Modifying how an image looks is the part of working with images that can gobble up as much time as surfing the Web. As you're fiddling with an image, save frequently, be patient, and don't be obsessed with getting it perfect.
Adding or Modifying the Borders of an ImageAdding borders around the edge of an image gives it definition, and removing borders makes it blend into the surrounding text. You can add borders around pictures, drawing objects, and WordArt images. (With WordArt images, the border appears around the outside edge of each letter.) To add or modify a border, follow these steps:
Word adds a border to the image. You may want to click outside of the image to deselect it so that you can see the border more clearly. To remove a border, select the image, click the Line Color button in the Drawing (or Picture) toolbar, and choose No Line. Adding or Modifying the Fill Color of an ImageIf an image has a background, you can fill it in with color. You can also use fill color to color drawing objects such as rectangles and ovals. When you apply a fill color to a WordArt image, it colors the inside portion of each letter. If your image doesn't have any background areas, nothing will happen when you apply a fill color. To add or modify the fill color of an image, follow these steps:
Rotating a Drawing Object or a WordArt ImageYou can rotate a picture, drawing object, or WordArt image. The image stays the sameyou just adjust its angle on the page. Follow these steps to rotate a drawing object or WordArt image:
Adjusting Brightness and ContrastIf you have a picture with brightness or contrast problemsmaybe it looks washed out or it's too darktry using the More Contrast, Less Contrast, More Brightness, and Less Brightness buttons on the Picture toolbar (see Figure 17.12). Select the image and then click the desired button one or more times until you see the desired effect. These tools are especially useful for photographs. Figure 17.12. This photograph was lightened with the Less Brightness tool.
Modifying a WordArt ImageAs you've seen, many of the tools you can use with pictures and drawing objects also work with WordArt images. However, the WordArt toolbar also contains five tools that are specific to modifying WordArt images (see Figure 17.13). The WordArt toolbar appears automatically when a WordArt image is selected, but you can display it at any time by choosing View, Toolbars, WordArt. Figure 17.13. WordArt comes with some special tools.
The names of the WordArt tools give you a good idea of what they do:
You may have noticed the two small yellow diamonds that appear when a WordArt image that is formatted with a text-wrapping option is selected. These are adjustment handles; you can drag either one of them to skew the image. |