Understanding WordArt

WordArt lets you create special text effects such as shadowed , rotated , stretched , or multicolored text. PowerPoint treats WordArt pictures as drawing objects, not text, so the properties that apply to other drawing objects, such as formatting, the use of 3D, and the like, also apply to WordArt.

CAUTION

Spell check doesn't work with WordArt because it's a drawing object, not text. You must check spelling the old-fashioned way in WordArt pictures.

Figure 14.32 provides some samples of the type of text formatting you can do with WordArt.

Figure 14.32. WordArt provides numerous options for creating words with special graphic effects.

CAUTION

Be careful not to overuse WordArt in your presentation or it can become cluttered and confusing. Use WordArt only for emphasis.

Inserting WordArt

To insert a WordArt image in your slide, follow these steps:

1. Select Insert, Picture, WordArt to open the WordArt Gallery dialog box shown in Figure 14.33.

   Figure 14.33. Preview WordArt styles before you choose one.

   

   You can also open the WordArt Gallery dialog box by clicking the WordArt button on the Drawing toolbar.

2. Select the WordArt style you want and click OK. The Edit WordArt Text dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 14.34.

   Figure 14.34. Enter the word or words you want to format in this dialog box.

   

3. Type the text that you want to format using WordArt.

4. Choose the font and size you want. If you want to make the text bold or italic, click the Bold and Italic buttons .

5. Click OK to placei the WordArt on your slide.

Formatting WordArt

After you insert a iWordArt image, the WordArt toolbar appears. You can use this toolbar to apply additional formatting options. Table 14.4 describes the WordArt toolbar buttons.

Table 14.4. WordArt Toolbar Buttons

Button	Name	Description
	Insert WordArt	Opens the WordArt Gallery so that you can add another WordArt image
	Edit Text	Opens the Edit WordArt Text dialog box so that you can change the WordArt's text
	WordArt Gallery	Opens the WordArt Gallery so that you can apply a new style to the selected WordArt
	Format WordArt	Opens the Format WordArt dialog box in which you can format color , lines, size, and position
	WordArt Shape	Displays a palette of shapes that you can apply to your WordArt
	WordArt Same Letter Heights	Makes all letters in a WordArt picture the same height
	WordArt Vertical Text	Rotates your WordArt to make it vertical
	WordArt Alignment	Lets you set WordArt alignment, including left, right, center, and justified alignments
	WordArt Character Spacing	Lets you make character spacing looser or tighter than normal

TIP

Use the buttons on the Drawing toolbar for other formatting options, such as changing your WordArt's fill color, adding a shadow, or applying a 3D perspective.

Formatting WordArt Characters

You can customize several aspects of character spacing and orientation using WordArt.

Click the WordArt Character Spacing button on the WordArt toolbar to choose spacing options from a menu that appears.

You can also set a custom percentage for character spacing. The default is 100%. A higher percentage loosens the text, and a lower percentage tightens the text. Select the Kern Character Pairs option if you want to adjust sets of characters together.

Click the WordArt Same Letter Heights button to make all the letters in your WordArt the same height as the tallest character.

Click the WordArt Vertical Text button to make your WordArt from horizontal to vertical orientation and back again. You might have to resize the picture to make it fit properly by dragging the bottom side with the mouse.

Figure 14.35 illustrates examples of text spacing modifications.

Figure 14.35. Spacing and orientation make WordArt adjust to your presentation needs.

NOTE

Click the Undo button to undo any WordArt formatting option that you apply.

Modifying WordArt

To modify WordArt, select it to display the WordArt toolbar. Use the toolbar buttons to change or further customize the WordArt picture.