The Photopia Blog
Tips, tutorials & inspiration for making slideshows
SEPTEMBER 30, By Photopia
Creating a Fixed Background Slideshow in Photopia
One of the simplest tricks to make your slideshow look polished is to have your images transition while the background stays perfectly still. This creates a smooth, floating effect, as if your photos are sliding across a stage with a fixed backdrop.
Here’s how to create this effect in Photopia:
1. Add a Show Background
Instead of adding a background as a layer in a slide, use the Show Background. This keeps your background image or color consistent behind every slide throughout the show.
Show backgrounds can be added by selecting the Show Background option at the bottom of any slide or in the Show tab.
Click “Edit Background”, then click on the folder icon to open the browser and choose your show background.
Note: Only one show background can be used during your show. The Show Background cannot transition to a new background in the middle of your show.
2. Create Your Slides
Add your images (and any embellishments you like), but be careful not to let them touch the edges of the screen. Leaving space around your photos ensures that all layers transition smoothly and do not get cut off, regardless of the direction of the push transition you choose.
3. Apply a Push Transition
Select a transition between your slides to open the Transition window. Choose a Push transition and be sure to uncheck “Include Background in Transition.” This is the key step that keeps your background fixed in place while only your images slide across the screen.
And that’s it! By following these three steps, you can make your slides appear as if they are floating above a still background. It’s a subtle detail that can make a big difference!
