How to Fade a Picture or Part of a Picture in PowerPoint (Using a Gradient)

Fade an Image into the Background in PowerPoint

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated September 15, 2023

Applies to: Microsoft^® PowerPoint^® 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)

You can fade a picture in PowerPoint by drawing a rectangle shape on top of the picture and then filling the rectangle with a gradient from opaque to transparent. This technique is often used to fade an image into the background of a slide. Since the rectangle is placed on top of the image and then text may be placed on top of the rectangle, you may need to reorder the objects.

An easy way to change the stacking order of objects is to right-click an object and select Bring to Front or Send to Back from the drop-down menu.

Recommended article: How to Change Slide Background in PowerPoint

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A fade effect using a gradient fill or overlay is different from adding an animation to fade a picture in and out during a slide show.

In this article, we'll look at:

• How to fade a picture using a gradient
• Picture fade example with a black background
• Picture fade example with a white background
• Tips for using fade effects

In the following example, a picture has been placed on a slide with text. The user would like to fade the picture into the background. The background may be white or black or some other color. In the following examples, we'll simply use a white and a black background.

The slide below includes a picture and two text objects and the user would like to fade the image on the left:

Fade a picture using a gradient

To fade a picture, or part of a picture, using a gradient on a slide:

1. In Normal View, insert a picture on a slide. You can use the Insert Picture command on the Insert tab in the Ribbon or copy and paste the picture onto the slide.
2. Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon and select Shapes. A drop-down menu appears.
3. Select a rectangle and then drag the cursor over the picture to draw a rectangle.
4. Drag the handles of the rectangle to resize it.
5. Right-click the rectangle and select Format Shape. A task pane appears.
6. Click Fill & Line at the top of the task pane.
7. Click the arrow beside Line to expand it.
8. Click No line.
9. Click the arrow beside Fill to expand it.
10. Click Gradient Fill.
11. Choose Linear in the Type drop-down menu.
12. Select a Direction and Angle from the drop-down menus.
13. To add a gradient, click Add gradient stop beside the Gradient bar. To remove a gradient, click the stop and click Remove gradient stop beside the Gradient bar. You can drag the bars left or right to change their location or enter the Position percentage for a precise position.
14. Click a stop and select a color from the Color drop-down menu.
15. Change the stop position by entering a value for Position and change the transparency settings by dragging the slider.
16. Repeat for other stops.

The Format Shape task pane appears as follows with gradient stops:

Picture fade example with a black background

In the following example, a rectangle has been drawn ¾ of the size of the slide on top of the picture and a gradient has been applied to the shape:

For the selected rectangle, the Type is Linear, the Direction is Linear Left and the Angle is 180. The background of the slide is black.

The gradient stops have been set as follows:

Stop 1:
Color: Black
Position: 0%
Transparency: 100%

Stop 2:
Color: Black
Position: 33%
Transparency: 36%

Stop 3:
Color: Black
Position: 58%
Transparency: 0%

Stop 4:
Color: Black
Position: 100%
Transparency: 0%

The final slide appears as follows:

Picture fade example with a white background

In the following example, a rectangle has been drawn ¾ of the size of the slide on top of the picture and a gradient has been applied to the shape:

For the selected rectangle, the Type is Linear, the Direction is Linear Left and the Angle is 180. The background of the slide is white.

The gradient stops have been set as follows:

Stop 1:
Color: White
Position: 0%
Transparency: 100%

Stop 2:
Color: White
Position: 19%
Transparency: 62%

Stop 3:
Color: White
Position: 35%
Transparency: 21%

Stop 4:
Color: White
Position: 58%
Transparency: 0%

Stop 5:
Color: White
Position: 100%
Transparency: 0%

The final slide appears as follows:

You can experiment with colors, position and transparency settings to get the result you want.

Tips for using fade effects

When applying a gradient fade effect to a picture in PowerPoint, consider the following:

• You will get very different results based on stop position, transparency and color settings.
• If you want the picture to blend into the background, the stop points must use the exact background color.
• If you have a version that supports PowerPoint Designer, the Designer can create similar designs but they can be difficult to replicate (and select objects).
• PowerPoint Designer does not create layouts so if you want a layout with a gradient, you'll need to create it yourself.
• If you create the gradient shapes yourself, you can keep an asset file with gradient shapes to copy and paste into other presentations.

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