best background pictures for presentation

81 Impressive Free Presentation Backgrounds for Outstanding Presentations

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By Lyudmil Enchev

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4 years ago

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Update: May 19, 2022

A collection of free presentation backgrounds for any topic.

Nowadays, presentations need to look modern and eye-catchy in order to keep the audience’s attention from beginning to end. Believe it or not, the visual factor plays a huge role in engaging your viewers. In this collection of free presentation backgrounds , we’ve gathered high-quality graphics – ready to import into your PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Keynote presentations and resize according to your needs.

In this article you will find: Free Business Presentation Backgrounds Free Minimalist & Geometric Presentation Backgrounds Colorful Gradients & Artistic Free Presentation Backgrounds Free Technology Presentation Backgrounds Free Liquid Presentation Backgrounds Free Cute Presentation Backgrounds Free Vintage Presentation Backgrounds Free Paper Presentation Backgrounds Free Holiday Presentation Backgrounds Bonus Backgrounds

Do you want to check out The Best Presentation Software Options on The Market ?

Free Business Presentation Backgrounds

Business presentation backgrounds are slightly different than other types of backgrounds. Unlike more casual presentations, business presentations usually consist of a business-related stock photo – office space, formally dressed people, whiteboards, etc. Take a look at the backgrounds we’ve collected for your company presentation:

1. Blurred Office Interior Background

Blurred light photographs are great for business presentations where they can fit in any slide.

2. Light Corporate Interior Background

This blurred hallway interior image can ideally match a professional presentation.

3. Person Writing on Laptop Background

Workstation backgrounds complete your idea if they don’t distract. In this case, the person working on a laptop is positioned in the corner of the frame.

4. Modern Business Building Background

This background might be an amazing first slide. But even if used somewhere else, it will still do a great job, unless used in all slides.

5. Business Handshake Network Creation Background

An amazing background for corporate presentations that is perfect for teamwork, business communication, partners, or proposals slides.

6. Businessman in Office Modern Skyscraper Landscape Background

This background, although made as a photograph, can actually help you achieve the formal vibe you are looking for.

Free Minimalist & Geometric Presentation Backgrounds

Suitable for literally any kind of presentation, these minimalist presentation background designs come with attractive geometric shapes and pleasant color combinations. The graphics are highly modern right now, so your presentation will certainly impress with good taste and professionalism. The resources are also available in fully editable and resizable vector file formats.

7. Modern Geometric Background

Shapes are very pleasant for the eye. This background uses very “soft” colors, making it quite feminine and good-looking.

8. Black and White Geometry Background

Playing with black and white backgrounds is the best way to proceed if you want to accent the text. This one looks stylish and modern, and it will add a premium feel to your slides.

9. Simple Dark Geometry Background

Using two dominant colors in one background is a great combination. It shows great power and even a bit of provocation.

10. Fresh Squares and Circles Background

Utilizing different shapes and a few variants of blue is a good mix. A non-intrusive design for presentations.

11. Abstract Blue Lines Background

This abstract blue lines background fits the standard business practices of non-aggressive design.

12. Colorful Memphis Style Background

This Memphis-style background shines with its combination of minimalistic design combined with shapes all around the place.

13. Cool Modern Colors Background

If you had to pick one image to explain the term “technology”, that would probably be it.

14. Trendy Outline Shapes Background

A casual style background with simple shapes with playful colors plus trendy black strokes.

15. Neon Modern Shapes Background

Abstract geometry definitely has its place under the sun and is becoming a hot trend – your younger audience will love it!

16. Colorful Geometry Shapes Background

This colorful background is an amazing option for presentation design that aims to get more creative.

17. Modern Lines and Dots Background

This background with blue/purple colors and linear shapes is perfect for more creative presentations.

18. Minimalist Shapes Background with Pastel Gradients

The minimalist signature is easily recognizable and the use of pastel gradients “softens” the shapes.

19. Simplistic White-Grey Background

Light, neutral background with dots and lines that can be used in any presentation.

20. 4 Simple Style Backgrounds

Four simple backgrounds can be used for any purpose. You will find an orange, purple, red, and cyan background for your presentations.

21. Seamless Patterns Mega Bundle with 15 Free Geometric Pattern Backgrounds

A huge pattern designs bundle with over 1000 premium. Still, you have 15 free seamless patterns that you can use as backgrounds to lit up your presentations.

