PowerPoint · Stamps, Redact & Transparency
Overlay and selection tools on the Tools group (first Tools column): Stamps, Redact, and Transparency.
Visual indicators and Mini chart are on Elements — see Visual indicators. Check period / numbers / fonts and Send / Finalize are also on Tools, documented separately.
1. Stamps
Diagonal status text in the top-right of the slide. Tools → Stamps.
Presets
| Menu item |
|---|
| DRAFT |
| CONFIDENTIAL |
| DO NOT DISTRIBUTE |
| FOR REVIEW |
| REVIEWED |
| NEW |
| PENDING INFORMATION |
| Custom… |
Multiple stamps on one slide stack vertically.
Lifecycle
| Menu item | Effect |
|---|---|
| (preset / Custom…) | Add stamp on this slide |
| Hide stamps — this slide | Move stamps off-slide (keeps position for restore) |
| Show stamps — this slide | Restore hidden stamps on this slide |
| Hide stamps — all slides | Move stamps off-slide on every slide |
| Show stamps — all slides | Restore hidden stamps on every slide |
| Delete stamps — this slide | Remove stamps on this slide |
| Delete stamps — all slides | Remove stamps on every slide |
Finalize deck can strip stamps from a distribution copy while leaving the working deck alone — see Send & Finalize.
2. Redact
Tools → Redact (Ctrl+Shift+R for temporary cover).
| Menu item | Effect |
|---|---|
| Cover | Temporary black cover over the selection (reversible) |
| Permanent | Destroys underlying text/picture data under the cover |
| Remove cover — this slide | Remove temporary covers on this slide |
| Remove cover — all slides | Remove temporary covers on every slide |
Use Cover for internal review; use Permanent only when you mean to destroy content before an external send.
3. Transparency
Tools → Transparency (Ctrl+Shift+T) cycles fill transparency: 0% → 20% → 40% → 60% → 80% → 100% → 0%. Acts on the selection (including groups when PowerPoint allows).
Troubleshooting
- Stamp still visible after Finalize — Finalize strips stamps only on the saved copy; Hide/Delete on the working deck if you need that file clean too.
- Permanent redact cannot be undone — expected; use Cover when you may need to reveal later.
- Transparency does nothing — select a shape with a fill; some picture/line selections have no fill to cycle.