How to make a custom background for the PowerPoint slide

To create a slide like the one above, do the following:

   1.   Add some shapes to the zone with text and group them (see How to create simple picture designs for PowerPoint slides), for example:

   2.   Right-click on the grouped shapes and choose Format Shape... in the popup menu:

   3.   On the Format Shape pane, on the Shape Options tab, in the Fill & Line group:

• In the Fill section, choose Solid fill and then select Color and Transparency as you prefer:
  
• In the Line section, select No line:
  

In this example, the group of shapes looks like:

   4.   To add a background picture, do one of the following:

• Right-click on any empty space in the slide and choose Format Background... in the popup menu:
  
• In the Design tab, in the Customize group, click the Format Background button:
  

   5.   On the Format Background pane, in the Fill & Line group, in the Fill section:

• Select Picture or texture fill,
• Click the Insert... button:
  
• In the Insert Pictures dialog box, choose the picture location, select the picture file, and then click Open or Insert:

Add any other adjustments you would like.

See also this tip in French: Comment créer un arrière-plan personnalisé pour la diapositive PowerPoint.