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81 Impressive Free Presentation Backgrounds for Outstanding Presentations

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By Lyudmil Enchev

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5 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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Liven up your presentation with these free backgrounds

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FreePPTBackgrounds.net

Several ways to browse.

Full-size previews.

Detailed download pages.

Multiple size options.

Save the background only, or use the template with it already included.

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FreePPTBackgrounds.net is a great source for free PowerPoint backgrounds. Some download are ZIP files that contains one or more images that follow the same design, and others are PPTX or PPT files that already have photos as the slide backgrounds.

Think of these downloads as a PowerPoint theme that's broken up into separate images. Use any image you wish.

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Huge catalog of backgrounds.

Shows similar backgrounds you might like.

Way more premium backgrounds.

Over 6,000 additional PowerPoint background are available from this ultra-popular free image website. This website has lots of other content, but the page through the link below is specifically for PowerPoint backgrounds.

You can sort the backgrounds by recently added and filter them to find backgrounds of a certain primary color or style, such as geometric, cartoon, or hand-drawn.

PPTBackgrounds.net

Thousands of backgrounds.

Variety of categories.

Site riddled with ads.

Some images have watermarks.

PPTBackgrounds.net is another great source. Some of the categories of images include culture, clip art, beauty, 3D, Christmas, cartoons, and animal.

Every download page has a comment section to see what other viewers think. You can also check the popularity of each background with the download counter. Details like the size of the background and its file format are included as well.

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Looking for something a bit more lifelike? Actual photos, available from the free public domain photo site Unsplash, are available for PowerPoint backgrounds, too.

These images are already categorized away from the rest of the site's collection, so you can't filter or sort them. But there are some really great images here, although I admit not everything I've seen in this section is fit for a presentation.

If you need one of these images to be landscape, you can crop the photo in PowerPoint .

Unique filtering options.

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The thousands of backgrounds at Slidesgo can be filtered by color, size, and format. I also like the style filter because it lets me locate backgrounds categorized as creative, modern, abstract, colorful, and more.

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Liven Up Your Presentation

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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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50 Best Presentation Background Templates & Examples in 2024

Written by: Orana Velarde

Looking for the best presentation backgrounds to make your slides look professional and engaging?

When making presentations, one of the most important goals is to keep your audience engaged. The way you design your slides should pique their curiosity.

Make a great first impression by choosing creative background images. Your content deserves to look beautiful and there’s no better way than with a great-looking backdrop.

We’ve put together an extensive collection of beautiful presentation background templates that you can edit and download. Most of these are available inside the Visme editor.

Here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit presentation templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:

1 Pattern Background With a Color Overlay

There are lots of photographable objects and sections of architecture that can resemble patterns. For example, concrete slabs with holes, corrugated iron, or paneling. Add a strong color overlay with a little transparency and you’ve got a versatile presentation background.

2 Minimal Background With an Object

Bright and strong color backgrounds look better with a contrasting object placed on them. Try and use an image with an object that makes sense with the content. The object will be very prominent so try covering it up on some slides to cut through the repetition.

3 White Background With a Black Detail

White or light-colored backgrounds with a bit of texture will always be a clean and elegant option for a presentation background. Choose an image that has a small black detail and let it tell a story on its own. Subtle but interesting focal points are memorable.

4 Fullscreen Cityscape Background

Use a high-quality image of a city skyline with some sky for a visual that expands towards the horizon. Perfect for a business profile of a company based in a busy city. Better if you use a photo of the actual city where the company is located. Overlay semi-transparent boxes for the content.

5 Brick Wall Texture Background

An image that could look imposing or strong can be turned into a subtle background. Use a transparency effect and overlay a color that matches the content’s color theme. A brick wall works great with this technique.

6 Color-Coordinated Background

Color coordinate the content according to the background photo or vice versa. Preferably, use a photo that has some empty space where you can overlay content. Also, make sure the photograph matches the topic of your presentation.

7 Paint on Canvas Background

A detailed photo of paint on canvas can give your presentation an artistic feel without defining it as an “art presentation.” Use contrasting colors for the content and create a visually rich design.

