How to Make PowerPoint Slide Backgrounds In Photoshop (PPT Size/Format?)

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to set a PPT slide size in Photoshop. This helps you design supplemental graphics in Photoshop. You’ll also see the best premium templates (from Envato Elements) with the PPT slide size for Photoshop already set for you. 

 Let’s learn more! Now, let’s take a closer look at how Photoshop and PowerPoint work together to help you create the best PowerPoint backgrounds.

Photoshop and PowerPoint: Two Apps, Better Together

On their own, Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft PowerPoint are powerful apps. But use them together, and you’re sure to benefit.

PowerPoint is all about ease-of-use. Photoshop gives you every graphic design tool you could need. Use them together to bring highly advanced graphics to presentations.

As you can see in the tutorial below, visual presentations are more important than ever. That means you need tools like Photoshop to bolster your presentation.

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  How to Tell Effective Visual Stories in Your PowerPoint Presentations (+Video)

  

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Here are a few questions that you may face when you start working with the two apps together: 

• What’s the size of a PowerPoint slide for Photoshop?
• What size is a Photoshop PowerPoint template?
• What’s the correct PowerPoint size for backgrounds?
• What are PowerPoint dimensions: pixels, inches? 
• How do you set your Photoshop document to match your PowerPoint presentation?
• What PowerPoint size should I use? 16:9? 4:3?

These are also the questions that we’ll answer in this tutorial. Keep reading to find out more.

PowerPoint Dimensions: Pixels, Inches, or Ratios?

So, what’s the deal with PPT slide size? Photoshop works very differently. Here’s some quick facts to help you sort out your PowerPoint slide size, for Photoshop or any other work environment.

• As of 2023, default PowerPoint files have a 16:9 ratio. This is called “Widescreen” within the software.
• This means you can take these PowerPoint dimensions to Photoshop or elsewhere and convert them to pixels or any other metric.
• You can also have your PowerPoint background size at a 4:3 ratio. This is called “Standard” within the software.
• You can also have a Custom Slide size in PowerPoint.

Let’s explore how to choose and check that size together.

How to Choose and Check Your PowerPoint Document Size

Veteran graphic designers know that document size is critical. Setting the size of a PowerPoint slide for Photoshop is a must to avoid redesigning. You don’t want your Photoshop PowerPoint template to be the wrong size! If you don’t have the right PowerPoint slide size, Photoshop isn’t going to have that info for you.

If you’re accustomed to working in Photoshop, you probably think in terms of pixels. The challenge is that Microsoft PowerPoint’s default unit of measure is inches. Setting the size of a PowerPoint slide for Photoshop requires converting the units.

To see your PowerPoint document size, go to the Design tab on PowerPoint’s ribbon. Then click on the Slide Size drop-down. Finally, choose Custom Slide Size. 

On the pop-up window, you can see the default options shown in inches. Type in the Width and Height boxes to change the presentation dimensions.

The size of a PowerPoint slide for Photoshop depends upon these options. Check these dimensions, then use the section below to convert the units.

The most critical choice you can make is between widescreen and standard. This choice changes the ratio of width versus height. Choose from a wide selection of presets tailored to standard sizes.

Checking your PPT slide size for Photoshop is essential to designing graphics and assets for your presentation. Make your Slide Size your first check before you start working in Adobe Photoshop.

How to Convert Your PowerPoint Document Size From Inches to Pixels

To set your PPT slide size for Photoshop, you’ve got two options:

• Set your Photoshop preferences to use inches instead of pixels
• Calculate your PowerPoint presentation’s size in pixels and input those dimensions

For our first example, let’s assume that we want to find the pixel dimensions of a PowerPoint document. PowerPoint doesn’t use pixels, so we’ll need to convert inches to pixels.

It helps to know that PowerPoint assumes a 96 dpi screen resolution. If you take the slide size in inches and divide it by the dots per inch, you’ll arrive at the pixel dimensions.

Here’s an example calculation:

13.333 inches wide / 96 dpi = 1280 pixels

Then, you can repeat the same math for the other side of your PowerPoint presentation:

7.5 inches wide / 96 dpi = 800 pixels

If your PowerPoint slide is already set up, pixel dimensions are helpful to know. Use your pixel dimensions to create a corresponding document in Photoshop.

