Microsoft Word allows you to insert images into a text document in order to better illustrate it. There are several ways to wrap text around images using the program's settings. This article explains how to use the options offered by Word to align text based on images and how to add a caption.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Adding an Image
Step 1. Click on the place in the document where you want to insert an image
After performing this step, the text cursor (characterized by a flashing vertical line) will be visible at the indicated point.
The mouse is very useful for working with images within a Word document, as it gives you more control to better size and position objects
Step 2. Click on the Insert tab
It is located at the top of the page. A special toolbar will appear.
Step 3. Select the Images item
This way you will have the ability to insert any image JPG, PDF and many other formats, stored on your computer or USB memory drive into the document.
Step 4. Select the Photo Browser option
In this way you will have the possibility to choose the images from the computer program with which you manage them.
Alternatively, choose the option Image from file whether the photo you want to use is stored on the desktop or in another folder.
Step 5. Select the image you want to use
After opening the dialog box for inserting the image, access the folder in which it is stored and click on the corresponding icon to select it.
Step 6. Click the Insert button
It is located at the bottom of the window. At this point the image will be inserted in the exact point where the text cursor is placed.
Step 7. View the image
Remember that Word's default for aligning images and text is "Inline". This means that it will be handled as if it were a single large character or line of text.
Aligning the text allows you to arrange it correctly around, on top of, or next to the image
Part 2 of 3: Arranging Text Around an Image
Step 1. Click on the image
The menu will be displayed Image format at the top of the Word window.
Clicking on a point outside the image will display the menu for formatting the text and the one relating to image formatting will disappear
Step 2. Select the Wrap Text item
It should appear within the group Arrange of the card Layout, Drawing tools or SmartArt tools, depending on the version of Word you are using.
Step 3. Click on the "Wrap Text" button
It is located in the upper right corner of the image. A drop-down menu will appear where you will find options to arrange the text according to the image.
Step 4. Select one of the alignment options
Word offers several options for positioning text according to an image that you can choose according to your needs:
- You choose Framed if the image has a square shape and you want the text to be arranged along the edges.
- Select the item Over and under if you want the image to remain on the line where you inserted it and the text to be placed between the previous and following lines.
- Choose the option Close to wrap text around a circular or irregularly shaped image.
- Select the item Inside of to be able to customize the areas in which to arrange the text. This is the best option if you need text to be embedded in the image or to somehow not follow the contours of the photo. This is an advanced setting, as you will need to move the image anchor points from their original positions.
- Choose the option Behind the text to use the image as if it were a watermark and to make it appear in the background to the text.
- Select the item In front of the text to display the image on top of the text. In this case you may need to change the colors because otherwise the text may be unreadable.
Step 5. Reposition the image
After choosing the best option for arranging the text, you can drag the photo to the place on the page you want. Word will allow you to place it wherever you like by aligning the key automatically based on the settings you have chosen.
Step 6. Try using different alignment options
Each image and each document will require the use of different text alignment options. Review the list of options available each time you insert an image to make sure the text is formatted correctly.
Part 3 of 3: Delete the Text from the Image
Step 1. Click on the text box formatted according to the type of alignment you have chosen
The anchor points of the pane will appear allowing you to change its size and position as well as allowing you to edit the text itself.
Step 2. Select all text in the box other than the first character
It is very important not to select the first character of the text as you will have to press the "Backspace" key on your keyboard as it may cause the image you have inserted in the document to be deleted.
Step 3. Press the ← Backspace key on your keyboard
The selected text will be deleted from the document. At this point, make sure you also delete the character you didn't highlight earlier, as it is this step that will override the text alignment settings depending on the image.
