Web Development: How to Add Color Gradient Fill to PowerPoint Backgrounds

How to Add Color Gradient Fill to PowerPoint Backgrounds

Do you want to add subtle color to your presentation? A gradient PowerPoint background is a good choice.

Gradients add depth to your background without distracting the audience from the main information. Knowing how to change the background of your slide is useful knowledge.

In this article, we’ll cover what a PPT gradient background is. Also, how to add a gradient background to your slide and how to add a gradient arrow to your slide.

What Is a PPT Gradient Background?

Gradient backgrounds are color transitions that gradually blend from one color to another color. They're not limited to two shades.

This premium gradient PowerPoint template is from Envato Elements.

Gradients can be bold or subtle depending on how the gradient is designed. They add depth to a background and add life to it without distracting the audience.

Many PowerPoint templates have gradient fill backgrounds built in. Starting with one of these templates can give you a head start. Or read the tutorial below to create your own PowerPoint gradient background for a slide.

How to Add Color Gradients to PowerPoint Backgrounds

Here's how to create a gradient background to a PowerPoint slide:

1. Use a Template

Hermosa is a premium gradient PowerPoint template from Envato Elements.

We’ll use the Hermosa Aesthetic Blue Background PowerPoint premium template in this tutorial. This template is a multipurpose presentation that can be used for business or personal purposes.

This template comes with 30 unique slides to which you can add your information. Plus, it comes with image placeholders that you can easily add your images into.

2. Open a Blank Slide

When you use a premium gradient PowerPoint template, it makes it easy because you start with a gradient background.

But you can add your own gradient background if you want something different. To add a PPT (PowerPoint) gradient background, let’s start with a blank slide.

To add a blank slide, click on the Insert tab. Next, click on the arrow next to the New Slide button. When you click on the arrow, a menu appears. Choose the Blank option.

3. Design Your Gradient

First, click on the Design tab to apply a gradient as the background color on PowerPoint. Next, click on the Format Background button in the toolbar. A side panel appears.

Under the Fill section in the side panel, click on the Gradient Fill option. Next, click on the Color button to choose what color you want your gradient to be.

4. Format Your PowerPoint Gradient Background

Format the Background. — Format the background.

You can adjust your PPT gradient background in the Format Background side panel. In the Type field, you can choose what type of gradient background you want.

For example, you can choose from:

Linear
Radial
Rectangular
Path
Shade from Title

In the Direction field, choose your gradient's direction. In the Gradient Stops field, choose where the transition from one color to another will be.

How to Create Gradient Shapes

If you want to be a little more creative with your gradients, you can use them in various shapes. As an example of a shape gradient, here's how to apply a gradient to a shape in PowerPoint:

1. Create Your Shape

In this tutorial, we’ll create a gradient arrow. First, click on the Insert tab above the toolbar.

Next, in the toolbar, click on the Shapes button. A Shapes menu appears.

In the menu, there's a Block Arrows section. Choose a block arrow option to add an arrow shape to your slide. Drag your cursor across the slide to add your selected arrow type.

2. Add a Gradient to Your Shape

To make the shape gradient, start by selecting your shape. Next, click on the Shape Format tab.

In the toolbar, click on the Format Pane button. Finally, in the Fill section, click on the Gradient Fill option.

3. Change the Gradient Color of Your Shape

We need the PPT gradient arrow to stand out. To do that, we need to change the color.

To change the color, click the Color button that looks like a paint bucket in the Color section of the side panel. When you click on that button, a color palette appears. Choose the color that you want from the menu.

The Top Source for Gradient PowerPoint Templates

Envato Elements is an excellent source for premium gradient PowerPoint Templates. It's a subscription service where you pay a monthly fee to become a subscriber. Once you subscribe, you gain access to these digital assets:

premium gradient PowerPoint templates
fonts
high-quality images
and more

When you use a premium template, you save time because you are starting with a well-made base. After downloading a template, you only need to add your text and images.

Gradient PowerPoint Templates

Just because you're using a premium template doesn’t mean you can’t customize it. A good premium template is easily customizable.

Find More Colorful and Creative PowerPoint Templates

Whatever you plan to do with PowerPoint, you'll want to start with a good template. Here's a listing of some of our most creative and colorful PowerPoint templates:

Frequently Asked PowerPoint Questions (FAQ)

You've just discovered how to create and use PowerPoint gradients. But there's a lot more to learn about PowerPoint. Here are some frequently asked PowerPoint questions and their answers:

1. How Do I Password Protect My PowerPoint file?

You may want to password-protect your presentation file if you're presenting sensitive information. PowerPoint makes it easy to protect your presentation. All you need to do is go to File and then Protect Presentation.

Remember to keep your password safe because if you lose it, you may lose access to the file forever.

Here’s a tutorial on how to password-protect your presentation file:

How to Password Protect PowerPoint PPTs in 60 Seconds

Andrew Childress

21 Sep 2017

2. What Are Some Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac?

Here's a quick list of some of the most common shortcuts:

To open a new PowerPoint presentation, press Command+N.
To save your PowerPoint presentation, press Command+S.
To open the Save as option, press Command+Shift+S.
To undo an action, press Command+Z.
To redo an action, press Command+Y.

3. Can I Present My PowerPoint Presentation Online?

If you've got OneDrive, sharing your presentation online is easy. If you don’t have OneDrive, you can create a presentation link to embed your presentation file.

Also, there are free programs that you can use, such as SlideShare. For more information, read this article:

How to Share Your PowerPoint Presentation Online (For Free)

Andrew Childress

22 Aug 2022

4. How Can I Customize My Slide Layout?

To make changes to your presentation layout as a whole, the Slide Master tool in PowerPoint makes it easy. When you change one slide, it'll make changes to all of the corresponding slides.

Learn more in this detailed tutorial:

How to Use and Edit PowerPoint PPT Master Slides

Sarah Joy

26 Oct 2022

5. What Is a Placeholder in PowerPoint?

Often you’ll find placeholders in templates. The purpose of placeholders is so that you know where to add images or text to the design of the slide. Some placeholders can make it easier to add images to your presentation.

For more information, read this helpful article:

What Is a Placeholder in PowerPoint? & How to Use Them

Sarah Joy

12 Feb 2023

Learn More About Using PowerPoint

Whether you're just starting out on PowerPoint, or have years of experience, there's always more to learn. Here are some of our best PowerPoint tutorials: