# Changing the Slide Background Fill

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backgrounds; changing
slide masters; changing backgrounds
slides;changing backgrounds
Changing the Slide Background Fill
You can change the background color or the background fill of the current slide or all of the slides in your document. For a background fill, you can use hatching, a gradient, or a bitmap image.
If you want to change the background fill for all of the slides, choose View - Master - Slide Master. To change the background fill of a single slide, choose View - Normal.
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Click Set Background Picture for Slide in the context menu of a slide in Normal view to select a bitmap file. This file is used as a background picture.
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To use a color, gradient, or hatching pattern for the slide background
- Choose Format - Page, and then click on the Background tab.
- In the Fill area, do one of the following:
  Select Color, and then click a color in the list.
  Select Gradient, and then click a gradient style in the list.
  Select Hatching, and then click a hatching style in the list.
- Click OK.
To use an image for the slide background
You can display an entire image as a slide background, or you can tile the image to produce a patterned background.
- Choose Format - Page, and then click on the Background tab.
- In the Fill area, select Bitmap, and then click an image in the list.
  If you want to use a custom image for the slide background, close the Page Setup dialog, and then choose Format - Area. Click the Bitmaps tab, and then click Import. Locate the image you want to import and click Open. When you return to the Background tab, the image you imported will be in the Bitmap list.
- Do one of the following:
  To display the entire image as the background, clear the Tile check box in the Position area, and then select AutoFit.
  To tile the image on the background, select Tile, and set the Size, Position, and Offset options for the image.
- Click OK.
This modification is only valid for the current presentation document.
To save a new slide master as a template
- Choose View - Master - Slide Master to change to the slide master.
- Choose Format - Page to change the slide background, or choose other formatting commands. Objects that you add here will be visible on all slides that are based on this slide master.
- Choose View - Normal to close the master view.
- Choose File - Templates - Save to save the document as a template.
- Enter a name for the template. Do not change the category from "My Templates". Click OK.
Now you can use the Presentation Wizard to open a new presentation based on your new template.