Struggling with the math? Check out the Ninjaunits online tool. Make sure to set the “scanner DPI” dropdown to 96 dpi. Then, type in the pixel dimensions and convert to inches.

Learn more about PowerPoint slide sizes in our guide below. It covers even more on PowerPoint slide dimensions. Photoshop PowerPoint template designers will want to check this out.

• 

  What Are the Right Dimensions (Size) for Your PowerPoint PPT Slides? (+ Video)

  

  Andrew Childress

  28 Mar 2022

Another Option: Change Your Photoshop Default Unit of Measure

Another option is to set Photoshop to work in PowerPoint’s units, inches. With a simple change to the preferences, you can work directly in inches.

In Adobe Photoshop, go to the Preferences > Units & Rulers option to set the default unit in the app.

On the Preferences window, find the section labeled Units. Change the drop-down section labeled Rulers from Pixels to Inches. 

Don’t forget to set the Screen Resolution to 96 pixels/inch to match PowerPoint’s defaults. Now, all Photoshop’s menus and dialogues will use inches as the default unit.

Changing your units means that you never have to convert. This helps you design PowerPoint backgrounds with the perfect size. Set Photoshop to Inches if PowerPoint and printed products are your primary output.

One More Option: Set Your PowerPoint Presentation to Pixel Size

Believe it or not, you can set your PowerPoint presentation to a specific set of pixel dimensions. This approach is helpful if you’re starting with a Photoshop document that you need to migrate to PowerPoint. When it comes to PowerPoint dimensions, pixels are often more Photoshop friendly.

In PowerPoint, return to the Design > Slide Size > Custom Slide Size menu. In both the Width and Height boxes, you can type in pixel dimensions by typing a numeric value, like “2560 px.” The spacing and typing the unit in that exact format is important! Check out this example of PowerPoint background size, below.

Once you click outside of the boxes, PowerPoint automatically converts the units back to inches. But it sets those inches to the proper size based on 96 dpi. 

That’s it! Your PowerPoint presentation is now set to an exact pixel dimension. You can now design at PPT slide size in Photoshop.

Designing For PowerPoint in Photoshop

So far, you’ve seen several ways to achieve the same goal: creating perfectly sized graphics for Photoshop. To do this, you can change your size, app preferences, or dimensions. Any of these methods saves you from re-working and adjusting your Photoshop document to get the perfect PPT slide size for Photoshop work.

Setting the PowerPoint background size is one of the most important parts of creating your own Photoshop PowerPoint template. Use one of the techniques above (like converting your PowerPoint presentation to pixels). Let’s demonstrate how you might do this in Photoshop.

Step 1

With Photoshop open, create a new Photoshop document with the corresponding pixel dimensions. You can do so by going to File > New.

Then, open the Layers panel. We can do this by going to Window > Layers. Here’s a screenshot of what your workspace should look like:

Step 2

Next, let’s work with a fun and interesting graphic. I decided to use this abstract pattern from Envato Elements. You could use any graphic of your choice. 

Open your chosen graphic by going to File > Open, and then select the file from your computer. Photoshop opens it up. Once the file is open, go to Select > All to select the entire image.

Then, we can go to Edit > Copy to copy it. Return to your new document and go to Edit > Paste. This pastes the image onto a new layer. 

Here’s what the result should look like. In the Layers panel, you’ll see the image on a new layer on top of the background.

Step 3

However, your pasted image might not be positioned the way you’d like it, in your new document. Let’s work on that next.

Go to Edit > Free Transform. After you’ve done so, you’ll notice that your image has visible resize handles. With the Move tool selected (in the Tools panel), click and drag on any of the resize handles around the perimeter to resize the image. You can also use the Move tool to reposition your image. Just click and drag to do so!

Here’s a look at how I scaled and repositioned my image.

Step 4

When you’re creating PowerPoint backgrounds, you may want to tone down the graphics so that they aren’t distracting. 

For example, this pattern might be too intense for content to be overlayed on top of it. Let’s bring the opacity down so that it won’t interfere with content. We can do that from our Layers panel.

First, make sure that the image layer is selected. We know that it’s selected when it’s highlighted, like shown in the screenshot below. 

