How to Adjust Image and Object Transparency in PowerPoint

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Use transparency to jazz up your PowerPoint presentations

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: August 4, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using Windows
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• Using Mac
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This wikiHow teaches you how to make a picture or object fully or partially transparent in a presentation slide in Microsoft PowerPoint, using Windows or Mac. The desktop versions of PowerPoint allow changing transparency, but the mobile and online versions don't have this feature.

Quick Steps

1. Open a PowerPoint presentation.
2. Select the image you want to change the transparency of.
3. Click the Format tab.
4. Click the Transparency option.
5. Select a transparency.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Windows

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1. 1
   Open a PowerPoint presentation on your computer. You can open a new slide show presentation or a saved document from your files.
2. 2
   Click the image or object you want to adjust the opacity of. It'll be surrounded by white boxes to indicate that it's selected.
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3. 3
   Click the Format tab on the toolbar. You can find this tab above the toolbar panel when the shape is selected.

   • Depending on the type of object you selected, the wording will vary slightly. You might see "Picture Format" instead, for example, if the object you want to make transparent is a picture.
   • If the object is a shape or another element, right-click it and select "Format Shape."
4. 4
   Click Transparency (pictures only). It's in the Adjust category.

   • If you're editing a different element, like the slide background or a shape, skip this step.
5. 5
   Select a transparency level. If you don't want a picture to be opaque, drag the transparency slider on the right side of the window.

   • If you are adjusting a picture, click to select a transparency level. For more options, click Picture transparency options.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Mac

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1. 1
   Open a PowerPoint presentation on your computer. You can open a new slide show or a saved presentation file.
2. 2
   Select the picture or shape you want to make transparent. Just click on the picture or shape to select it.
3. 3
   Click the Picture Format or Shape Format tab. You can find this button on the tab bar above the toolbar panel at the top. It will open your formatting options.
4. 4
   Click Transparency on the formatting toolbar. This button looks like a picture icon with a dashed, vertical line in the middle. It will open a drop-down panel of your transparency options.
5. 5
   Click a transparency preset on the Transparency menu. This will instantly change your picture's transparency to the selected preset level.
6. 6
   Click Picture Transparency Options on the Transparency menu. You can find it at the bottom of the Transparency drop-down. This will open the picture formatting menu.
7. 7
   Find the Picture Transparency option on the formatting menu. If it's not extended, click the

   

   icon next to it, and expand your transparency tools.
8. 8
   Click and drag the Transparency slider. You can manually adjust the transparency level of the selected shape and picture in your presentation here.

   • Alternatively, you can type in a transparency percentage in the box or use the up and down arrows here.
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Tips

• This only applies to desktop clients, not the mobile apps for Android and iOS.
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• You can also use Google Slides to create slideshows for free.
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