You might be familiar with this: You've painstakingly designed your slides and selected suitable icons, and then you just want to change the background image. Suddenly, nothing looks right anymore, and your slides look hopelessly cluttered.
In this article, we will introduce you to an image editing effect from PowerPoint that will allow you to quickly make your slide content stand out again.
Blurring images in PowerPoint: What is it?
The "blur images" function in PowerPoint simply means making images appear slightly less sharp . This is a popular design element and can be used in a variety of ways.
Especially in the background of your slides, soft-focus images are characterized by distinctive color palettes, which can create a visually exciting background . Example:
How to blur images in PowerPoint!
- First, open your PowerPoint presentation and select the image you want to edit with a click.
- Then, go to the "Image Format" option, select the "Adjust" button, and then "Artistic Effects".
- Now select the "Blur" effect from the selection offered in the drop-down menu.
- Clicking on "Artistic Effects Options" opens a menu on the right. Using the "Radius" slider, you can then select how strongly or weakly you want to blur your image.
This effect isn't just for blurring background images; you can also edit other design elements. In the next paragraph, we'll show you what other effects you can achieve with PowerPoint's blur function.
#1: Saving blurry images
Although the function in question is called "blur," it can do more than just make images blurry. If you move the slider from right to left, the function becomes a tool for sharpening the color contrasts in your image . This way, even images that were initially somewhat blurry can be made clearer in no time.
#2: Soft focus as a transition
If you want to direct your audience's focus from one image to another during the presentation , there are options to design this using the blur function as well.
To do this, edit a copy of your original image using the blur tool. Leave both images on your slide and then place the edited image precisely over the original. Next, select your desired transition from the "Transitions" menu.
Now, when you click on your original image, PowerPoint creates a smooth transition to your blurred version. To your audience, this appears as if your original image has suddenly become blurry. This blurring pushes the original image into the background, allowing you to skillfully direct your audience's attention to another element on your slide.
You can find more ideas for visually appealing slide transitions in our blog article on "PowerPoint Morph".
Blurring images – the advantages
As previously explained, a blurred background is particularly useful when you want to emphasize certain elements on your slides. For example, text, but also elaborately designed icons can be highlighted this way.
Choose text and icon colors that harmonize with the colors of your background.
For more tips on how to design your background to highlight different design elements, see our blog article on "PowerPoint Background".
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Conclusion: Blurring images for exciting design effects
Whether for exciting slide transitions or to highlight elements on your slides, the "blur" effect in PowerPoint is versatile. Try our tips and transform your presentation into a real eye-catcher!
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