8 Minimal Landscape Background

Landscape photos of dunes with a cloudless gradient sky work great as a presentation background. It is simple, clean, and not visually overwhelming. Works great for any type of presentation.

9 Macro Photography Background

A dark and moody background works great with a bright color theme. Try macro photos of charcoal, dark metals, black sand, etc. The best contrasting colors for the content are oranges, yellows, and teal. Neon colors will also look amazing.

10 Artistic Marbled Background

Marble presentation backgrounds have been a favorite for a while. But why not shake it up and use a colored marble effect instead of the classic grey. Slides can also have the texture as a shape with a clean background for some interesting contrast.

11 Light Background With a Creative Border

Use a photograph of a light surface that includes a creative border for added visual attention. The border can be made of literally anything. Better to choose a border that matches what your content is about.

12 Monotone Detail Background

Monotone presentation backgrounds can be subtle or eye-catching. Choose one with an empty area where to overlay titles and other content. Use a contrasting color design, so if the photo is light and subtle use strong colors. If the background has a darker monotone, use bright colors for the content.

13 Clouds in the Sky Background

Clouds can give a feeling of peace if they are wispy and soft. For another visual effect, use chunky cotton style clouds or even a storm cluster. Give your presentation some personality with a sky full of clouds.

14 Moon Phases With a Black Background

Try a moon phase photo on a stark black background for an interesting design. Space-related presentation backgrounds are always visually appealing and interesting. They might not be suitable for some topics but will look great on science-related presentations.

15 Architecture Presentation Background

The beauty of architecture is that it can be photographed in a way which turns it into something else. A photo of a futuristic building against the sky will make a great background for many types of presentations. Like other presentation background ideas, try using one which has plenty of empty space to place content over.

16 Moving City Lights Background

City lights with a moved camera effect can look really interesting as a presentation background. From artistic circular movements to time-lapse traffic shots, there are different styles. Use this background for any presentation which needs to be a bit disruptive.

17 Leafy Background Image

Leafy, edge-to-edge shots are great for any type of presentation that needs some peaceful and inspiring scenery. It will keep your audience’s attention because it doesn’t distract. You can choose up-close shots of vegetation or drone shots of forest tops--both will make for a great presentation background.

18 Neon Lights Background

Use a dark background with a bright, shiny neon word or illustration for a fun and eye-catching design. Best to use a photo that has the neon only in a section of the photo so that you can put the content in the empty areas. There are lots of photographs of quotes in neon which you can use as a presentation background.

19 Vintage Item Background

Similar to the idea of a light background with a focal point, you can do the same but with a vintage object instead. Old computers, dial-up phones, vintage furniture, anything is possible really. Try and use a photo with enough empty space to put the content over.

20 White Brick Wall Background

A white brick wall can work for any type of presentation. It’s subtle, clean, non-distracting and looks great with content of any color. For a more creative approach, make your content look like it’s hanging on the wall, as a poster or corkboard. This style of background gives way to a lot of imagination.

21 Colorful Graffiti Background

Presentations about fashion or creative marketing can benefit from a background as busy as colored smoke and graffiti. It might not work for all slides as a full-screen image, but it’s perfect for title images and transitions.

22 Two-Tone Background Image

A photograph of something that isn’t immediately recognizable can be used as a texture background. For example, this two-tone photo of a concrete pool edge makes for a really interesting visual. The title can be laid over the water and a visual graph on the concrete.

23 Water Texture Background

Water photography is serene, calm, and neutral. You can use a photo of moving water, a wave, a splash, or a river flowing over rocks. A watery presentation background will give your presentation a sense of flow and continuity. You can even use the water to give the content direction like a leading line.

24 Colorful Bokeh Background

Bokeh is a photography technique which turns regular lights into shiny orbs. With an easy trick, the bokeh can be turned into different shapes like hearts or diamonds. You can use close up bokeh or a more expansive design with tiny bokeh.

25 Industrial Presentation Background

Industrial photography can be quite versatile as a presentation background. From metalworks to machinery details, choose an interesting industrial detail and add a bit of transparency. Select a color theme that will match your content and will create balance instead of competing with it.

