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How to Make a Picture the Background on Word

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This wikiHow teaches you how to change the blank, white background in a Microsoft Word document to a watermark or solid color.

  1. 1

    Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.

    • If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.

  2. 2

    Click Blank document . It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.

    • If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.

  3. 3

    Click Design . This tab is near the top-left of the Word window, to the right of the "Home" and "Insert" tabs near the top of the page.

  4. 4

    Click Watermark . It's in the top-right side of the Word toolbar, near the top of the window. You'll see this option to the left of the "Page Color" and "Page Borders" options.

  5. 5

    Click a watermark template. You can select any of the following templates to apply their text to your Word document's background:

    • "CONFIDENTIAL"
    • "DO NOT COPY"
    • "ASAP"
    • "URGENT"

  6. 6

    Add text to your document, like usual. The watermark will remain in the background of your document, meaning anything you type will remain on top of the watermark.

    • You can remove a watermark by clicking Remove Watermark at the bottom of the watermark templates drop-down menu.

  1. 1

    Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.

    • If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.

  2. 2

    Click Blank document . It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.

    • If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.

  3. 3

    Click Design . This tab is in the top-left side of the Word window, to the right of the "Home" and "Insert" tabs near the top of the page.

  4. 4

    Click Watermark . It's in the top-right side of the Word toolbar near the top of the window. You'll see this option to the left of the "Page Color" and "Page Borders" options.

  5. 5

    Click Custom Watermark . This option is near the middle of the "Watermarks" drop-down menu. Clicking it will bring up the "Printed Watermark" window.

  6. 6

    Click the circle next to "Picture watermark". It's near the top of the "Printed Watermark" window.

  7. 7

    Click Select Picture . You'll see this button just below the "Picture watermark" section.

  8. 8

    Click From a File . This option is at the top of the "Printed Watermark" window. Clicking it will open your computer's default picture storage file (e.g., "Photos") for browsing.

    • You can also choose Bing or OneDrive from this menu if you'd rather search for a photo or use one from Cloud storage, respectively.

  9. 9

    Click a picture. Doing so will select it for your watermark.

  10. 10

    Click Insert . It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This action will take you back to the "Printed Watermark" window.

  11. 11

    Click OK . You'll find this at the bottom of the window. Your selected picture will appear as your document's background watermark.

    • You can also resize your picture by clicking the "Auto" box and choosing a percentage (e.g., 200), or you can uncheck the "Washout" box to prevent your picture from appearing transparent.

  12. 12

    Add text to your document, like usual. The watermark will remain in the background of your document, meaning anything you type will remain on top of your selected image. Your text color will also change to stay visible if the picture you chose is too dark or too light to adequately display text.

  1. 1

    Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.

    • If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.

  2. 2

    Click Blank document . It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.

    • If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.

  3. 3

    Click Design . This tab is in the top-left side of the Word window, to the right of the "Home" and "Insert" tabs near the top of the page.

  4. 4

    Click Watermark . It's in the top-right side of the Word toolbar near the top of the window. You'll see this option to the left of the "Page Color" and "Page Borders" options.

  5. 5

    Click Custom Watermark . This option is near the middle of the "Watermarks" drop-down menu. Clicking it will bring up the "Printed Watermark" window.

  6. 6

    Click the circle next to "Text watermark". It's in the middle-left side of the "Printed Watermark" window.

  7. 7

    Type your watermark's text into the "Text" box. This box is near the middle of the window; it should say "ASAP" by default. Your other customization options include the following:

    • Font - The style of text that your watermark uses.
    • Size - Your watermark's size. "Auto", which automatically resizes your text, is the default setting.
    • Color - The watermark's color.
    • Layout - You can click Diagonal or Horizontal here to determine how your watermark is oriented.
    • You can also uncheck the "Semitransparent" box to display your watermark in a bold format.

  8. 8

    Click OK . You'll find this at the bottom of the window. Your custom text watermark will be applied to your document's background.

  9. 9

    Add text to your document, like usual. The watermark will remain in the background of your document, meaning anything you type will remain on top of your watermark text.

  1. 1

    Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.

    • If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.

  2. 2

    Click Blank document . It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.

    • If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.

  3. 3

    Click Design . This tab is in the top-left side of the Word window, to the right of the "Home" and "Insert" tabs near the top of the page.

  4. 4

    Click Page Color . It's in the top-right side of the Word toolbar near the top of the window.

  5. 5

    Click Fill Effects . It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu here.

  6. 6

    Click the Picture tab. You'll see it at the top of the "Fill Effects" window.

  7. 7

    Click Select Picture . It's near the top of the window.

  8. 8

    Click From a File . This option is at the top of the "Printed Watermark" window. Clicking it will open your computer's default picture storage file (e.g., "Photos") for browsing.

    • You can also choose Bing or OneDrive from this menu if you'd rather search for a photo or use one from Cloud storage, respectively.

  9. 9

    Click a picture. Doing so will select it.

  10. 10

    Click Insert .

  11. 11

    Click OK . It's at the bottom of the window; doing so will apply your selected picture to your document's background.

    • Unlike with an image watermark, this background picture won't be transparent.

  12. 12

    Add text to your document, like usual. Your text color will change to stay visible if the picture you chose is too dark or too light to adequately display text.

  1. 1

    Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.

    • If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.

  2. 2

    Click Blank document . It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.

    • If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.

  3. 3

    Click Design . This tab is in the top-left side of the Word window, to the right of the "Home" and "Insert" tabs near the top of the page.

  4. 4

    Click Page Color . It's in the top-right side of the Word toolbar near the top of the window.

  5. 5

    Click a color. Doing so will apply it to your document's background. If needed, your document's default font color will change in order to stay visible.

    • If you want to create your own color, click More Colors below the color options here. You'll be able to click and drag a slider around a color gradient to create a custom color.
    • You can also click Fill Effects to add pre-determined textures or patterns to your document's background.

Add New Question

  • Question

    Can I put a different watermark on each page?

    Teela Borrowdale

    Teela Borrowdale

    Community Answer

    No. If you add a watermark to one page, it will appear on every page of the document.

  • Question

    How can I add a watermark?

    Community Answer

    Open your Word document and click on the Design tab in the ribbon. Select the watermark option on the Page Background menu. If you want to add a picture, click on Custom Watermark.

  • Question

    How do I write text onto a background that I have imported?

    Community Answer

    You would have to edit the photo itself using a picture editor, like Photoshop or Paint. After editing the photo, you can import the new version.

  • Question

    Why does it keep a white background behind the text when I change the background color to something else?

    Community Answer

    Try cutting the text, and then paste it again after changing the background color.

  • Question

    What do I do if I wanted to add a frame in Word?

    VY

    You can add borders. Just select the text that you want to have borders and then go to Home and add the type of borders you like. Please read Add a Border to Word for more information.

  • Question

    How do I make the background not repeat itself?

    VY

    Instead of adding the the background first, you can type the content, select which one to have as a background. It won't automatically apply a background to the area that is not selected. To remove a background, you can select that area and go to Home and remove it.

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  • You can find suitable images that are free to use by searching the Internet for images with a Creative Commons license.

  • Never use an image that is subject to copyright when you add a background to a document you plan on printing or distributing. Whenever possible, create your own images or upload photographs you have taken instead.

About This Article

Article SummaryX

1. Click the Design tab.
2. Click Page Color.
3. Click Fill Effects.
4. Click Picture.
5. Click Select Picture.
6. Click From a File.
7. Select the file and click Insert.
8. Click OK.

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How to Make a Picture the Background on Word

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Add-Backgrounds-in-Word