Colorful Gradients & Artistic Free Presentation Backgrounds

The delicate play with colors is very important when it comes to presentation background – it should be easy on the eyes and feel… right. This collection is everything you need if you are looking for a vibrant, colorful background for your presentation. Free gradient presentation backgrounds, watercolor backgrounds, and more artistic suggestions for your colorful slides.

22. Blue Tone Gradient Background

Gradient backgrounds make flat colors look more vibrant. The blue tones are quite relaxing and trustworthy.

23. 4 Artistic Texture Backgrounds

Textures can be attention-grabbing. Picking such background can create a more professional feeling.

24. Nice Warm Colors Gradient Background

Warm colors are typically better for cheerful presentations, as they “uplift” the mood.

25. Cool Cold Colors Gradient Background

If you have to come up with a presentation related to a marine topic, that’s your perfect choice.

26. Modern Blue Gradient Background

Blue and purple are two solid colors. Using this background gradient is perfect for business presentations.

27. Energetic Orange Gradient Background

A clean background with a vivid orange color gradient. Perfect for different energetic presentations.

28. Colorful Rainbow Gradient Background

Using a rainbow gradient is an amazing option for presentations dedicated to kids, or teenage audience.

29. Elegant Blury Bokeh Background

Stolen from photographers, the “bokeh” effect background makes presentations stand out.

You may also be interested in The Best Color Combinations to Try Now

Free Technology Presentation Backgrounds

Presentation background designs suitable for technology and business presentations. These backgrounds look high-tech and modern but still won’t steal away the attention of the viewer. Available in vector file formats which makes them fully editable and resizeable depending on your presentation style and dimensions.

30. Modern Technology Background

This high-tech background design is perfect for innovation and digital presentations.

31. Abstract Modern Tech Background

Abstract design with modern simple squares – an amazing option for high-tech presentations.

32. Abstract Futuristic Background with Honeycomb

This abstract and futuristic dark background is perfectly suitable for technical presentations.

33. Futuristic Technology Interface Background

Great technology background with minimalist, clean design that will fit any high-tech presentation.

Free Liquid Presentation Backgrounds

A selection of free presentation backgrounds with liquids and bubbles. Flat or 3D, these backgrounds are super immersive and certainly impressive. They will be the perfect addition to a wide array of presentation topics. You can get them completely for free as fully editable and resizable vector file formats .

34. Blue Liquid Background

The combination of dark blue and light blue is an amazing option for a presentation. An amazing option, especially for financial services.

35. Yellow Liquid Background

These cheeky shapes and colors are an amazing way to present something that can be qualified as everything but boring. Great for uprising sales, or summer theme for example.

36. Purple Liquid Background

Purple is a royal color and combined with a liquid design background it becomes even better for a modern-day classy presentation.

37. Monochrome Liquid Background

A perfect blend between using 3D forms and gradient colors. The blur effect and reflections are also attributed to the exquisite look of this background.

38. Modern Blue-Green Liquid Background

It’s an interesting, yet impressive background design. You can definitely stand out with this modern, blue-green liquid background.

39. Watercolor Background with White Blue and Purple

This background, in particular, doesn’t have a practical use in business presentations but it fits perfectly in artistic ones.

40. Liquid Shapes Monochrome Background

You’ll rarely come across a better realistic 3D background for medical presentations.

41. Modern Dark Liquid Background

Compared to a couple of the previous backgrounds, this dark liquid background is pretty standard and it can fit multiple presentation themes.

Free Cute Presentation Backgrounds

Cute backgrounds are often used for educational projects  – especially when presenting in front of kids. Smile-bringing designs will always win you emotional points, and it’s always a good idea to have a themed background or two just in case.

42. Cute Animal Background

In this background, you can find cute 2D animals all around the frame. At the same time, the central part is filled with white space, so you can add text there.

43. Colorful Pastel Color Pattern Background

These beautiful rounded shapes add the feeling of watercolor art and we can definitely catch the pattern design.

44. Space Rocket Child Background

If you’re about to teach a science class – that might be perfect. Well, unless you have university students.

45. Blue Pastel Sky and Clouds Background

It’s a simple blue background with white clouds. It can be used as a theme for a whole educational presentation.

46. Cute Doodle Frame Background

This beautiful cute doodles frame is also matched with a rainbow border vector and free text space in the center.

47. Green Park Illustration Landscape Background

There is nothing more suitable for educational presentation than a simple landscape illustration with trees, clouds and sun.