26 Wood Paneling Background

Wood paneling is not a new idea for a presentation background, but using a two-tone design can be quite interesting for lots of types of presentations. It can be in bright colors like pink or green, and on a different note it can also be in gray tones for a more subtle background.

27 Black and White Background

This technique for a presentation background leans on the elegant side. A stark black background will always look great with light-colored content on top. An added delicate visual in a light color will give the entire thing a calm and elegant feel.

28 Snowy Mountain Background

A mountain range image is perfect for a travel-related blog or a camping gear startup, or maybe just for a sales update that wants to look better than the one next door. Snowy peaks are subliminally inspirational and dreamy, they make the viewer simply feel good about life. If the angle is more like a bird’s eye view then it can make the audience feel like they are flying.

29 Sand Dunes Background

Sandy dunes are a great way to add some serenity to your presentation. Choose one without rocks for a totally calming visual. Natural sands come in lots of different tonalities so choose the one that matches your content best. From white Caribbean sands to orange Saharan sands to black volcanic sands.

30 Light Watercolor Background

Watercolor backgrounds are light and airy and should not compete with the content at all. The idea behind this type of presentation background is to let your viewers relax and ease into the content. Select colors that are calm and light, you can use up to three colors that don’t clash with each other or the content.

31 Fun Illustration Background

Colorful and bubbly presentation backgrounds are trending right now. Not only for presentations but also for web and print design. It’s fun, it’s happy and will make your viewers feel good. Keep the content in the empty areas and use the different elements of the illustration for decoration on the rest of the slides.

32 Sunburst Illustration Background

A sunburst illustration behind the content can really call attention to a specific area of a presentation slide. It can be bright and colorful like a sunset, or subtle like a sunrise. The sunrays can be realistic or more like comic book style.

33 Colorful Paper Background

Cut paper background designs can be used in many different ways. As a frame, on half the slide, three sides of the slide or on an edge of the content. You can use different colors, a monotone theme or different paper textures. Color-coordinate the paper with the content for a unified design.

34 Subtle Arrow Background

Subtle illustrative presentation backgrounds are great because they can be used on every slide without them being overwhelming. A monotone, subtle white arrow background looks great behind any type of content, no matter the topic. The direction of the arrows can be upwards, downwards or any side as long as it looks good.

35 Futuristic Presentation Background

Futuristic backgrounds can be of different styles: electronic, cosmic, or virtual reality. They might not work for any type of presentation but they will look great for a topic that matches a futuristic theme. School science projects or gaming pitch presentations could look great with a background like this.

36 Leafy Plant Background

Leaves or plant details over a pink or pastel wall are cool, clean and modern. This presentation background is perfect for feminine fashion ideas or a visual slide deck for a lifestyle blog post. What’s so great about this design is that there is always plenty of space for the content.

37 Geometric Dots Background

Expansive designs like a geometrically scattered dot spread look great on any type of presentation. The colors can be in any combination, according to the style of the content or the color theme of the brand. Dots and circles are innately calming, and can easily be used on every single slide.

38 Mandala Pattern Background

Keeping things calm in a presentation background is easy with a neutral mandala design in soft tones like gray or other light colors. Use this style for presentations with an important inspirational message or educational and wellness content. Add a color overlay if you want to add some visual importance to the background.

39 Abstract Shapes Background

Abstract illustration backgrounds are best used when they are noticeable but not overpowering. There needs to be a balance in the style of illustration for it to match the content that will be placed on top. Try using monotone designs, or sticking to a particular shape.

40 Illustrated Clouds Background

Fun and quirky presentation backgrounds are great for pitching a new kid’s fashion line or decor brand. Cute, bouncy clouds over a violet sky will give your slides a lovely, calming feeling. Use contrasting colors for the content so that it doesn’t get lost in the clouds.

41 Colorful Dots Background

Dotted seamless patterns are nice and simple as a presentation background. They can be perfectly aligned and all the same size or a more scattered variation with dots of different sizes. The colors can be chosen to match the content or as a complement.

