How to Change Layers in Powerpoint 2013

You might decide that you need to change layers in your Powerpoint slideshow if an object in a slide is covering, or being covered by, another object. This can be important to know if you have transparent pictures in your slideshow, and you are trying to position your text boxes and pictures so that they have the right effect.

This can be frustrating to deal with, and you might have even resorted to trying to figure out the order in which to place each slide element to achieve the desired result. But there is a feature in Powerpoint 2013 that helps you to change the layers of your pictures, text boxes, and other slide elements. Our guide below will show you where to find these options and how to use them.

How to Adjust Object Layering on Slides in Powerpoint 2013

The steps in this guide will show you how to select an object in your slide(like a text box or an image) then either bring that slide forward, or send it backward. This positioning is relative to the other objects on the slide.

Step 1: Open your slideshow in Powerpoint 2013.

Step 2: Select the slide containing the object for which you would like to change the layer.

select a slide

Step 3: Click on the object to select it.

select the object whose layer you want to change

Step 4: Click the Format tab under Drawing Tools at the top of the window.

click the drawing tools format tab

Step 5: Click the Bring Forward or Send Backward button in the Arrange section of the ribbon, depending upon the layer change that you wish to perform.

how to change layers in powerpoint 2013

Selecting the Bring Forward option will put the object one level higher than its current layer, while the Send Backward button will put the object one layer lower.

Note that there is a Bring to the Front option under Bring Forward, and a Send to the Back option under Send Backward. Your slide might have a lot of layers, and using one of those specific options will make it much easier to place an object on the top or bottom layer of the slide.

Do you use Photoshop, too, and you’ve been wondering how to use layers in that program? Learn more about changing Photoshop layers and see how versatile a tool layers can be.

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