Free Vintage Presentation Backgrounds

Retro and vintage looks are quite modern right now, so no wonder people are choosing vintage looks for their presentations, as well. In this selection of free presentation backgrounds, you will find ornamental backgrounds, grudge backgrounds, worn-out materials, old paper effects, antique looks, damasks, etc. All are free to download in vector file formats – fully editable and scalable.

48. Ornamental Vintage Floral Background

Vintage backgrounds, especially floral are a very strong point if you’re coming with flower-related topics.

49. Vintage Frame Background

Frames are typically used in photography, so go for it if you have lots of pictures in your presentations.

50. Damask Pattern Vintage Background

Damask pattern is a specific vintage style which will not only look good, but also grab attention by being unique.

51. Grunge Texture Background

This grunge background focuses on the main picture, so it’s great for quizzes or presentations where there is one central topic.

52. Retro Grunge Texture Background

If you have a presentation related to Ancient times (especially Egypt), that’s your background.

53. Vintage Shapes Pattern Background

These vintage shapes are quite peculiar but you can use them for boring topics to give “life”.

54. Grunge Hearts Background

Another cool background design is the grunge hearts. It can be used for many presentations.

55. Old Paper Antique Texture Background

Old Paper can perfectly fit any slide related to the Middle centuries.

56. Blue Grunge Background

Another amazing grunge background that can be the greatest companion of any history-related presentation.

57. Vintage Paper Retro Background

Vintage paper can be an amazing background for any presentation for hand-made products.

Free Paper Presentation Backgrounds

Paper and cardboard textures give presentations a homey and hand-made feel. In this selection of free presentation backgrounds, you will see different paper textures. Adaptable for any presentation theme, these designs can be downloaded in vector file formats and edited in vector-based software.

58. White Paper Texture Background

Paper texture can be great for teachers who want a neutral background.

59. Package Paper Background

Package paper is great for presentations related to delivery services.

60. Simple White Paper Background

A simple white paper background that can fit any need.

61. Brown Paper Background

Another great background for delivery services presentations.

62. Paper Note Memphis Style Background

The combination of blank space and surrounding in Memphis Style makes this colorful background perfect to give a modern look to your presentation.

Free Holiday Presentation Backgrounds

Holiday backgrounds should not be used every day but they can be powerful triggers. Holiday presentations spark emotions which can be a good way to convey your message during festive periods. Let’s see some of the best free holiday backgrounds you can use for the occasion.

63. Christmas Decoration Photo Background

A marvelous Christmas concept background where you can add text on the left part of the slide and the Christmas elements are on the right.

64. White Simple Christmas Background

If you’re into texture and white backgrounds, this free Christmas photo is for you.

65. Cartoon Snowy Christmas Vector Background

This free vector background gives you the chance to edit details or add some more Christmas decorations.

66. Cute Christmas Background with Illustrations

The Christmas decorations are placed at the top and bottom of the background, so you have free space right in the middle.

67. Halloween Spider Web Background

A great combination of orange (the color associated with Hallowen) and spider web makes this vector background very straight to the point.

68. Flat Hallowen Vector Background With House

A flat illustration background with Halloween’s color palette and some standard “scary” motives.

69. Easter Egg Photo Frame Background

You can easily “catch” the Easter topic with the dyed eggs and the basket. The M&Ms are also an original idea to add flat shapes.

70. Watercolor Light Easter Vector Background

Watercolor Easter backgrounds look natural and beautiful. They can be a great addition to any Easter-related presentation.

71. Beautiful Landscape Thanksgiving Autumn Illustration Background

This illustration has the color palette of autumn which is also associated with Thanksgiving day.

72. Hand Drawn Thanksgiving Illustration Background

In the hand drawn thanksgiving illustration we can find the typical colors of autumn, plus the pumpkin and, of course, the Thanksgiving turkey.

73. Watercolor Thanksgiving Background

Watercolor art is very distinctive and for the “Thanksgiving” topic, it can create some beautiful results.

74. Thanksgiving Decoration Photo Background

The combination of a white background with green and brown leaves, plus pines and pumpkins enriches the image and adds contrast.

Bonus Presentation Backgrounds

A collection of high-resolution photos that impress with super high quality. These images show attention to detail but are still humble enough to keep the audience focused on your content. Attribution for using these images is not required, although it’s appreciated.

75. Clean Package Boxes Background

It’s a lovely background that is good for Christmas topics or any gift-related presentations.

