If you are someone who frequently works with presentations, Google Slides is probably one of the tools you have used. One of the useful functions that it provides is the ability to insert and edit images.
However, the need to mask images is also quite common, especially when you want to cut out specific parts of an image or when you want to remove the background from a photo.
In this article, we’ll take a step-by-step approach to help you learn how to mask an image in Google Slides.
How to Mask an Image in Google Slides
1. Open Google Slides
To start with, you need to have a Google Slides presentation open in which you want to insert an image. If you don’t have one open already, you can easily create a new slideshow by going to Google Drive and clicking on the ‘New’ button.
2. Insert an Image
Once you have your presentation open, you need to insert the image that you want to mask. To do so, click on the ‘Insert’ menu and select ‘Image.’ From this point, you can upload a new image from your computer or search for it from Google Images. Once you have found the image that you want, click ‘Insert’ to add it to your presentation.
3. Duplicate the Image
Now that you have your image inserted in Google Slides, you can make a copy of it by right-clicking the image and selecting ‘Duplicate.’ This creates a new layer of the same image, which we will use for masking.
4. Right-Click the Image and Select ‘Mask Image’
Now comes the actual masking part. Right-click on the duplicated image and select ‘Mask image’ from the dropdown menu. This option is available only for a duplicate image you have created. If you select the original image, the ‘Mask image’ option will be disabled.
5. Choose a Shape
Once you select ‘Mask image,’ you’ll be able to choose a shape for your mask from the options available. You can choose from a circle, rectangle, star, or other shapes. The shape you choose will define the cut-out area of the image.
6. Crop or Resize the Shape
Now you can resize or crop the shape to adjust it to your needs. If the shape isn’t placed properly on the part of the image that you want to mask, you can drag it to the correct position or change its size by dragging the edges.
7. Save or Save and Replace
Now that you have the mask in place, you can either save the masked image as a new image by right-clicking on the image and selecting ‘Save image,’ or you can save it as the existing image by selecting ‘Save and replace.’
Video Guide
Conclusion
Masking an image in Google Slides can be a simple and intuitive process once you learn the steps involved. Now that you understand how to mask an image in Google Slides, try it out for yourself and see how it can enhance your presentations. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to create high-quality presentations with precisely-cut images that look super professional.