Formatting a Background in Microsoft PowerPoint 2015 for Mac OS.

These directions will walk you through the steps in Formatting a Background using Microsoft PowerPoint 2015 for Mac.

If you have an earlier version of PowerPoint things may look different but you should still be able to complete the tasks. If not, look for a tutorial for that specific version online.

Let’s Get Started. . .

Go to Step 1. . .

Step 1: Open the Format Background sidebar

• Click the Design Tab

• Then click Format Background

OR

• Open the right-click menu

• Click Format Background

Open the Format Background sidebar and go to Step 2. . .

. . .This menu should now appear on the right side of your screen.

Step 2: Choose a texture for your poster’s background

• Click the Picture or texture fill option in the Format Background sidebar.

Go to Next Step. . .

. . .This is the default texture background. This is what your background should look like now.

Done! Your background is now formatted. You can start adding stuff like text boxes.

Try some different options. . .

Optional Step: Be Creative!Try playing around with the different editing tools in the Format Background sidebar menu to make your unique poster. There really are an infinite number of ways to format a background.

Insert a Picture Solid Colors

Different Textures

Gradient Fill

Congratulations! You can now Format a Background in PowerPoint!

Inserting/Formatting Text Boxes in Microsoft PowerPoint 2015 for Mac OS.

These directions will walk you through the steps in Inserting a Text Box and show you how to Format them using Microsoft PowerPoint 2015 for Mac.

If you have an earlier version of PowerPoint things may look different but you should still be able to complete the tasks. If not, look for a tutorial for that specific version online.

Let’s Get Started. . .

Go to Step 1. . .

Note: You may already have stuff on your poster. We will use a plain white poster to make these instructions easier to see.

Step 1: Click the Text Box button

• Click the Insert Tab

• Then click the Text Box button

OR

• You can find the same button in the Home Tab.

An uppercase “A” inside a box should follow your cursor after you do this.

Select the Text Box function then Go to Step 2. . .

Step 2: Draw your text box and add text.

• After you have clicked the Text Box button, click and hold on any part of your poster, then drag until you have the box you want. It will look like this.

• Immediately after drawing your text box, begin typing your text. If you click elsewhere first, sometimes the text box will disappear. Just repeat Steps 1 & 2 if this happens. Type several lines of

random text then Go to Step 3. . .

Step 3: Change the dimensions of your Text Box.

• Click on the text you just typed so the text box outline appears with small squares at the corners and sides.

• Hover your cursor over the corner square so a double sided arrow appears.

• Click and hold the bottom right squarethen drag your text box into a shape you like.

Change the dimensions of your Text Box thenGo to Step 4. . .

Step 4: Create an Outline for your Text Box.

• Click on your text box so the small squares appear again (See Step 3).

• Click the Shape Format tab that appears.

• Click the down arrow on the Edit Shape button and select Change Shape.

• Choose Rounded Rectangle. Select an Outline Shape then

Go to Step 5. . .

Step 5: Finish your Textbox Outline.

• Immeditately after selecting the shape you want, click the down arrow on the Shape Outline button in the Shape Format tab. Select a color and your Outline will appear.

• Look at Weight and Dashes for more customizing options.

• Your text box should now look like this.

When your Outline is finished, Go to Step 6. . .

Step 6: Align the text in your Text Box.

• Click inside your text box then go to the Home tab. You will see the Text Alignment buttons.

• If you click the Center Text button, your text box will look like this.

• Click the Align Left button so that your text is aligned on the left side of your text box again.

Done! Try some different options. . .

Optional Step: Be Creative!

• You can use multiple text boxes to wrap text around images.

• You can move text boxes around to play with your design.

• Check out the Organizing Elements tutorial to learn how to arrange your poster’s different elements like text boxes, images, and charts.

Congratulations! You can now Insert and Format Text Boxes in PowerPoint!