How to create a watermark in Word 97 and in Word 2000 (211324)

SUMMARY

This step-by-step article describes different methods that you can use to create a watermark in Microsoft Word 97 and in Microsoft Word 2000.

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How to Create a Watermark

A watermark, as defined in this article, is any text or graphic image that is printed to overlap existing text in a document, either in the background or foreground. For example, a logo printed lightly behind a letter or the word "Confidential" printed lightly on a contract might be considered a watermark. Some of the most commonly used text-type watermarks are:

• Confidential
• Paid
• Draft

The methods in this article describe how to create a watermark by using the following features:

• Drawing features
• A text box
• WordArt

To print a watermark on every page of a document, insert the watermark into a header or footer. To print a watermark on just one page of a document, place the insertion point in the body of the document where you want it printed and then use one of the methods described in this article.

To view a watermark as it will appear on the printed page, click Print Layout (Page Layout in Word 97) on the View menu or click Print Preview on the File menu.

To format graphics properties or attributes, see the How to Format a Graphic Image's Properties section of this article.

If the watermark interferes with the legibility of the text on the page, you can lighten the object that you used to create the watermark. See the How to Lighten the Watermark Color section of this article.

Use the following information to determine the best method to use to create your watermark:

• Use Method 1: Use the Drawing Features if you want to insert a graphic image or picture.
• Use Method 2: Use a Text Box if you want to use text as your watermark with no or limited rotational ability.
• Use Method 3: Use WordArt if you want to use text as your watermark and you want to rotate that text at any angle of rotation. This is the only method that allows full rotation of text.

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Method 1: Use the Drawing Features

To use the drawing features to create a watermark, follow these steps.

NOTE: This procedure is an example of how to use the drawing features to place the watermark in the Header and Footer area so that it prints on all pages. To print a watermark only on the current page, start with step 4.

1. Start Word.
2. On the View menu, click Header and Footer.
3. Click the Show/Hide Document Text button on the Header and Footer toolbar.
   
   The text and graphics are now hidden from view.
4. On the Insert menu, point to Picture, click Clip Art or From File, select the graphic image that you want to insert, and then click Insert.
   
   Note In Word 97, make sure that the Float over text option is selected.
5. Select the picture that you inserted, and then click Picture or Object on the Format menu.
6. Click the Picture tab.
7. In the Color box under Image control, click Watermark.
8. Make any other changes that you want to the picture. For example, you can modify the brightness or contrast.
9. Click the Layout tab. Under Wrapping style, click Behind text, and then click OK.
   
   In Word 97, click the Wrapping tab. Under Wrapping style, click None, and then click OK. To send the graphic behind the text in the document, click to select the graphic. Then, right-click the graphic, point to Order, and then click Send Behind Text.
10. Position and resize the picture. To resize the picture, select the picture and then drag the sizing handles until it is the shape and size that you want. To move the picture, drag it to the location in the document that you want.
11. If you placed the picture in the header or footer, click Close on the Header and Footer toolbar.
    
    NOTE: After the object is placed behind the text, to select that object at a future time, click the Select Objects button on the Drawing toolbar, and then click in the area of the object.

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Method 2: Use a Text Box

To use a text box to create a watermark, follow these steps:

1. Position the insertion point on the page where you want to place the watermark. If you want the watermark to appear on every page in the document or that section, click Header and Footer on the View menu, and then position the insertion point in the header.
2. On the Insert menu, click Text Box.
3. Click and drag the pointer to specify the size of the text box that you want for the text or graphic image that you want to use.
4. Type the watermark text.
5. To rotate the text, select the text inside the text box, and then click Change Text Direction on the Text Box toolbar until the text is rotated the way that you want.
   
   NOTE: This rotation method is limited to three positions. If you want complete rotation flexibility, you must use WordArt. For more information about how to do so, see the How to Create Rotated Watermark Text section later in this article.
6. To enlarge the font size and lighten the font color, follow these steps:
   1. Select the text inside the text box.
   2. On the Format menu, click Font.
   3. Under Size, change it to the appropriate size.
   4. Under Font color, click Gray--25%.

