This example sets the fill of shape one on slide one in the active presentation to match the slide background.
ActivePresentation.Slides(1).Shapes(1).Fill.Background
This example sets the background for slide one in the active presentation to a preset gradient, adds a rectangle to the slide, and then places three ovals in front of the rectangle. The first oval has a fill that matches the slide background, the second has a transparent fill, and the third has the same fill applied to it as was applied to the background. Notice the difference in the appearances of these three ovals.
With ActivePresentation.Slides(1)
.FollowMasterBackground = False
.Background.Fill.PresetGradient _
msoGradientHorizontal, 1, msoGradientDaybreak
With .Shapes
.AddShape msoShapeRectangle, 50, 200, 600, 100
.AddShape(msoShapeOval, 75, 150, 150, 100) _
.Fill.Background
.AddShape(msoShapeOval, 275, 150, 150, 100).Fill _
.Transparency = 1
.AddShape(msoShapeOval, 475, 150, 150, 100) _
.Fill.PresetGradient _
msoGradientHorizontal, 1, msoGradientDaybreak
End With
End With