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. Click Add text in the toolbar.
3. A text box appears in the centre of the canvas. Double-click it to start typing.
4. Click outside the text box when you are done.

To format text while editing, select some text and a floating toolbar appears above the selection. Use it to apply Bold, Italic, bullet lists, numbered lists, or a quote style.

When the text box is selected but you are not in edit mode, the properties panel on the right shows the full range of text options: font, size, bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough toggles, horizontal and vertical alignment, letter spacing, line height, text colour, and highlight colour. You can also set a solid colour or gradient background behind the text box from the same panel.

Add an image

1. Select the slide you want to edit.
2. Click Add image in the toolbar.
3. The Add image dialog opens. Choose one of two options:
   • Click Upload from device to pick a file from your computer.
   • Browse your Drive and click a file to select it, then click Select.
4. The image appears on the canvas.

You can also drag an image file from your desktop and drop it directly onto the canvas. Slides adds it to the active slide.

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

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 pixel at a time.

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

Select multiple objects

Hold Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) and click objects to add them to the selection. You can also drag a selection rectangle across the canvas to select everything it touches.

With multiple objects selected, the properties panel adds an Arrange section. Use it to align objects to each other (left, centre, right, top, middle, or bottom), match their width or height, or distribute three or more objects evenly.

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

Adjust borders

Both text boxes and images support a border. Select the object and open the Border section in the properties panel. Set a colour, a width, and a corner radius. Enable Rounded (shown as 50%) to make the object a circle or oval.

Change the layering order

Right-click an object and choose from the context menu:

• Move up: moves the object one step towards the front.
• Move down: moves the object one step towards the back.
• Bring to front: places the object in front of all others.
• Send to back: places the object behind all others.

Delete an object

Select the object and press Delete or Backspace. Or right-click and choose Delete from the context 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 active slide. You can paste between slides in the same presentation.

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