Apply a picture to WordArt in Microsoft Office Word 2007

Learn how to apply images, color, WordArt, and more with Microsoft Office Word 2007.

Video: Apply a picture to WordArt

WordArt makes use of color and images to make titles much more interesting in worksheets or assignments. The title of a report on the life cycle of flowering plants can come to life with colorful pictures and engaging WordArt. Watch the video

Example

To add graphic interest to the title, you can replace a fill color with a picture. For example, the image below shows a WordArt title with a white outline and a picture inside the word. A drawing canvas in Microsoft Word is then used to layer the title over another image. WordArt images can come from any source, including clip art, a picture CD, a scanner, or a digital camera.

WordArt can capture your readers' attention.

Note: WordArt is also available in other Microsoft Office 2007 programs, such as Office Excel 2007 and Office PowerPoint 2007. You will find that WordArt works in the same way, regardless of which program you use. And you can copy the WordArt you create in one program to another.

To create a WordArt title that contains a picture:

Open a new or existing document, and click where you would like to place WordArt. Keep in mind that you can move it or adjust it later.
On the Insert tab in the Text group, click WordArt, and select a style. Start with a fairly plain style, such as WordArt style 1—the first style in the gallery.
Type your title or phrase, and apply formatting options, such as font and size. Select formatting that provides enough area within the letters to accommodate an image. For example, use Bold, and avoid fonts with thin lines. Click OK. The WordArt appears in your document where you clicked.
To insert a picture, select the title. Then, click the WordArt Tools Format tab.
In the WordArt Styles group, click the arrow next to the Shape Fill button, and then click Picture.
Browse for the picture you want to use, click Insert, and the picture will appear inside the WordArt title.
Move or resize the title, or apply formatting. Here are some things you can try:

Add an outline to make the words stand out. In the WordArt Styles group, click the arrow next to the Shape Outline button, and select a color. Click Weight, and select a heavier line to help the letters pop out.
Resize, move, or change the shape of the WordArt title. To keep the WordArt in the correct proportion, drag from a corner box. Click Text Wrapping, and select any option other than In Line with Text to move the title freely on the page.
Resize or crop the picture. WordArt changes the proportions of a picture to fit the size and shape of the title. If your picture is tall, and your title is wide, WordArt will squeeze the picture vertically to fit. If you want the picture to maintain its original aspect ratio, crop and resize the picture with a picture-editing tool to better match the proportions of the title, and then reinsert it. (Watch the instructional video on this page to see how.) You can also use the tool to crop out parts of the picture you do not want in the WordArt. For example, you can use Microsoft Office Picture Manager, which comes with the 2007 Microsoft Office suites.
To make the title easier to read, try simplifying the text with fewer words and with letters that work better with images. Also, select images that do not have a lot of fine detail.