76. Elegant Decoration Background Image

If you’re looking for a background for your wedding agency, you’re in the right place.

77. Pencils and Office Items Background

The elements in the background suggest you it is a perfect match for teachers and lecturers.

78. Simple Clean Background with a Book

Books are symbol of liberty and education. The background is great for science presentations.

79. Bridge Landscape Photography Background

Golden Gate bridge stands tall. So is the background which can be used for all kinds of presentations.

80. Sunset Background Image

Sunsets are proven to be stress-relieving, making this background suitable for meditation business presentations.

81. Monochrome Landscape Background

Skyscrapers, shady pinks, and overall – the perfect cosmetics presentation.

That’s it!

We hope this collection of free presentation backgrounds was useful to you. We hope it helps you make your next presentation super impressive and successful. If you’d like to see even more freebies, go ahead and have a look at these awesome suggestions:

39 Free Google Slides Templates For Your Next Presentation

• The Best Free PowerPoint Templates to Download in 2022
• How to Start and End a Presentation: 10 Practical Tips to Grab Attention

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Lyudmil Enchev

Lyudmil is an avid movie fan which influences his passion for video editing. You will often see him making animations and video tutorials for GraphicMama. Lyudmil is also passionate for photography, video making, and writing scripts.

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20+ Best Free PowerPoint Backgrounds to Download Now

20+ Best Free PowerPoint Back...

Small details matter. That’s why professional backgrounds for PowerPoint will help convey your attention to detail and make your presentation feel so much more personal. In this article, we compile the best PPT backgrounds for instant download.

John McTale

Editor-in-chief

Dec 09, 2022

You’re here because you want to add some flair to your PowerPoint presentation and the default PowerPoint backgrounds available in the standard themes don’t do it for you. Fair enough, they’re bland, boring, and featureless. Then again, many of the PowerPoint backgrounds available for free download are cheesy or just outdated. You could spend hours looking for one that fits your needs and still end up half-satisfied. The good news? I did the digging for you. Out of thousands, I picked 20+ of the most professional and elegant free PowerPoint backgrounds for instant download. Scroll down to see them, pick one you like best, and start creating!

Storydoc’s alternative to PPT

But first, give this a thought— You’re looking for PowerPoint backgrounds because you want to make your presentation more exciting. Why not take it a step further? See, even with the most imaginative background out there, you’ll still be dealing with the devilish PowerPoint interface, only to put together a static slideshow that doesn’t captivate anyone’s attention. With Storydoc, you can use our easy editor and create an interactive, animated presentation in minutes. Just see what it might look like:

Here's how a Storydoc presentation looks compared to a PowerPoint:

Slide decks are a relic of the past. With Storydoc, you’ll get interactive content you never thought you’d have. Wow your audience, make a lasting impression, and land more deals with investors. Ready in a flash.

Also, consider more than just a background upgrade for your presentation. See some of our articles offering the finest presentation templates you’ll ever see online:

• Professional PowerPoint Templates
• Free Google Slides Templates
• Infographic Templates
• Business Pitch Templates
• Creative Presentation Templates and Ideas

And now, onto the *beef*.

How to set a background in PowerPoint?

First, a quick tutorial on how to change the default PowerPoint background. (If you already know how to do it, feel free to scroll down to the following section.)

• Pick a slide you want to change the background in.
• Go to “Design” → “Format Background.”
• Select “Picture or texture fill.”
• Choose the file you want to use as your background.
• Click “Insert” in the Picture dialog box.

Then, in the “Fill” drop-down, you can adjust transparency and texture. You can also skip adding your own file and just go for a solid fill using the color of your liking, then tweak it playing around with different functions in the “Format Background” menu. You can try using different color combinations and color palettes that match the tone of your presentation or match your brand. Now, let’s get you some fine graphics that will bring your PPT presentation to life (even if just being there in the background:)).

The best PPT background images to download

Wave green (free)

Kicking off with “Wave green,” a free PowerPoint background that’s neither too fancy nor too basic. A good pick for presentations across different industries and use cases.

Retro black (free)

A minimalist, abstract PPT background brought to you by FreePPTBackgrounds. So, yes, you guessed it, it’s free to download!

Cute floral (free)

Designed by Malti Drago, this cute PowerPoint background will add a touch of spring liveliness to your presentation. Use it when you want your slide deck to give off this homely kind of vibe.

