How to Add Looping Video Backgrounds to PowerPoint

There has been a lot of discussion about how to add moving video and video backgrounds for use in a PowerPoint presentation. Many PowerPoint users want to be able to incorporate a video background into their presentation and add text and/or graphics over the video background. The problem is that PowerPoint doesn't come out of the box with a way to do this. So users must learn how to do this on their own using some video encoding techniques as well as using a third-party plugin that allows the integration of video backgrounds into PowerPoint. The following are four easy steps for adding video backgrounds to PowerPoint.

Difficulty:
    Moderately Easy

Instructions
Things You'll Need

    PowerPoint Software
    Looping Video Background(s)
    Digital Encoding Software
    Crystal Graphics PowerPlugs: Video Backgrounds Plugin

        1. Convert your video background video clip(s) to a format supported by PowerPoint: AVI, MPEG and WMV are all supported by PowerPoint. Typically if you purchased a video background from one of the leading video background websites, the file(s) will be delivered in QuickTime format. You'll need to convert the QuickTime file (or whatever format you purchased and/or downloaded) to one that works within PowerPoint. We recommend Windows Media files (WMV) because it is made and supported by Microsoft, who also makes PowerPoint.
        2. Use Microsoft's Windows Media Encoder or Flip4mac.com WMV Studio to convert your QuickTime file(s) to WMV

        You will need to use video encoding software to convert your original video background file (i.e., QuickTime) to a format that is supported by PowerPoint (i.e., WMV). Here are two leading video encoding software programs that can do the job for you:

        Microsoft's Windows Media Encoder

        Flip4mac.com WMV Studio for Mac
        3. Create your new WMV video background clip(s) using these specifications:

        Using your video encoding software of choice, choose the encoding settings based on the following specifications (generally the following specs will offer the most reliable and smooth playback within PowerPoint):

        640 x 480 resolution, 4:3 (Currently this offers the most stable playback. If using 16:9 source material you'll need to convert the 16:9 video to 4:3 letterbox when converting to 640x480).

        15 fps (frames per second)

        Medium to High Video Quality

        Test different settings to get the quality and performance you're looking for. The settings you choose will depend on the speed of your computer.
        4. Use a video background player plugin to import and play your WMV video background clips within PowerPoint.

        There are two leading options to choose from in the marketplace for PowerPoint® video background plugins. Each allows users to import WMV video (and other formats) into PowerPoint® and add text over the video.

        The last step (and the "secret" one many users don't know about) is purchasing and installing a third-party plugin that allows the video background to be added as a layer within a PowerPoint® presentation.