How to Place a Picture Inside a PowerPoint Shape

Enhance your presentation with this PowerPoint trick

What to Know

  • Open a PowerPoint slide. Go to Insert > Shapes and choose a shape. Drag over an area of the slide to place the shape.
  • Select the shape. Go to Drawing Tools Format > Shape Fill > Picture > From a File.
  • Chose an image file. Select Insert to place it in the shape.

This article explains how to position a shape on a PowerPoint slide and then fill it with an image. These instructions apply to PowerPoint 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and PowerPoint for Microsoft 365.

Enhance the Appeal of a PowerPoint Shape With a Picture

PowerPoint is all about the visual presentation of information. You can place a photograph or clipart image inside a shape on a slide to drive home a point to your audience.

Enhance your slide with a PowerPoint shape. Better yet, place a picture of your product inside that same shape. Here's how:

  1. Open a new or existing PowerPoint presentation.

  2. Select the slide where you want to insert the shape.

  3. Go to Insert.

  4. In the Illustrations group, select Shapes. This reveals a drop-down list of the available shapes.

  5. Choose the shape that fits your needs.

  6. Drag over the section of the slide where you want to place the shape.

    If you want to use a different shape, change it. Select the shape, go to Drawing Tools Format, select Edit Shape > Change Shape, and choose a different shape to replace the existing shape.

  7. Select the shape.

    PowerPoint shape on a slide
  8. Go to Drawing Tools Format.

  9. Select Shape Fill to reveal a drop-down list of options.

  10. Chose Picture. The Insert Pictures dialog box opens.

    Picture Fill in PowerPoint
  11. Choose one of the following:

    • From a File to insert a picture stored on your computer.
    • Online Pictures to find an image online to use.
    • From Icons to insert an image from the icon gallery.
    Insert Pictures in PowerPoint
  12. Navigate to or search for the picture you want to use, choose it, and select Insert. The image is inserted into the shape.

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