Low poly (free)

Designed by SlideModel and, again, 100% free to use, “Low poly” is a professional background based on an imitation of a 3D surface with some subtle color shading going on. A very neutral, eye-pleasing design.

Black waves (free)

Not all presentations can pull off a dark background but if you’re in a modern area of business such as tech, engineering, or digital marketing and want to put your game face on, the free “Black waves” PowerPoint background will help you do just that.

Blue art (free)

Note: the developers of this background, “Free-PowerPoint-Templates” don’t allow you to download high-res mockup pictures from their website so this one might look a tad blurry. Nothing to worry about, though, if you choose to download it, it will be perfectly sharp, just as its design is.

All the templates above?

Yeah, they’re pretty. But Storydoc gives you much more than nice-looking presentations. 

We deliver real results. 

Transform your static presentation with Storydoc and close more deals, improve engagement metrics, and increase your customer base. Like these teams did:

"...We've seen  higher conversion, of up to x2 , among prospects who engaged with the Storydoc pages"

Boris Zlatkin

Digital Marketing Lead

"Using Storydoc helped us build a rich and engaging deck, effectively delivering the full scope and value of our streaming service TVNow Premium"

Dirk Hannapel

BD & Sales Director

"...Since we've started using Storydoc our sales accelerated,  increasing our customer base by more than 70% . It became an integral part of our sales funnel, helping us score new deals."

Red-blue-green (free)

A bit retro, a bit corny, and a bit 8-bit, but it still works! The RBG theme of this PowerPoint background will make it a great choice for all industries that have to do with image processing: TV, media, advertising, photography, graphic design, and so on.

Lens flare (free)

Okay, this one *is* from Microsoft and I still decided to include it in the gallery despite all of what I said about how “boring” their backgrounds were. This one is classy, subtle, and easy on the eyes and free to download from the Microsoft website itself.

Horizontal stripes (free)

Using this one as a background for all of your PowerPoint slides might backfire as the differently-sized horizontal stripes can feel confusing and make the text harder to read. It will work great as a background for summary or “main point” slides, though.

Lavender? (Free)

Okay, I’m not so great with plants but I do think this one is Lavender. (Is it? Feel free to drop me a line if it’s not). Either way, a tasteful close-up of some nice flowers. Oh, and there’s a butterfly in there. Add a level of transparency to it, and you’ll have a very cute and professional look for a PPT background.  

Stylish cartoon

Designed by Yasemin Yaldiz of Turkey (and part of a collection of 4 different illustrations), this background for PowerPoint feels mysterious and inviting at the same time. A very unique aesthetic will surely help make your presentation unforgettable.

A very simple idea executed to perfection. Splashes of bright paint on a dark background—looking cool and modern without trading off any of the perfect legibility.

Simple desk

This cute PowerPoint background brought to you by Slidefabric will be a great choice for corporate presentations. There’s the desk, very much Marie-Kondo-style, there’s the nice looking chair, you just *feel* yourself getting comfortable and productive only looking at this one. 

Digital classroom

Any teachers in the house? Yeah, remote teaching is a pain, one that this fun PowerPoint background won’t necessarily heal on the spot, but I’m sure your students will appreciate the touch and feel this one can add to your presentations.  

Pastel wallpaper

Okay, this is cheating a bit because the image on the left has actually been designed as a desktop wallpaper. Still, it’s beautiful while not being too distracting—that’s what makes a perfect PowerPoint background.

Blurred backgrounds bundle

Part of a bundle of 50+ similar-yet-different PPT backgrounds, all of those based on blurred splashes of color. A good pick for a funky, out-of-the-box presentation.

Fiery wallpaper

Yes, I did it again. Yet another wallpaper-turned-background, one that will work great for all the same reasons. Designed by HappyPastels, loved by all customers!

Customizable flowers

A pretty watercolor picture of flowers great for brochures, covers, or even business cards (yes, you can create all of those in PowerPoint). The bundle comes with a bunch of customizable text fields filled with different pastel colors.

Pastel rainbow

Another pack of PPT backgrounds on our list, this one created by Jax & Jake, containing 8 backgrounds with semi-transparent fill, 8 ones with white fill, and 8 transparent borders. 

Fresh watercolor

Last but not least, “Fresh watercolor” by KaySquaredPrintables. A PowerPoint background I loved because it just feels so comforting and stylish at the same time. Plus, I think the dynamics of the flowers on the sides of the image are just perfect for creating well-balanced slides. A really neat piece of work. 

