Looking to make a boring document visually appealing and engaging? One way to breathe life into your work is by using a picture as the page background.
Increasing the visual appeal of your documents captures the attention of intended audiences. This helps you stand out and may increase product sales.
Our step-by-step guide will walk you through how to make a picture background in Word.
Method 1
Step #1 Open Microsoft Word and Create a New Document
To start, launch Microsoft Word on your computer and open a new document, or the existing document you want to work on.
Step #2 Go To Fill Effects
Click Design in the Word toolbar and go to Page Background. Next, select Page Color and press Fill Effects from the drop-down list.
Page Color Drop-Down List
Step #3 Insert Your Image
Once you’ve brought up Fill Effects, click Picture, and then Select Picture.
Choose the desired image file from your computer. There are three upload options:
- From File will let you choose an image saved on your computer
- Bing Image Search allows you to select an image on the internet
- OneDrive Personal lets you choose an image saved on your OneDrive
Click OK to add the image to the document.
Method 2
Step #1 Click Custom Watermark
Another way to add a picture to a background in Word is by creating a watermark. Go to Design, select Watermark, and click Custom Watermark from the drop-down list.
Step #2 Add a Picture Watermark
Click Picture Watermark and then Select Picture to insert an image. You’ll see the same upload options as the first method. Select OK to add the image to your document.
Step #3 Adjust Image Settings
You can adjust the size of your background image by changing the scale percentage. 50% will usually make the image cover the whole page. Selecting Washout will fade the image considerably.
Washout Image
Don’t forget to save your file — just click File and Save As.
How to Choose the Best Background Picture for Your Word Document
The style of the background picture can make or break your Word document. Document design plays a pivotal role in how professional and engaging your work appears to others. Here are some helpful tips to consider when choosing a background picture for your Word document:
1. Know Your Target Audience
If you want to wow your target audience, consider their preferences when designing your document. For instance, if your document is targeted towards elementary school children, using vibrant, playful colors and patterns is going to create maximum engagement. Additionally, ensure that your design is relevant and relatable to your intended audience.
2. Draw The Line Between Creative and Unprofessional
Using crazy patterns, vibrant color schemes, and unusual imagery will make your document ooze a lot of creativity. However, that’s not always a good thing.
Outside of classrooms and the art and design industries, excessively creative documents come across as showy and unprofessional. It also distracts people from the information you are trying to convey.
To maintain professionalism when designing creative documents, adhere to the following guidelines:
- Opt for a natural color scheme comprising no more than three colors
- Steer clear of unusual patterns and shapes
- Avoid irrelevant images
3. Consider The Context
The context in which your document will be presented is another crucial factor to consider in the design process. If you're creating a document for a business presentation, choose a background picture that aligns with your company's branding and style guidelines. On the other hand, if you're designing a personal invitation, you have more freedom to select a background that reflects the theme or mood of the event.
4. Optimize Color Contrast
Color contrast is another important factor to consider when choosing a background picture for your Word document. The right color contrast ensures that your text stands out clearly and remains easily readable.
Select a background image with colors that contrast well with your text color. For example, if your text is dark, choose a light-colored background, and vice versa. Remember, the goal is to enhance readability and make your content visually appealing.
By following these tips, you can enhance the visual appeal and effectiveness of your Word document without skimping on professionalism.
FAQs
How To Add the Same Background Image to All Pages?
Follow method 2 to open up the image settings, then change Apply To to Whole Document or All Sections.
How To Delete a Background Image on a Word Document?
To remove the background image, follow method 2 to bring up the image settings and select Remove Watermark or Remove Background.
Please note that this will remove any background image or watermark applied to all pages, not just a particular page.
How To Edit the Color of an Image In Word?
You can adjust the color and transparency of the image by following these steps:
- Insert the background image using either of the two methods mentioned earlier
- Right-click on the image and choose Format Picture or Format Picture Background from the context menu
- In the Format Picture pane or dialog box, navigate to the Picture or Picture Tools tab
- Look for options such as Color, Artistic Effects, or Transparency.
- Adjust the color settings, apply artistic effects, or modify the transparency as per your preference
- Preview the changes to see how they affect the background image
- Once you're satisfied with the adjustments, click OK to apply the changes
Next Steps
With Microsoft Word, you can easily make image backgrounds. However, to maximize the visual appeal of your documents utilize Outcut in ImageWith.AI, a cutting-edge AI background remover tool.
Powered by artificial intelligence, Outcut is an advanced background remover that effortlessly enhances your images with stunning results. With just one click, you can seamlessly change backgrounds, and give your documents a professional and polished look.
Use Outcut in ImageWith.AI For Free
