Create digital backgrounds with Excel – How-to

Create digital backgrounds with Excel - How to - Techronology

Overview of how to create digital backgrounds with Excel

This how to tutorial illustrates the steps to create digital backgrounds with Excel. For the purpose of this lesson, we will create a zeros and ones transparent background.

Moreover, the zeros and ones will randomly generate in Excel. Therefore, you can use a different set of numbers at any times, for any project.

The plan

Sample zeros and ones digital background with fade effect - Techronology

So, the main objective is to show you how to create something similar to the above image. However, this tutorial takes you up to the point of showing just the zeros and ones. But in our video below, you get to see how to apply some color to it.

For the most part, this type of background is a great start to creating a nice cover page with title text and graphic overlays.


Requirements

  • Microsoft Excel 2007 or higher or compatible
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 or higher or compatible

In addition to the above requirements, this lesson was taught on a Windows computer with a two-button mouse.


Table of contents

  1. Steps to design zeros and ones background
  2. Randomly produce zeros and ones
  3. Resize columns
  4. Copy and paste random zeros and ones
  5. Hide gridlines
  6. Create zeros and ones image
  7. Sample digital backgrounds
  8. The video
  9. Key information on working with images in PowerPoint
  10. Related

Steps to design zeros and ones background

Follow steps below to design zeros and ones background in Excel.

Randomly produce zeros and ones

Firstly, we want to randomly show 0 or 1 in a cell.

Create digital backgrounds with Excel - How to - RANDBETWEEN - Techronology
  1. Since we are looking to display zeros and ones, enter the function =RANDBETWEEN(0, 1) in cell A1. RANDBETWEEN displays a random number between two integers.
How to create digital backgrounds with Excel - Result of RANDBETWEEN - Techronology

As a result, 0 or 1 appears in A1. If you want to test out the function, then press F9 a few times to recalculate the sheet.

Resize the columns

Before we copy our formula into other cells, we will resize the columns to bring the numbers closer.

Select all cells in Excel worksheet - Techronology
  1. Select entire sheet by pressing Ctrl+A or by clicking on he button next to column header A.
Resize columns in Excel - Techronology
  1. Double-click on the line between column headers A and B. This will resize column A to fit the contents of A1. Then, move the same header line left or right to make all columns equal width.

Copy and paste random zeros and ones

We are almost there. Once we get a good amount of zeros and ones across the sheet, we will have our digital background. So, let us expand the zeros and ones.

Create digital backgrounds with Excel - How to - Copy and paste zeros and ones - Techronology
  1. Copy (Ctrl + C) cell A1. Select a bunch of cells and paste (Ctrl + V) the contents from A1.

Test it out. Press F9 to recalculate your sheet. The zeros and ones will change if you copied the RANDBETWEEN function to your selected cells.

Note: Our selection range is from A1 to CV80. So, that is 100 columns and 80 rows. That range will cover US letter size and A4 international documents.

Note: Since this is a function, you do not want to copy it to all the cells on the sheet.

Hide gridlines

When we copy the zeros and ones into PowerPoint or another document, we do not want to show gridlines. At least, in this case.

Hide gridlines in Excel - Techronology
  1. From the menu, click View.
  2. Under the View ribbon, uncheck Gridlines in the Show section. As a result, the gridlines will disappear, as shown below.
Create digital backgrounds with Excel - How to - Hide gridlines - Techronology

Finally, you are now ready to put your zeros and ones to work.

Create zeros and ones image

To make the zeros and ones image, we will convert the spreadsheet contents into a ‘transparent’ metafile. PowerPoint is probably the easiest way to show you this.

Before moving to the next step, open PowerPoint and start a new document.

Select and copy cells with zeros and ones in Excel - Techronology
  1. Select and copy only the cells that have zeros and ones. Switch to PowerPoint.
How to create digital backgrounds with Excel - Paste Special in PowerPoint - Techronology
  1. Click Home from the menu and select Paste from the Clipboard section of the ribbon.
  2. Under Paste Options, click Paste Special…

This will open the Paste Special dialog box.

Paste Special dialog box - Techronology
  1. Under the Paste Special dialog box, select Picture (Enhanced Metafile) and click OK.

You now have a transparent zeros and ones image in PowerPoint, as shown below. Thus, you will be able to place all types of background behind it.

Note: Notice that the image fits the screen. Therefore, you will need to scale it to 100%. It is okay if the image overflows the white area. If that bothers you, then you can crop the image.

Additionally, you can copy your image into other vector-based design applications that recognize metafiles. For programs like Photoshop, you may need to save your image as a PNG first.


Success!

Congratulations! So, now you know how to create digital backgrounds with Excel.

If you had issues, then feel free to give it another shot. Thank you!


Sample digital backgrounds

Here are some sample digital backgrounds we created with zeros and ones in Excel and PowerPoint. Also keep in mind, these are basic samples. Of course, you are free to show out.

Sample 1

Digital backgrounds - Sample 1 - Techronology

Unless you need a specific color, you can brighten up your zeros and ones directly in PowerPoint.

Sample 2

Digital backgrounds - Sample 2 - Photoshop fade and soft light effect Techronology

In Photoshop, we applied Soft Light effect to PNG version of zeros and ones and faded it out a little, from the bottom.

Sample 3

Rotate the zeros and ones over a fancy background to make it pop - Techronology

So, rotate zeros and ones over fancy background to make it pop.


Video on how to create digital backgrounds in Excel

Overall, this video illustrates how to create digital backgrounds with Excel and PowerPoint.

Key information on working with images in PowerPoint