And that's a wrap!

Hope you’ve found a PowerPoint background you fell in love with and one that will really captivate your audience. Just make sure to go for a design that fits the theme and vibe of your presentation. Cute little flowers wouldn’t work too well on a slide deck about war in Iraq, would they? But I’m sure you’d figure that out on your own. So why are you still here? Time to start creating!

Hi, I'm John, Editor-in-chief at Storydoc. As a content marketer and digital writer specializing in B2B SaaS, my main goal is to provide you with up-to-date tips for effective business storytelling and equip you with all the right tools to enable your sales efforts.

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Blog Graphic Design 15 Presentation Background Examples & Templates to Keep Your Audience Awake

15 Presentation Background Examples & Templates to Keep Your Audience Awake

Written by: Ryan McCready Jul 07, 2023

Backgrounds are the foundation for creating an engaging presentation .

A great background can elevate your visual content and help it reach millions of people. But a bad background will make the whole project fall apart.

This is especially true when it comes to presentation backgrounds.

Most of the time, the reader is only going to see the background image once. But with presentations, it’s a whole different story.

Depending on how long your presentation is, that background could be seen 25, 50 or even 100 times!

In fact, according to a recent presentation design statistics study we did, the majority of keynote speakers said their biggest challenge was formatting their slides to keep readers engaged.

So you need to pick something that won’t distract or bore your audience.

Sometimes that’s a very tricky line to walk, but fear not–I have a ton of experience picking the perfect presentation background!

I’ve rounded up 15 great presentation templates to help you pick the ideal background for your presentation. Keep reading to learn how you can pick the perfect background and ace your next presentation!

1. Open Computer Screen Presentation Background

I’m a huge fan of using mockups in my content and design work. If you check out Venngage’s  Gallery , you will see that it’s full of professional poster and flyer mockups.

These mockups are extremely useful because you can instantly place the reader in your shoes. Readers will see a computer screen,  flyer  or another object like it’s sitting right in front of them.

This presentation background example is a simple mockup that almost anyone can use. It would work perfectly as a business background for many purposes beyond presentations too. Check out how the designer used it in the title slide below:

CREATE THIS PRESENTATION TEMPLATE

With an image frame, you can make the computer screen show whatever you want, even the background image:

Learn how to customize this presentation template :

Creating an effective business presentation involves careful planning, organization and effective communication. Save yourself the time and hassle by customizing one of our professionally designed business presentation templates .

2. Zen Garden Presentation Background Image

Plants have been very popular for the past couple of years. If you have ever been in a new trendy restaurant, you definitely know what I’m talking about.

This simple background has the same feel as one of those hip establishments.

This background also embodies the colorful minimalism trend that is blowing up this year. In this case, a simple colorful subject dominates the graphic, but it still feels very light and airy.

And best of all, you can easily use a few different plant background images throughout the presentation. Take a look at how the designer used similar images to create a consistent design:

3. Simple Dot Pattern Background Image

Sometimes you want a presentation background that gives your slides a little bit of texture, without being distracting. I believe that this presentation background embodies that idea pretty well.

It is just interesting enough to catch your eye, but not pull your attention away from what the presenter is talking about.

As you can see in the presentation example below, each slide feels like it has real depth as well. Almost like the icons and information are jumping off the page:

4. Crumpled Paper Presentation Background Image

Realistic flat images always make superb background images, in my opinion. I like to use them when I want to create a minimalist graphic or add something extra to a slide.  

The flat textures and patterns on this simple background are extremely flexible as well!

Like a blank canvas, you can create almost any kind of presentation on top of this background image. It can be used to improve an art lecture, a business meeting or a recycling presentation:

With a simple color filter you can make the background image match your company branding as well:

Check out our presentation design guide . It includes a ton more presentation design hacks like this one.

5. Colorful Circles Presentation Background Image

Looking for a way to add a little color to your presentation? This background may be perfect for you!

It has a ton of white space for you to add content or headers to the slide. And the colorful circles make the presentation seem fun and light.

I would recommend using this background for a presentation that you want to keep casual and fun.

For example, the designers used this background as a title and conclusion slide for a social media presentation:

Remember to pick a color palette that reflects the mood of your presentation.

6. Bold Red Arrow Presentation Background

I would recommend finding a background before you start designing your presentation. This way you can create the slides around the background image.

With the right background image, you can give your slides structure and direction. Or at least improve the layout of your presentation .

