Format the slide background with color On the ribbon, select the Design tab. At the far-right end, select Format Background. The Format Background pane opens on the right side of the window. Under Fill, select Solid fill, Gradient fill, or Pattern fill. Select a color and other accompanying options, as applicable.

Right-click the margin of the slide and then select Format Background. In the Format Background pane, choose Picture or texture fill. Under Insert picture from, choose where to get the picture from: To adjust the picture's relative lightness, slide the Transparency bar to the right.