[Libs-Or] Tech-Talk: PowerPoint/Google Sheets - Crop It Your Way: Turn Photos into Shapes

Tue Jan 27 13:38:56 PST 2026

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Webinars for You

NOTE: Webinars begin at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT / 1 pm MT / 12 Noon PT and are one hour long.

January 28: [COMMUNICATION] OurStoryBridge: Connecting the Past and Present! Why Attend? You want to capture people’s stories in your community, knowing that online, brief oral histories are the way to do it in the 21st century.

February 11: [GOOGLE FORMS & AI] Let AI Reveal the Story Behind Your Google Form Responses. Why Attend? You gather data with forms and want immediate analysis of trends and summaries.

February 25: [WEB TOOLS] Discover 10 Free Web Tools We Use Continually. Why Attend? You enjoy knowing the perfect tool for things you do regularly so that you’re productive and creative.

March 11: [WEB AUTHORING] Webpage Accessibility That Actually Works for Libraries, WCAG 2.1 Explained. Why Attend? You want to know how to make your website compliant with accessibility standards.

View Webinars and Register Here<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-1IHVX6IwukxHecvE7HzVgZazhTQ8Tfzp3oh3m690OHEmfhCGAeyYVJaUJGIsKg6lw1F-uQRuxoLSbqMLj9reoWB5VdVe2P79dPgMy2V0-VbADz7zgdUezExsHgOOTAAzbJEdjoOSWEXcOZ5XWC_qwutAaOqLkaMQW2P8MCPx78=&c=tz0IHn8T_HqX830gpEreezLCG_UEq19xGWoQeZ6zcRMHHvgBxMupYw==&ch=M4x8UkfsOo4Jff1NLW__fFBQqJansISrSjb1gFE8bPPrfHwKHkgZEw==>

POWERPOINT - Crop It Your Way: Turn Photos into Shapes

Intermediate

You put a picture on a PowerPoint slide. It fits…but maybe it doesn’t match the rest of the design. Perhaps you want your photo to be a shape other than a rectangle. You want a circle or even a star…

Good news! When a square image doesn’t work, or you want some extra pizzaz, let a shape do the job for you. And you don’t need a separate photo editor. You can crop an image right into a shape in PowerPoint and Google Slides. It’s an easy way to give your slides a cleaner look.

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Crop a Photo to a Shape in PowerPoint

PowerPoint offers many shape options…

When you want to change the shape of your image, follow these steps:

[A dropdown menu shows crop options, with “Crop to Shape” circled in red. Other visible options include Crop, Aspect Ratio, Fill, and Fit. The Crop icon is highlighted at the top.]
1.  Click on the picture to select it.
2.  Go to the Picture Format tab.
3.  Click the dropdown arrow under Crop.
4.  Choose Crop to Shape.
5.  Select the shape you want.

Your image will snap to the shape. Don’t worry if it doesn’t look perfect yet! You can fine-tune it by clicking Crop again. Then you can reposition or resize the image inside the frame.

TIP: If your shape looks off, you can resize the image before cropping. That means starting with a larger image is a good strategy because it gives you more control.

Crop a Photo to a Shape in Web 365

The steps in PowerPoint Web 365 are very similar to the desktop app. You'll see that some of the phrasing is different.

[A screenshot showing a dropdown menu with crop options. The “Crop to Shape” option is highlighted with a red oval, below the standard “Crop” option. "More Crop Options" is listed at the bottom.]

When you want to change the shape of your image in PowerPoint Web 365:
1.  Select the image.
2.  Go to the Picture tab.
3.  Click the dropdown arrow next to Crop.
4.  Choose Crop to Shape.
5.  Select the shape you want.

Crop a Photo to a Shape in Google Slides

You can change the shape of an image in Slides, too. It is called Mask image. To change the shape:

[A dropdown menu displays options for Shapes, Arrows, Callouts, and Equation, with the Shapes submenu open showing various geometric shape icons and symbols in rows.]
1.  Click on the image on your slide.
2.  In the toolbar, click on the arrow next to the crop image icon.
3.  Select Shapes.
4.  Choose a shape.

Your image is instantly cropped. Double-click the picture or drag the edges to resize the crop area.

An Upcoming Special Webinar - Jan 28

Why Librarians Should Know About OurStoryBridge

OurStoryBridge is a free, nationwide storytelling program that helps libraries become living hubs of local history, connection, and civic pride. Through short, easy-to-record audio stories paired with photos, libraries empower patrons of all ages to preserve memories that might otherwise be lost…while strengthening intergenerational bonds and community engagement.

Founded by Jery Y. Huntley, an avid Tech-Talk reader and longtime webinar attendee, the program grew rapidly thanks to practical tech skills she learned through Tech-Talk (so she says) …making the process more efficient, accessible, and scalable for libraries of all sizes.

Jery first introduced OurStoryBridge to Tech-Talk followers four-and-a-half years ago through libraries…and the response was immediate. Now she’s back to share how this proven, no-cost program can help more libraries spark connection, preserve history, and deepen their community impact.

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Communications: 12 Power Words #7

“How do you feel…about”

How often do you say something such as, “How do you like it?” Maybe it’s a program you’ve put together, a drawing you’ve created, or even a new shirt you just purchased.

[Chalkboard with the phrase "WORDS HAVE POWER" written in white chalk; the "O" in "WORDS" is replaced by a red heart.]

In these situations, I bet you’d be happier if they gave you a positive answer.

Or maybe, you’re proposing a big change in routine at work. You want to know what people think about your suggestion. You ask them.

TIP: Here’s a clever communication technique to get good info and minimize the negativity. Instead of asking, “What do you think about this?” (which is what most of us say) … ask, “How do you feel about this?”

The way you phrase the question isn’t going to influence what they think or how they feel, but what it does do is to release the pressure of having to think up a good answer. It’s a cerebral activity. It’s harder to think than to feel.

So when you ask, “How do you feel about my idea?”, “my suggestion”, “the changes being proposed” … people are more willingly to give you an answer, and that response has a tendency to be less critical, more positive.

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Cheers,
Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers)
Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator
Continuing Education Resources: https://slo.oregon.gov/conted/
State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services
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