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Like previous version of the program, PowerPoint 2010 continues to provide an amazing array of options to format your slide backgrounds. We started this series of tutorials by exploring how you can Format Slide Backgrounds in PowerPoint 2010. This tutorial builds upon what you have already learned, and show how you can add a gradient fill to your slide background. Gradient fills are typically blended fills between two or more colors that graduate from one color to another. Follow these steps to explore more:

1. We assume you have a new presentation created, or you have opened any of your existing presentations. We also assume that you have summoned the Format Background dialog box, as explained in the aforementioned Format Slide Background in PowerPoint 2010 tutorial. Alternatively, just right-click in an empty area of your slide and choose the Format Background option in the resultant contextual menu to bring up the same dialog box.
   
   
2. Within the Format Background dialog box, make sure that the Fill panel is active in the sidebar. Then, select the Gradient fill radio button, as shown highlighted in red in Figure 1.
   
   
   Figure 1: Gradient fill radio button selected within the Format Background dialog box
   
   When you select the Gradient fill radio button, you can see a live preview of your active slide in the open presentation changes to a gradient fill – your slide background will auto-update with any changes you make in the Format Background dialog box. The options within the Format Background dialog box are marked in Figure 1 -- and explained below:
   
   Options A through E are explained in further detail in our More Gradients in PowerPoint 2010 tutorial -- look at points 3A through 3E on that page. In addition, do note that the Preset colors (Option A) includes a gallery of several ready to use default gradients that you can select for your slide background. However, we recommend that you do not use any of these presets since they typically are too crowded and intense to work well as backgrounds.
   
   In addition, options F through I are related to Gradient stops -- this concept is explained within our Gradient Stops in PowerPoint 2010 tutorial.
   
   
3. Set the gradient fill as required using the options available -- thereafter apply the gradient fill to your slides by clicking either:
   
   1. The Close button to fill selected slides in the presentation with the gradient fill. If you don't have multiple slides selected, the gradient fill will be applied to the active slide only.
      
      
   2. The Apply to All button to fill all slides in the presentation with the gradient fill.
      
      More details about the Close and Apply to All buttons can be found in our Format Slide Background in PowerPoint 2010 tutorial.
      
4. In Figure 2 you can see the slide background of the entire presentation filled with a gradient.
   
   
   Figure 2: Presentation with a gradient fill color background
   
   
5. Remember to save your presentation often.

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