Google Slides is an easy tool for making presentations online through Google Chrome or offline with one of thebest 2-in-1 Chromebooksfor productivity. It’s packed with tools and features likeautoplaying presentationsthat can turn boring slides into eye-catching presentations, but some are not easily found.
This guide helps you add transparency to images and shapes in Google Slides for browsers and the Google Slides Android and iOS app. Making an image transparent adds depth or subtle backgrounds to your slides. We show you how to add and change transparency to uploaded images or shapes from Google Slides.
Changing image opacity in Google Slides
You must insert an image in Google Slides to follow these steps. If you want to add transparency to a shape or text box in Google Slides, skip to the next section, as adding transparency to shapes is not the same.
Add transparency to an image in the Google Slides web app
Follow this section if you use Google Slides through a web browser or a Chromebook.
Transparency automatically changes as you adjust the slider, and you can see the transparency change in real time.
Add transparency to an image in the Google Slides mobile app
You can follow the steps for the Google Slides mobile app whether you have the Android or iOS apps, as they are identical for this feature.
How to add transparency to a shape in Google Slides
The fill color and the border color of a shape in Google Slides can be customized separately. This includes transparency, so you can turn the fill transparent, leaving the border showing. You can also make the border transparent, but this has the same effect as making it the same color as the fill.
There isn’t an opacity slider for shapes. If you don’t want an image to be completely transparent, add a gradient.
Text boxes have a transparent background by default, but if you change the background color and want to change it back, follow these steps.
Add transparency to a shape in the Google Slides web app
Add transparency to a shape in the Google Slides mobile app
Tips for adding transparency to an image in Google Slides
Adding transparency to an image is simple, and you can follow these tips to make the most of this nifty feature.
How to add audio to your Google Slides presentation
Spice up your presentations with good audio
Layer transparent shapes on top of each other
Overlapping shapes with the same transparency settings on top of each other creates a gradient effect as the transparent effect is reduced with each layer. This is easier than recreating shapes and manually setting the transparency for each one.
Use transparent images as backgrounds for a cohesive presentation
You can use the same image as a background for every slide to create a slideshow with a cohesive theme. However, a normal image can be distracting. Set the transparency to a low level (around 40%) to overlay text and images without distracting your audience from the content of your presentation.
When editing your slideshow, set it to the back layer by right-clicking the image and selectingOrderandSend to backfrom the context window to ensure your background image doesn’t get in the way when adjusting other shapes or images.
Add a transparent-to-opaque gradient to a shape
If you want a shape to transition from transparent to opaque, choose thecustomoption from theGradientsection of theFill Coloroption. Here, you’re able to add a custom transition color. Click theplusbuttonto add a new color, and drag the transparency slider to the left to add a transparent start to your gradient. You cannot apply this effect to images.
Use a photo-editing app to make a section of an image transparent
Google Slides has limited photo-editing features. If you want to make a section of an image transparent, use a dedicated photo editing app like Photoshop or GIMP. If you’re unsure where to start in the complex world of photo-editing apps, our handy roundup of thebest photo-editing appshelps you find a suitable one.
Use all of Google Slides tools to create beautiful presentations
Google Slides' features may look limited at first glance, but exploring the possibilities of tools like the transparency editor can help you make stunning slideshows. However, mastering these tools takes time. If you need to whip up a presentation in a hurry, explore thebest templates in Google Slides. These templates are suitable for school, work, or personal use.
