Hidden in Google Slides are graphic design tools that give your presentation and yearbook a professional look. One of those tools is Format options.
Open Format Options
- Click on an object (textbox, Word Art, or image).
- A new menu that says Format options will appear. Click on it.
- A new sidebar will appear.
An object can be a textbook, Word Art, shape, line, or image. Format options allows you to Size the object, change its Rotation, give the object a precise Position, add a Drop shadow, or include a Reflection. If the object is an image, two are options are available: Recolor and Adjustments.
Images and shapes have two additional options. In addition to Size & Rotation, Position, Drop Shadow, and Reflection, images and shapes can be recolored (think basic filter) or the brightness/transparency/contrast can be adjusted.
Always, always, ALWAYS resize yearbook photos using Lock aspect ratio before changing the width or height of the image!!!
Aspect Ratio
- Select the image.
- Click Format options.
- Select Size & Rotation.
- Check Lock aspect ratio.
- Change either the width or the height.
Why use Lock aspect ratio?
Google Slides has come a long way since I began this project in December 2016. Back then, we used shortcuts to resize an image. A few years ago, Google added the Format options sidebar.
Do you see how the image still looks good after it is resized WITH Lock aspect ratio?
The photo in the example was taken by Ben Mullins on Unsplash.
Too many times, in fact just yesterday, students manually resized images and accidently distorted the image. The poor person then either looks either elongated or flatten.
Updated September 24, 2022