Introduction
If you work with presentations, you know how much time is wasted looking for high-quality images, removing backgrounds with external tools or retouching photos before inserting them into slides. Until now, each of these operations requires you to exit PowerPoint, open Photoshop or an online tool, work on the image and re-import it.
Today this is no longer the case. Microsoft has integrated a suite of AI image editing tools directly into PowerPoint that fundamentally changes the workflow of those who create professional presentations. It’s called Edit Picture and it’s accessible from the Picture Format tab.
In this mini-course, I show you how these tools work and how you can use them right away in your daily work. Each video lasts just over a minute (except for the last one, which is a 2-minute practical masterclass), because the goal is to give you operational skills, not theory.
What you will learn
- Upscale: How to triple the resolution of an image without leaving PowerPoint
- Remove Background: How to remove the background and create professional cutouts for your slides
- Move: how to move parts of the image while maintaining context
- Erase: How to erase objects or people from a photo with automatic background reconstruction
- Advanced workflow: how to combine these tools to create impactful slides from raw photos of events
Who it is aimed at
This mini-course is designed for those who use PowerPoint for work: consultants, managers, trainers, communication professionals, startup founders who prepare pitch decks. No technical image editing skills are required.
Video 1: Overview of AI tools
What this video is about
In this first video, we take a complete tour of the Edit Picture interface, the new AI PowerPoint panel dedicated to image editing. You’ll see all the tools available and understand what each one is for.
The tools available
When you select an image and open Edit Picture from the Picture Format tab, you are presented with a toolbar with 7 features:
- Add text: Adds AI-generated text directly on the image
- Erase: erase objects or people from the image, reconstructing the background
- Move: Move elements within the image
- Upscale: Improves image resolution (up to 3x)
- Remove background: Remove background with generative AI
- Auto enhance: automatically optimizes brightness, contrast and colors
- Effects: Apply artistic effects (Street, Border, Luxury, Feel, Scatter)
Why it matters
Until now, these tools required external software. Having them integrated into PowerPoint means zero interruptions in the workflow: you select the image, edit it, confirm it. All in a few seconds, without ever leaving the presentation.
Video 2: Upscale, from low resolution to high definition
The problem it solves
How many times have you had the perfect photo for a slide, but in low resolution? Maybe downloaded from a chat, a website, or taken with the zoom of the phone. The result: a grainy image that ruins the entire slide. Until yesterday, the only solution was to find another photo or use external upscaling tools.
How it works
In the video I start from a real image of a conference, at a resolution of 1286 x 720 pixels: a quality that on a Full HD screen is visibly grainy. Here’s the process:
- I select the image and open Edit Picture
- Click Upscale
- AI processes the image (the message “Improving resolution…” appears)
- A before/after comparison appears with the dimensions in pixels
- I confirm with Accept and update the slide
The result
The image goes from 1286 x 720px to 3854 x 2160px – an increase of about 3x, which equates to a resolution higher than 4K. Visual quality improves dramatically, with sharper details and sharper edges.
When to use it
- Photos of events or conferences taken in less than ideal conditions
- Images received via email or messaging (often compressed)
- Screenshots or captures from low-resolution videos
- Any image that appears grainy on the slide
Video 3: Remove Background, from cropping to a professional slide
The problem it solves
You have a photo of a speaker, a product or yourself and you want to put it on a slide with a clean layout. The problem: the background of the photo has nothing to do with the presentation’s design. You need a clean crop of the subject.
How it works
In this video, I use PowerPoint’s Remove Background feature on a photo of a subject holding the book “Presenting Data.” The process:
- I select the image and click Remove Background from the ribbon
- PowerPoint highlights in purple/magenta the areas that will be removed
- I can refine the result with Mark Areas to Keep / Mark Areas to Remove
- I confirm and get the clean crop of the subject
From the cutout to the finished slide
The most interesting part of the video is what happens after cropping. I take the cutout and place it in a professional layout with:
- Title: “AI Data Storytelling”
- Name and role: Maurizio La Cava, CEO & Co-Founder
- MLC logo and website link
- Balanced layout with the cutout positioned on the right
This is exactly the kind of slide you need for an author page, a bio slide in a deck, or an opening slide for a webinar.
Video 4: Erase, how to erase objects from photos
The problem it solves
You have the perfect photo of a stage, a location or a product, but there is an element you don’t want: a person passing by, an object out of place, one logo too many. Normally, you should open Photoshop and use the content-aware fill. Now you can do it directly in PowerPoint.
How it works
In the video, I start with a conference photo with a speaker on stage. The goal is to remove the person to get a clean photo of the stage. Here’s the process:
- I select the image and open Edit Picture
- I click on Erase
- I choose the Select mode (alternative: Brush for freehand selection)
- I select the person with a tile
- The AI processes the request (“Working on it…”)
- The speaker disappears and the background is reconstructed in a coherent way
The result
AI doesn’t just erase. It reconstructs the background as if the person had never been there. The stage, the panels, the floor, everything is regenerated credibly. The result is a photo that can be used as a background for slides or as a context image.
