Backgrounds and Effects:

To combine text and image in one slide:

1. Open new slide. Past image in slide.

2. Open a second slide. Type in your text.

3. Now select the text in that second slide, and cut/copy it to the clipboard.

4. Return to the slide with the image on it, and paste your text on top.

Don't forget to go back to erase your empty slide!

Transitions:

Each slide has both an "entrance" and an "exit" transition. Under the "Slide Show" menu, select "Custom Animation." In both Macintosh and PC, you'll get a window that allows you to select how you want the slide to appear ("entrance") and then disappear ("exit") off the screen again.

You can also choose different entrances and exits for text-image combinations. For example, you can have the background image appear first, then the text, then have the text fade out, followed by the image. You must click on the individual components of the slide (i.e. "title" or "text") you're selecting transitions for in order to do this.