42 Electric Rain Background

Dark presentation backgrounds with bright details come in different styles, but this specific visual which looks like electric rain is very unique. It will look really interesting in a presentation about technology, artificial intelligence and science.

43 Artistic Feathers Background

Feminine, whimsical and subdued, this style of background can be a good complement to a presentation about a women’s fashion label, a wellness studio or other creative pursuits. The soft quality of feathers and transparent leaves won’t compete with content and will give the audience a relaxed and happy feel.

44 Dusty Blackboard Background

A dusty blackboard is easily the most versatile presentation background ever. Pretty much any content can be laid on top and it will look great. The obvious use for a blackboard is an educational topic but that doesn’t need to limit your imagination at all. Blackboards are also used in bars and bistros to display the menus. Don’t be afraid to break the mold.

45 Swirling Smoke Background

Disruptive backgrounds like colorful swirly smoke can work well for presentations that want to make an impact. A strong, colorful background like this will make slides memorable and stand out from the rest. The colors can be chosen to match the brand or the theme of the content.

46 Diagonal Lines Background

Lines will always be an elegant choice for a background design. Giving it an uneven diagonal aspect can add just enough personality for it be impactful without overshadowing the content. Choose colors that complement the palette of your content and use the empty areas for overlaying graphs and information.

47 Scattered Pixels Background

Colorful backgrounds are common in presentation slides. A pixel style scattered dots design is visually appealing and fun to look at. It’s almost hypnotic, the way the dots scatter across the dark backdrop. The content on top would need to be framed so that it doesn’t get lost between the dots.

48 Gradient Waves Background

Gradient waves are subtle and beautiful and can impart some peace to any presentation. It will keep your audience in tranquil concentration as long as the color gradient follows a subtle palette. The waves can be small or large, stormy or calm, round or peaky.

49 Geometric Polygons Background

A bright and geometric polygonal design works well in any color palette. The idea is to have a dark area and a light area, so the gradient moves along the polygons across the board. The content can go on any section of the background, dark or light, depending on how the content is colored. The combination should have contrast and visual impact.

50 Electric Circuits Background

Electric and technologically inspired backgrounds look great on presentations in the scientific and futuristic fields. It can be an illustrative electric circuit or the inside of a computer, as long as the design is bright and shiny, it will not disappoint. Use colorful frames to place the content on top so that it stands out and complements.

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You can also access millions of background images, icons, shapes, illustrations, animations, special effects, music tracks and more right from inside the editor.

Sign up for a free Visme account today to create your presentation!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below, we have answered some some commonly asked questions about presentation backgrounds and presentation design in general.

Q1. What is a presentation background?

Backgrounds are the foundation upon which you lay the visual elements of your presentation slides. Presentation backgrounds can be solid colors, textures and patterns, gradients and even photos with effects and overlays on top.

A good presentation background can make your slides look more engaging, attractive and easy-to-read. A bad presentation background, however, can easily ruin the impact of your presentation.

Q2. How do you make a background for a presentation?

You can make a background for your presentation using a solid color, gradient, texture, pattern or image. Enhance your background by adding shapes and color overlays on top.

In Visme, you can add any type of background to your presentation using the built-in image library that offers millions of photos, patterns and textures. You can also choose to keep a solid color or gradient background for your presentation.

Q3. What background is best for a PowerPoint presentation?

A blue background is most commonly used in presentation slides.

According to color psychology, blue exudes feelings of trust, calm and professionalism. It also helps create contrast between the elements on top of the background, which makes blue backgrounds a popular choice among business presenters and trainers.

Q4. What is the best color for a presentation?

The best color for a presentation depends on your presentation topic, your audience and the nature of your content. For backgrounds, most presenters and trainers recommend using blue or white.

Q5. What makes a powerful presentation?

A powerful presentation is memorable and engaging. It also motivates the audience to take action based on the message of your presentation.

You can make your presentation powerful by adopting techniques like eye contact, storytelling, movement, using visual aids, animated slides and more.

Q6. Which background color is best for the eyes?

Black text on a white background is best for the eyes as it forms good contrast between the text and the background color. Another reason is that the color white reflects every wavelength in the spectrum.

Q7. What color attracts the human eye most?