      

   5. Click OK.
7. To move the text box, select the border and drag it to the location that you want. To resize the text box, select the border, and then drag one of the sizing handles. You can also move or resize the text box with specific measurements if you click Text Box on the Format menu.
8. If the text box is placed into the header or footer, click Close on the Header and Footer toolbar. If the text box is placed on a page of your document, follow these steps to move the text box and its contents behind the text in the document:

1. Select the text box.
2. Right-click the text box border, point to Order on the shortcut menu that appears, and then click Send Behind Text.
   
   NOTE: After the object is placed behind the text, to select that object at a future time, click the Select Objects button on the Drawing toolbar and then click in the area of the object.

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Method 3: Use WordArt

To use WordArt to create a watermark, follow these steps:

1. On the Insert menu, point to Picture, and then click WordArt.
2. Click the WordArt style that you want, and then click OK.
3. In the Your Text Here box, type the watermark text and then click OK.
4. Position and size the WordArt object. To resize the object, select the object, and then drag the sizing handles until it is the shape and size that you want. To move the object, drag it to the location in the document that you want.
5. If the WordArt object was placed into the header or footer, click Close on the Header and Footer toolbar. If the WordArt object was placed on a page of your document, follow these steps to move the WordArt object behind the text in the document:
   1. Select the WordArt object.
   2. Right-click the WordArt object, point to Order on the shortcut menu that appears, and then click Send Behind Text.
      
      NOTE: After the object is placed behind the text, to select that object at a future time, click the Select Objects button on the Drawing toolbar and then click in the area of the object.

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How to Create Rotated Watermark Text

You must use a WordArt object if you want to rotate text at any angle. For details about how to insert a WordArt object, see the Method 3: Use WordArt section earlier in this article.

To rotate text at any angle after the WordArt object is inserted into your document, follow these steps:

1. Select the WordArt object. The WordArt toolbar is displayed.
   
   NOTE: If the WordArt toolbar is not displayed, point to Toolbars on the View menu, and then click WordArt.
2. On the WordArt toolbar, click the Free Rotate button .
   
   NOTE: Your pointer turns into a circular arrow, and green circles appear at the four corners of your WordArt object.
3. Move the pointer to one of the corners, then click and drag to rotate to the object to the position that you want.
4. Click anywhere in the document when you are finished. The pointer returns to normal.

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How to Lighten the Watermark Color

If the watermark interferes with the legibility of the text on the page, you can lighten the object that you used to create the watermark. To do this, use one of the following methods as appropriate to your situation:

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• Text Is Not in a WordArt or Drawing Object
  1. Select the text.
  2. On the Format menu, click Font. In the Font color box, click Gray-25%, and then click OK.

     

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• Text Is in a Drawing or WordArt Object
  1. Select the object.
  2. On the Format menu, click AutoShape, Text Box, or WordArt (as appropriate), and then click the Colors and Lines tab.
  3. In the Color box under Fill, click Gray-25%, and then click OK.

     

     
     NOTE: The result of this method may vary, depending on what options you chose when the object was created.
  
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• Imported Graphics
  
  You may not be able to edit the graphic image, depending on where it was created. In this case, you have to use a graphics program to change the color of the graphic.
  
  Depending on the imported graphic, it may be lightened using the Picture Editor by doing the following:
  1. Double-click the picture.
  2. If possible, use the Drawing toolbar to change the attributes. If you cannot change the attributes here, you have to use another graphics program to make the changes that you want.
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How to Format a Graphic Image's Properties

To format the graphic image, select it, and then click Picture or Object on the Format menu. Then, to adjust the picture's format, do any of the following:

• To format the picture with preset brightness and contrast settings that work well for watermarks, do the following:

  Click the Picture tab. In the Color box under Image control, click Watermark.
  
  -or-
  
  Adjust the picture's brightness and contrast manually by using the Brightness and Contrast slide controls.

• To format the graphic image so that the document text flows above it instead of around it, do the following:

  Click the Layout tab. Under Wrapping style, click In-line with text, Square, or Tight.

• To format the text in the text box, do the following:

  Select the text, click Font on the Format menu, and then select the options that you want. To rotate the text, click Text Direction on the Format menu, and then click the option you want.
  
  NOTE: This rotation method is limited to three rotational positions. To have complete rotation flexibility, you have to use WordArt. For more information about how to do so, see the How to Create Rotated Watermark Text section earlier in this article.

• To format the text object's borders, background color, and other properties, use the options that are available on the Drawing toolbar (the text box is a drawing object).

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