the existing placeholder images with any image of your own. They will take on the shape and effects of the existing one.
All the above examples are taken from the PowerPoint Essential Charts Pack.