Green is one of the most eye-catching colors. Studies have shown that the human eye is most sensitive to light at the wavelength of bright green. Yellow is also an attractive color for the human eye, which is why it's used widely for road signs all over the world.

Q8. What is the best presentation software?

Visme is the best presentation software for both beginners and experts.

With Visme, you can create a professional and polished presentation in minutes using dozens of templates, built-in graphics, free images, animations, interactivity and other features.

Create beautiful presentations faster with Visme.

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About the Author

Orana is a multi-faceted creative. She is a content writer, artist, and designer. She travels the world with her family and is currently in Istanbul. Find out more about her work at oranavelarde.com

Presentation Background Design: Factors and Best Practices 

Imagine sitting for a row of presentations. As soon as the lights dim and the first presenter clicks the button, the slide appears. However, you find yourself getting confused and realize that it is because the background is extremely cluttered. It has overpowering visuals, texture, graphics, and unrelated colors. 

The next presenter commences, and as soon as her slides start rolling, you see yourself focusing again. This time, the backdrop is neat, has a subtle color, and has extremely limited and relevant elements. It makes the texts pop, and you fathom information in a much better manner.

Well, now that both presentations have ended, which one are you more likely to recommend? Whose information will you retain better? It would definitely be the second one because of its simple yet mesmerizing presentation design.

Thus, this is the power of having an intriguing and minimal background. In this article, we will take you through the key concepts of designing and using presentation backdrops. We have divided the article into three parts-

Importance of Great Presentation Backgrounds

Tips to craft the most stunning slide backgrounds, things to keep in mind while designing your presentation’s background, 1. gets the audience’s attention quickly.

Grabbing and holding the audience’s attention is one of the most challenging tasks ever. The first few seconds of your presentation can determine whether your audience will stay engaged or tune out. 

Thus, a visually captivating slide background can make a significant difference in this aspect. Remember that when it comes to backdrops, less is always more. 

Let us understand further with the example of Apple and how its slides are the perfect example of this. In one of its advertisements, the company has used a gradient blue as its base, with a clean and minimalist approach to bringing the viewer’s attention to its product. Thus, it not only reflects the brand’s design philosophy but also allows it to present the product in a much more meaningful manner.

Image Source

2. Fosters Brand Identity

Let me ask you something – think of a brand with the colors red and white. The first few names that pop into your head are YouTube or Coca-Cola, isn’t it?

Well, this is the power of branding! It creates a strong market presence and allows your target audience to resonate with certain colors, fonts, and designs. Such consistent palettes immediately make them think of you, even when they haven’t used your products or services in a long time.

Let us have a look at Coca-Cola’s example, the company that always uses a blend of red and white to promote its beverage. Have a look at the image below. In one of its witty ad campaigns, the brand decided not to put up the Coke bottle and just leave the audience with a red canvas and typography. However, here is the twist- even though there is no particular shape in this image, you can still relate it to the Coca-Cola bottle.

This is the result of consistent branding with specific shades – it allows the world to recognize a product even when it is not there! 

3. Ignites the Intended Emotions

Your audience connects with you right at the moment when you put up the first slide. The background plays an extremely crucial role in determining the mood and the tone of the presentation. It can evoke specific emotions and align them with the theme or message you want to convey. 

For instance, in this presentation by Nike, the sports company features an intense portrait that aligns with its brand’s core themes of athleticism, determination, and empowerment. By using action shots of athletes in motion, Nike effectively communicates its brand’s essence and inspires its audience to embrace a similar mindset.

4. Increases Information Retention

One of the primary goals of any presentation is to ensure that the audience retains the information presented. A well-designed background can aid in this process by complementing the content and reinforcing the message. When the background visuals are relevant to the subject matter, they provide additional context and make the content more memorable.

a). Be Mindful of Colors

Color psychology plays a pivotal role in influencing perceptions. When selecting colors for your backgrounds, consider the nature of your content and pick a palette accordingly. Make sure to avoid overwhelming the audience by choosing irrelevant colors and contrasts.

