Here is one of our favorite visual tricks at TLC Creative Services for making slides with a key quote stand out. Background fill!
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/2014/14_Mar/Quotes_23.jpg?mtime=1394322861)
I am doing this as a 3-post series: this one shows the end result (see above) and PowerPoint formatting, the next post will detail our development process in Adobe Illustrator, and the third will show a PowerPoint only development process for the graphics. Thanks to Amber, a TLC staff designer, for creating the sample images for this series.
Using the quote mark .emf graphics, they are not very impressive without some styling applied and a special option for their fill color. Insert the .emf graphic (download here).
1. Right click on a quote mark and select FORMAT SHAPE.
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/2014/14_Mar/Quotes_13.jpg?mtime=1394322750)
2. Go to FILL and select SLIDE BACKGROUND FILL
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/2014/14_Mar/Quotes_14.jpg?mtime=1394322758)
3. The Quote marks will disappear on the slide because they are set to be the same background color as the slide.
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/2014/14_Mar/Quotes_15.jpg?mtime=1394322773)
4. Add a shadow effect, bevel, outline, glow or other styling effects to your quote marks. For ours, we have added a subtle drop shadow.
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/2014/14_Mar/Quotes_16.jpg?mtime=1394322792)
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/2014/14_Mar/Quotes_17.jpg?mtime=1394322805)
5. Still not super dynamic, but the quote marks are looking more styled.
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/2014/14_Mar/Quotes_18.jpg?mtime=1394322814)
6. But when placed on a colorful image background – dynamic! Move the quote mark graphics to any part of the slide and their fill updates.
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/2014/14_Mar/Quotes_21.jpg?mtime=1394322839)
![](https://thepowerpointblog.com/media/blogs/all/2014/14_Mar/Quotes_22.jpg?mtime=1394322851)
Note: The slide background needs to be set with the Background Fill, not an image on the slide for this effect to work.
– Troy @ TLC