Insert text and images

You build slides by placing text boxes and images on the canvas. Both work the same way: add one from the toolbar, then move, resize, and adjust it from the properties panel on the right.

You need editor access to add or change content. If you can only view the presentation, the controls below are not available.

Add a text box

1. Open the presentation and select the slide you want to edit in the left panel.
2. In the toolbar, click the Text tool, or press T. It sits in the tool cluster in the middle of the toolbar.
3. Click once on the slide to drop a text box, or drag to draw one at the size you want.
4. Type your text, then click outside the box when you are done.

While you are editing, a small formatting toolbar floats above the text for basics like Bold and Italic. When the text box is selected but not in edit mode, the properties panel on the right holds the full set of options: font, size, weight, colour, alignment, letter spacing, and line height.

Add an image

1. Select the slide you want to edit.
2. Click Add image in the toolbar.
3. The Add image dialog opens. Either click Upload from device to pick a file from your computer, or browse your Drive, click a file, and click Select.
4. The image appears on the slide.

You can also drag an image file from your desktop straight onto the canvas. A Drop images to add overlay appears, and Slides adds the image to the slide you are on.

When an image is selected, the properties panel shows an Image section. Use the Fit dropdown to choose how the picture fills its box: Fit (the whole image is visible), Fill (fills the box, cropping if needed), or Stretch (stretches to fill the box exactly).

Add shapes and arrows

The same tool cluster has tools for rectangles, ellipses, lines, arrows, and freehand drawing. See Draw shapes and arrows.

Move and resize objects

Click an object to select it. Handles appear at the corners and edges.

• Move: drag the object to any position on the canvas.
• Resize: drag a corner or edge handle.
• Rotate: drag the circular handle that appears above the object (visible when one object is selected).
• Nudge: use the arrow keys to move the object one step at a time.

You can also type exact values in the X, Y, W, H, and Angle fields in the Transform section of the properties panel.

Select multiple objects

Hold Shift and click objects to add them to the selection. You can also drag a selection box across the canvas to select everything it touches.

With several objects selected, the properties panel adds an Align section. Use it to line objects up with each other (left, centre, right, top, middle, or bottom), match their width or height, or space three or more of them evenly.

Any text or image properties you change while objects of the same type are selected apply to all of them at once.

Style an image

Select an image and use the properties panel to give it an outline. The Stroke section sets the Color, the Width, and the Style (Solid, Dashed, or Dotted). The Shape section sets the Corners (Straight, Curved, or Round), so you can round an image's corners. For the full styling reference across every object, see Style objects.

Change the layering order

Right-click an object and choose from the menu:

• Bring to front: places the object in front of all others.
• Bring forward: moves it one step towards the front.
• Send backward: moves it one step towards the back.
• Send to back: places the object behind all others.

The same menu has Copy, Cut, Paste, Duplicate, Delete, and Add comment.

Delete an object

Select the object and press Delete or Backspace. Or right-click and choose Delete from the menu.

To undo a deletion, press Cmd+Z (Mac) or Ctrl+Z (Windows).

Copy and paste objects

Select an object and press Cmd+C or Ctrl+C to copy it. Press Cmd+V or Ctrl+V to paste it onto the current slide. You can paste between slides in the same presentation.

You can also paste an image from the clipboard straight onto the canvas. Copy an image in another app, switch to Slides, and paste. The image is added to the current slide.