Check out how the designers used this background image to improve the slides. The arrow of the background image perfectly fits the topic of the presentation.

And because it’s used on the title slide, it will put the audience in the right headspace from the beginning.

7. Split Slide Presentation Background Example 

This example is one presentation background that everyone has probably used a few times. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was part of the first presentation software ever.

It may be extremely simple, but it’s just as effective all these years later. That’s because you can use this on any presentation topic or in any industry. Get your message across in a simple but powerful way with these simple presentations templates .

This ease of use and flexibility will help you create a killer presentation in no time. Take a look at how it was used throughout the slides below:

8. Subtle White Grid Presentation Background

Like the white paper example above, this image will give your presentation background a lot of subtle depth. It’s engaging enough to grab someone’s attention, but not enough to distract from the written content.

I really like how the texture differs from one square to the next. It makes the whole image a lot more interesting to the eye.

Plus the white color palette will make it easy to place text, graphs or charts directly on top of it. This will ensure that your presentation isn’t cluttered or messy. Take a look at how it’s used in the presentation example below:

9. Purple Gradient Presentation Background Image 

If you haven’t heard, gradients are super popular and will be for the next few years. No, we haven’t gone back in time to the 1990’s — gradients are really back.

Gradients make great background images because they are unique and futuristic. If you want to stand out from the crowd, this background is perfect! Plus these color transitions look spectacular on HD screens and social media.

As you can see below, the white text and icons really jump off the page when placed on top of a gradient:

And you can make a gradient out of literally any combination of colors that you want:

10. Flat Typographic Background Image

Typography is a key part of effective design.

I really like this background image because it will add a lot of character to a slide or presentation. The subtle shadows and highlights actually make this black and white photo seem colorful as well.

A background image like this is very versatile because you can use a few different color palettes with it. Not many colors are going to clash with that monochrome photo.

And if you use a vivid color palette, which is very trendy this year, the colors will very eye-catching. Take a look at how great the different palettes look below:

11. Checkerboard Texture Presentation Background

If you are tired of using a flat background image, but not ready for something too flashy, this background texture is perfect for you!

As you can see, it uses the classic checkerboard pattern to break up the background layer. However, because the pattern is also flat, it won’t distract from your presentation content.

I would recommend using this pattern to add a clear visual break between sections, kinda like they did in the slides below:

Presentation slides play a crucial role in creating an engaging presentation. Browse our selection of engaging presentation templates to enhance your message and make it easier for your audience to understand and remember key points.

12. Geometric Pattern Presentation Background Image

This is one of the most interesting background images in the entire roundup, in my opinion. The bold colors and creative patterns will make the whole presentation feel extra exciting.

Another great feature of this background is that it can be used with a ton of different palettes. Go ahead, pick a color from the geometric pattern, and then use it throughout your slides.

13. Flat Creative Presentation Background Image Example 

Set the tone for your creative presentation from the start with this trendy background image. If you weren’t aware, succulents and plants are very trendy this year in creative circles.

The open section at the top of this background is the perfect spot to add a header or title as well. Check out how they used it in the title slide below:

Plus the bold colors of this image help you pick the color palettes of the other slides:

For more captivating presentation ideas , check out our selection of creative presentation templates .

14. Arrows Everywhere Subtle Background Texture 

A simple background like this can add some serious depth to your presentation. Or blog post.

With a myriad of textures, directions and sizes, the triangles will effortlessly draw the eye. I would recommend using this background in a tech and marketing presentation.

Also, you should try to stick to a geometric or minimalist theme for your slide. In the example below, they choose to use other simple shapes and it blends together extremely well:

15. City Skyline Background Image Example

Finding a subtle background image is hard, especially if you want to use a stock photo . A lot of the time they divert attention from the content on the screen.

Or, even worse, they don’t match your presentation’s color palette and theme. This city background is ideal because it has such a neutral color palette. Take a look at how well it matches the other slides below:

You can also use a color filter to make it a little less distracting and match your presentation theme:

City landscapes can be versatile and work well with a variety of presentation topics, especially with business presentations. Have a presentation coming up? Check out our gallery of pitch deck templates to deliver the perfect presentation.

Create an engaging presentation

Now that you made it to the end of our presentation background roundup, I would recommend checking out our collection of simple backgrounds :

35+ Simple Background Images, Templates & Design Tips

And if you want to learn more about using stock photos , read this first:

10 Simple Ways to Incorporate Stock Photos Into Your Designs

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