Hide Background Images for Cleaner Printed PowerPoint Slides

Using a design template adds an attractive appeal to your presentation. The brightly colored templates are eye-catching and bring a professional air to your presentation. However, for printing purposes, the background graphics that look so good on screen hinder the readability of the slides on the handouts. A simple process suppresses the background graphics temporarily.

Remove Background Images in Printed Slides

Before printing your presentation slides, handouts, and notes, hide the background image to make it easier to read the printed pages.

1. Go to Design.

2. In the Customize group, select Format Background to display the Format Background pane.

3. In the Fill section, place a checkmark next to Hide Background Graphics. 

4. The background graphics disappear from each slide and the presentation can be printed without the background images. To toggle the background graphics back on, remove the checkmark next to Hide Background Graphics.

Print in Monochrome for Additional Clarity

Slides may be hard to read if you print them in a light color. Printing in grayscale or solid black shows only the text on a white background. This setting makes the slides easy to read and all the important content is still present.

To make this change, go to File > Print and select Grayscale or Pure Black and White, instead of Color.