Two selection modes
Select: draws a box around the object you want to remove. Fast and accurate for isolated subjects.
Brush: manually brushes the area to be removed. Ideal for irregular shapes or for removing only part of an object.
Video 5: Advanced Workflow, from Raw Photo to Impact Slide
Why is this video different?
In the previous videos, you have seen individual features. Here we combine them into a complete workflow that transforms a raw photo of an event into a professional slide with dimensions, branding and curated design. It’s the kind of operation that normally takes Photoshop + PowerPoint + several minutes of work. Here we do it all in PowerPoint in about 2 minutes.
The complete workflow
Step 1: Remove Advanced Background
I start from the same conference photo as Video 4 and remove the background to get the speaker cut out. This time I use AI background remover that better handles complex details (hands, held objects, edges of clothes).
Step 2: Custom background with gradient fill
Once I have the crop, I place it on a dark background created with the gradient fill from the Format Picture panel. The dark background makes the subject stand out and creates a professional atmosphere.
Step 3: Add the Dimensions
I insert an impactful quote: “A great presentation doesn’t end with applause; it ends with a choice”. I format it with a mix of clear text and keywords highlighted in yellow MLC brand.
Step 4: Branding and final design
I add the MLC logo from the Graphic Library, decorative elements (stars/sparkle) and optimize the layout. The result is a slide with a dark/yellow background that works as:
- Opening or closing slides for a keynote
- Post for LinkedIn or social media
- Cover for a course or webinar
- Quote page in a company deck
The design techniques used
- Figure-background contrast: Bright subject on dark background for maximum visual impact
- Typographic hierarchy: keywords (“A great presentation”, “ends with a choice”) are highlighted in yellow to guide the eye
- Consistent branding: MLC colors (yellow + dark), discreetly placed but visible logo
- Less is more: one quote, one subject, zero superfluous elements
Conclusion
Integrating AI directly into PowerPoint isn’t just a technological novelty. It’s a paradigm shift in the way we work with images in presentations.
What used to require image editing skills, dedicated software and time, is now done with 3 clicks without leaving the presentation. And this changes everything, especially for those who create presentations every day.
My advice: don’t just watch videos. Open PowerPoint, take any photo, and try each tool. The only way to internalize these features is to get your hands on them.
If you want to learn more about AI applied to presentations and stay updated on upcoming news, follow me on LinkedIn or visit mlcpresentations.com.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special subscription to use these AI tools?
You need Microsoft 365 (desktop version) and a license that includes Copilot/AI features. Features are rolling out progressively, so if you don’t see them yet, make sure you have the latest version of Office up to date and that your business tenant has AI features enabled.
Do they also work on the web version of PowerPoint?
Not at the moment. Edit Picture’s AI tools are only available in the desktop version of PowerPoint for Windows. The Mac version and web version may receive them in upcoming updates.
Are images processed on-premises or in the cloud?
In the cloud. When you use Upscale, Erase, or Remove Background, the image is sent to Microsoft servers for AI processing and then returned. An active internet connection is therefore required. For those who work with sensitive data, it is important to check your organization’s compliance policies.
Does Upscale work on any type of image?
It works particularly well on photos with well-defined subjects: people, buildings, environments, objects. On images with a lot of rasterized text, vector graphics converted to bitmaps, or very fine textures, the results may vary. The tip is to always try: in the worst case you can discard the result with Discard.
Can I undo changes after using Erase or Remove Background?
Yes, with distinctions. As long as you’re inside the Edit Picture panel, you can discard the changes with Cancel or Discard. Once confirmed with Update/Accept, the change is applied to the image in the slide. At that point you can still do Ctrl+Z to undo. But if you save and close the file, the change becomes permanent. Tip: Always work on a copy of the original image.
Does Erase always reconstruct the background well?
In most cases, the result is surprising, especially with uniform backgrounds or repetitive patterns (stages, walls, landscapes, conference rooms). On very complex backgrounds with many overlapping subjects, you may need to make multiple passes or combine Erase with the Brush for manual retouching.
Can I use these tools to edit the images of the MLC Add-in?
Absolutely. Edit Picture’s AI tools work on any image inserted in the slide, regardless of the source: MLC Add-in’s Graphic Library, images imported from the PC, photos pasted from other sources. The Edit Picture panel always appears when you select an image and go to the Picture Format tab.
What is the difference between the classic and AI Remove Background of Video 5?
The classic Remove Background (the one with the purple ribbon) uses a traditional algorithm that works well with sharp contrast backgrounds. The Remove Background AI (inside Edit Picture) uses more advanced generative models that better handle complex details such as hair, hands, transparent or semi-transparent objects. For simple cutouts, both are fine; for complex situations, AI is better.
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