Google Drawings is a tool for simple graphics, while Google Slides is a web presentation tool. We can call them the PowerPoint and CorelDraw of Google. They both lack some features and capabilities, but they allow you work collaboratively with others and store your documents in Google Drive along with the rest of your content.
Google Slides by default does not allow users to insert a Google Drawing into Google Slides. However, there is a special process to insert drawing from Google drawings into Google slides. Lets delve into it!
Method #1. Publish to the web
If you already have your drawing ready, you just need to publish the web. Here’s how to:
- Open your Google Drawing.
- Click on File.
- Then click on Publish to the web.
- Once you click on publish to the web, a new window will open with a document link. Copy that document link (CTRL+C).
- Then go to your Google Slide presentation.
- Click on Insert.
- Click on Image.
- Click on By URL.
- A new window will open to insert images.
- Paste the link here and click Insert.
- The image will then be inserted to your Slides.
When you add or change an image in Google Drawing, your changes won’t be reflected in the Slides. To update your image, copy-paste again from the Google Drawing using the same steps.
Method #2. Using the scribble tool
You can do this by:
- Open your Google Slides presentation through your Google Drive.
- A new tab will appear for your Google Slides.
- Select the slide you want to draw in.
- Go to the “Insert” tab option.
- Select “Line”.
- A drop-down menu will open beside “Line”.
- Click the “Scribble” toolbar.
- A plus sign will appear as your cursor. Start drawing left-clicking your mouse and holding it until you create your desired drawing. After making your specific line or drawing, release the left-click button on your mouse.
You have successfully made a drawing on your Google Slides. You can try the third method.
Method #3. Using the annotate extension
The Google Annotate extension works well with Google Slides. Here’s how to use it:
Step #1. First add the Annotate extension to your browser
- Go to Google Chrome and search for “Annotate Extension” in a new tab. Click the word link to “Annotate: Web annotation with Screen Sharing”.
- A window from the Google Chrome web store will open,click on “Add to Chrome”.
- Select “Add to Chrome,” then Click “Add to extension.”
- Pin this extension to your Google Chrome, by clicking the “puzzle piece shape” button and choosing the “Pin” icon beside “Annotate extension.”
- Then go to Google Slides, navigate to the “Annotate extension” toolbar.
- Select the “Annotate” icon.
- Click on “Sign in” when it pops up.
- A new tab will open if you click the “Sign in” option.
- Click “Sign in with Google” and choose your Google account then click “Allow”.
Step #2. Second use the extension to insert Google drawing on Google Slide
- Go back to Google Slides, select the “Annotate” icon, and choose “Show toolbar” option to activate the toolbar in Google Slides.
- Use the “toolbar” to create anything you want on your slides.
Step #3. Adjust the drawing and save
- Use the setting to adjust the line weight, opacity, and stroke of the pen.
- Click the “Save Annotations” toolbar to save your drawing in Google Slides.
- Your annotations will be kept in your Annotate account.
Any of the three methods will allow you know how to insert Google Drawing into Google Slides.
Is it possible to do a freehand drawing on Google Slides presentation?
If you connect a drawing tablet to your device and using that to control tools in your Google Slides, then you can do a freehand drawing on your Google Slides presentation.
However you cannot do a freehand drawing on the Google Slides mobile app. Just use the desktop version.