Insert graphic for PowerPoint background, then fade image

[Guest]

I would like to create a new background by inserting a company logo and
fading the image so text can be easily seen on the screen. How do I do that?

 

[Troy @ TLC]

I am not certain I understand what you are looking to accomplish, but here
is what I believe you are looking to do:

Option 1:
- In photoshop or other image editing program go into the
brightness/contrast, curves, or similiar tool and create a muted version of
the background graphic (enough so text will be legible on top of it). Save
out with a unique name.
- Make this image the background on the master slide.
- Insert the "full strength" version of the image onto the needed slide and
give it a FADE OUT animation.
- This should give the visual of the photo fading from a full image to a
muted image with the presentation content on it.

Option 2:
- Make the 'full strength' image the background on the Master Slide.
- Add a white rectangle autoshape that covers the entire slide.
- Go to the paint bucket and More Colors and set the white rectangle to 60%
opacity (experiment to find the best level).
- This will make the image appear muted so presentation content will be
visible.
- For the transition effect, insert the full strength image onto the needed
slide, apply a FADE OUT animation to go from full strength to muted.

 

[ZenMarketing]

1) Place the background image
2) Copy/paste that same image again; change this new top layer to grey scale or washout, using the format tools within Powerpoint
3) Select your desired animation and timing for both backgrounds
4) Adjust delay for grey scale layer and time it to open with the colored layer, just later
5) add your text on the top layer, select your desired animation and timing

The colored background will appear, be replaced by the greyscale or washed out image, and the text will then appear on top.