Suppose you are delivering a presentation on the environment. Here, you can go for a combination of blue and green to showcase nature, earth, flora, and fauna.

b). Embrace Minimalism

A busy or untidy background reflects unprofessionalism and distracts your audience. It can snatch away their focus and make your efforts go in vain. 

To avoid this, it is vital to harness the power of aesthetics and minimal backdrops to ensure that your message is being conveyed clearly and effectively.

For example, if you are presenting a product launch to potential investors, opt for a simple background with a subtle texture or neutral tones that go well with your product images and key statistics. By keeping the design clean, you create a professional and sleek look, allowing the investors to concentrate on the product’s value and market potential.

c). Harness the Power of Templates

We all know that crafting slides with amazing backgrounds from scratch is quite a burden and a time-consuming task. It can leave your presentation looking unprofessional if not done correctly. 

Thus, you can use expert-designed presentation templates that can be easily customized. 

Let us have a look at some background template examples here that you can use for different purposes-

1. For presentations related to nature

You can make your presentations on deforestation, air pollution, global warming, environmental issues, sustainability, natural resources, etc., more lively and intriguing using nature and green leaves background templates. You can use an ocean theme template depicting aquatic flora and fauna to talk about oceans, marine resources, threats to marine ecosystems, etc., in a visually engaging manner. Similarly, you can go for a pre-designed mountain background theme to deliver presentations on the types and characteristics of mountains, the world’s beautiful mountains for trekkers, etc.

2. For educational presentations 

Don’t let your educational presentations be boring; make them interactive for students/learners by using subject-specific backgrounds. For example, by incorporating a science background into your slides, you can explain the concepts related to genetics, chemistry, physics, and biology in an understandable manner. Likewise, you can make mathematical theorems, formulas, algebraic equations, and concepts related to trigonometry and geometry more meaningful for students by using the math background template .

3. For presentations focused on future innovations and developments

You can complement textual information about futuristic concepts, innovative products, technological advancements, and future trends with a futuristic background template .

For adding vibrancy to your presentations related to trends in clothing and fashion accessories, you can use neon background slides.

4. For presentations related to seasons 

Educate your audience about the importance, climatic conditions, and festivals of winter, autumn, and rainy seasons by leveraging snowflake background , fall background , and clouds background templates. The use of the right color patterns and design elements will draw the audience’s attention, helping you communicate your information impressively.

5. For IT-related presentations 

Professionals from Information Technology can use templates with an IT background , computer background , big data network pattern background , and security background to communicate messages about the latest trends in the industry, evolving technologies, cybersecurity, etc. By utilizing these backgrounds, you can ensure that your presentation has a cohesive and user-friendly look, making it easier for your audience to follow.

(i). Consider the Audience and Event

One of the most critical factors to remember is your audience and their backgrounds. Consider their age, profession, and knowledge level. Are they students or professionals? Do they have experience in the field, or are they beginners? What are their expectations from your presentation?

Answering such questions will let you tailor your backdrops for the audience, making the presentation more interactive and engaging. 

For instance, if you are presenting to a younger group of students, consider using vibrant backgrounds that denote liveliness and joy. However, if your audience is a crew of corporate employees, opt for a monochromatic or solid color to keep it formal.

(ii). Ensure Readability and Accessibility

No matter how visually appealing your background is, it should not compromise readability and accessibility. Your audience must be able to easily read the text and understand the content of your presentation.

Thus, keep a decent contrast between the background and the text colors. Choose a clear, bold font that can be read even by those sitting at the back.

(iii). Limit the Number of Animations

While animations can add visual interest to your presentation, excessive or distracting animations in the background can backfire, making your entire effort fall flat.

If you include animations, opt for subtle and smooth effects that complement your content rather than overshadow it. Avoid using auto-advancing backgrounds that may distract or confuse your audience.

Slide backgrounds play a vital role in determining the success of your presentation. If crafted skillfully, they can reinforce your brand image and let you convey your message impressively and in a memorable way.

As mentioned above, most global brands strategically utilize background design to create impactful and memorable presentations. Thus, it is time for you to tickle your creative nerves and use backgrounds that make an impact.

I hope this article helps you in your next presentation endeavors.

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Ashish Arora

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