Then, click on the Opacity Slider, shown below, as well. We can click and drag to lower the opacity. You can also type in a specific number. I lowered the opacity to 65%.

Step 5

When you’re finished with your work it’s time to export it. Go to the File > Save As option to export the finished design. I recommend saving as JPG file. You can choose your file format where it says Format in the Save Dialog box.

Step 6

Finally, let’s return to PowerPoint. I typically drag-and-drop my graphics onto the slide to add it to a presentation. Since we already figured out the perfect PowerPoint dimensions in Photoshop, it’s a snap. It’s at the perfect PowerPoint size!

That’s it! The graphics are far better than anything you can create inside of PowerPoint, so it helps to use both apps.

Where to Source Perfectly Sized PPT Slides (With Unlimited Downloads)

For the savvy graphic designer, this tutorial features all the information you need to set the PPT slide size for Photoshop. PowerPoint background size isn’t quite as straight forward as you might think. It’s those PowerPoint slide dimensions in Photoshop that can change things. Your PowerPoint slide size for Photoshop depends on those ratios (like 16:9 or 4:3).

But maybe you’re looking for the fastest way to create a presentation. You’re on a time crunch with deadlines to meet, and you need help.

That’s the usefulness of Envato Elements, an all-you-can-download service for creatives. It features thousands of pre-built PowerPoint templates. They already have the PPT slide sizes set perfectly.

Explore PowerPoint Templates

Besides PowerPoint slides, you’ll also unlock Photoshop templates. Align these to the dimensions for a PowerPoint background for creative slides. And again, it’s all included for a single cost. Use these templates and never worry about the size of a PowerPoint slide for Photoshop! All the PowerPoint dimensions, Photoshop design elements, and other content is sorted out for you.

And, if you’re looking for even more PowerPoint template inspiration, check out these awesome collections:

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  35 Best PowerPoint Template Designs (For 2022 Presentations)

  

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  40 Awesome PowerPoint Templates (With Cool PPT Presentation Designs 2022)

  

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Learn More About Using Adobe Photoshop

Now that you’ve had a taste of working in Photoshop, how about digging into more? There’s a wealth of free Photoshop tutorials here on Envato Tuts+. Continue learning and take your presentations to the next level with even more Photoshop expertise. Check out these beginner friendly, free tutorials today:

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  What Is Photoshop?

  

  Nona Blackman

  09 Jul 2022

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  100+ Great Photoshop Tutorials for Clever Beginners

  

  Danny Outlaw

  15 Aug 2022

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  10 Essential Tools & Tips All Photoshop Beginners Should Learn

  

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  05 Sep 2017

Learn More About Using Microsoft PowerPoint

If you’re already an Adobe Photoshop master, maybe you want to build a similar skillset for PowerPoint. Both apps have a deep set of features, but also have a learning curve.

That’s why it helps to follow our guide to master Microsoft PowerPoint. Our resource, How to Use PowerPoint (Ultimate Tutorial Guide) is the single most comprehensive guide. It features beginner to master level tutorials.

The Ultimate Tutorial Guide is so deep that it helps to have a roadmap. Here are three beginner tutorials that we highly recommend:

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  How to Quickly Edit PPT Slide Background Graphics Using PowerPoint

  

  Andrew Childress

  10 Apr 2021

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  How to Add Text to PowerPoint & Make Amazing Text Effects (+Video)

  

  Andrew Childress

  26 Dec 2022

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  How to Make a Timeline in PowerPoint With Templates (w/Video)

  

  Andrew Childress

  23 Dec 2022

Use PowerPoint With Adobe Photoshop Today

Powerful apps are better when paired together. The perfect example is Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft PowerPoint. The advanced design features mesh well with PowerPoint’s ease-of-use. 

As you just saw, setting your PowerPoint document size to match your PPT slide size is important. Remember, templates from Envato Elements already have the size set.

Use PowerPoint and Photoshop together with the help of these tips. With this article, you’ll always use the proper PPT slide size for Photoshop. Download a pattern and start creating great PowerPoint backgrounds today.

Editor’s Note: This tutorial was originally published in 2019. It’s been comprehensively updated with help from Daisy Ein.