How do you apply a pattern background to a slide in PowerPoint?

To apply a pattern background to a slide in PowerPoint, selecting the option for Pattern Fill in the Format Background options is the most direct and effective method. This option allows you to easily choose from a variety of built-in patterns that can be customized in terms of color and style, enhancing the visual appeal of your presentation.

Using Pattern Fill specifically targets the background of the slide, ensuring that the pattern is seamlessly integrated as part of the overall design. This method is straightforward and provides immediate visual feedback, allowing you to see how the selected pattern looks on your slide.

In comparison, accessing a pattern design from the Slide Master view is more suited for applying consistent styles across an entire presentation rather than focusing on an individual slide. Adding a texture image as a full slide background changes the nature of the background to an image rather than a pattern, which may not achieve the desired effect. Lastly, using a shape filled with a pattern design over the entire slide can be cumbersome and less effective than directly assigning a pattern as the background since it requires additional formatting and ensures the shape is positioned correctly to cover the slide entirely.