How to Insert Graphics Into PowerPoint Presentations

A picture can provide more detail at a glance than a text description; it also adds visual oomph. PowerPoint 98/2000 provides an easy way to insert graphics into your presentations.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Microsoft Powerpoint

1. Open your PowerPoint presentation and select the slide you want to insert the graphic into.

2. Go to the Insert menu and select Picture, then select From File.

3. Navigate to a picture file on your hard disk.

4. Select the file and click Insert. The picture appears on the slide.

5. Resize the graphic by dragging one of the handles (hollow squares positioned around the outside edges of the graphic).

6. Position the graphic on the slide by dragging it to where you want it to appear.

7. Select the picture to display the Picture toolbar. Use the toolbar buttons to crop the picture, add a border and sharpen contrast.

Tips & Warnings

• PowerPoint accepts a wide range of graphics formats, but some of them are installed via optional file filters. If you can't import a particular file format, try going back to the PowerPoint installer and seeing if there's an included filter.
• To insert Microsoft-provided clip art, read the eHow "How to Insert Microsoft Clip Art Into a PowerPoint Presentation."
• To create your own line drawings, use the Drawing toolbar at the bottom of the PowerPoint window. (To display the toolbar if it's not present, open the View menu, choose Toolbars and check the Drawing toolbar.)
• Use the Text Box button on the Drawing toolbar to add a label to your picture. (Click the Text Box button, then drag to create a box on the slide, then click and type in the box.)

on 11/22/2005 If you have image editing software you should use that to resize your images before you insert them. If you shrink an image to the right size before you insert it you will have a smaller size Powerpoint file.