How to add a background to a slide in Powtoon

How to add a background to a slide in Powtoon

By default, if you have not chosen a template, the background of a slide in Powtoon Studio is blank. Powtoon gives you six ways to add a background to any slide. You can apply the background to one slide or to every slide in your Powtoon.

In this article:

• Uploading a background
• Picking a background color
• Using a background from your media collection
• Using an image for a background
• Using a video as a background
• Using a ready-made background

Uploading a background

Use this method to upload a background image file from your computer or a connected cloud service.

1. Select the slide you want to add a background to.
2. Open the Background tab in the left panel, then select Upload your background.
3. Choose one of the following upload sources:
   • Click Upload to select a file from your computer.
   • Click Fiverr to open the Fiverr site, where you can hire a designer to create a custom background.
   • Click one of the social media or cloud storage icons to import from Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox, Google Drive, or Google Photos.

The uploaded background is applied to the slide and saved to My Media, your personal media library, so you can reuse it in future Powtoons.

Picking a background color

Use this method to fill a slide with a single solid color.

1. Select the slide you want to apply a color to.
2. Open the Background tab, then select Pick a background color.
3. Select a color from the Basic Colors palette. The color is applied to the slide immediately.

Using a background from your media collection

My Media contains every file you have uploaded to Powtoon and every media item you have used in a previous Powtoon. Use this method to reuse any of those assets as a background.

1. Select the slide you want to add a background to.
2. Open the Background tab, then select My Media.
3. Select the image you want to use as the slide background. It is applied immediately.

Using an image for a background

Use this method to search Powtoon's built-in image libraries and set any result as a slide background.

1. Open your Powtoon in Powtoon Studio and confirm you are working in Create mode.
2. Navigate to the slide you want to add a background to.
3. Select the Images tab in the left panel.
4. Use the search bar or browse one of the available libraries to find an image:
   • Premium Images — stock images from leading image providers.
   • Flickr — free images covering a wide range of subjects.
5. Scroll through the results. Hover over any thumbnail to preview a larger version.
6. Select the image you want. It is added to the stage as a standard image element.
7. Right-click the image on the stage, then click Set as background. The image expands to fill the entire slide.

Note: You can also set an image as a background by clicking the checkered icon that appears in the image thumbnail preview before you place it on the stage.

Note: Flickr images are not available to subscribers on classroom plans.

Using a video as a background

To use a video as a slide background, follow the steps in Adding a video to your Powtoon.

Using a ready-made background

Powtoon includes a library of ready-made backgrounds organized into categories. Use this method to browse and apply one directly.

1. Select the slide you want to apply a ready-made background to.
2. Open the Background tab, then browse the available categories: Locations, Color Backgrounds, Abstract Backgrounds, and Image Backgrounds.
3. Select the background you want. It is applied to the slide immediately.