Skip to main content

(Legacy) Microsoft Word 2007: Working with Images

Last updated

This article is based on legacy software.

Adding visual components to your documents can enhance or reinforce your message. Images from clip art collections, WordArt, the Internet, or scanned images can be added to your Word documents.

Adding Images

Adding images from a variety of sources, including scanned images, images saved from the Internet, and clip art, is easy in Word 2007. The extensive Clip Art Gallery provides easy access to images. For more information on adding Clip Art images, refer to Office 12: Using Clip Art.

  1. Click the location where you want the image to appear

  2. From the Insert command tab, in the Illustrations section, click Picture Picture button
    The Insert Picture dialog box appears.

  3. Using the Look in pull-down list, locate and select the desired image

  4. Click INSERT
    The image appears in your document.

Positioning Images

Once you have inserted an image into your document, you can easily position or resize it as needed. For instructions on resizing images, refer to Resizing Objects (Excel and PowerPoint or Word).

NOTE: In order to drag images freely in Word, the wrapping style of the image must not be In line with text.

  1. Click and hold the center of the image
    The cursor turns into a four-headed arrow when you are able to move the image.

  2. Drag the image to the desired location

  3. Release the mouse button
    The image is now in the desired location.

Wrapping Text

Once you have inserted a picture into your document, you can control the way text will wrap around it. Word has two options for wrapping text around an image: the quick menu option and the command tab option.

Wrapping Text: Quick Menu Option

  1. Right click the image » select Text Wrapping » the desired wrapping option

Wrapping Text: Command Tab Option

Once you insert an image, the Picture Tools Format tab appears.

  1. On the Picture Tools Format tab, click TEXT WRAPPING text wrapping button» select the desired wrapping option
    NOTE: The In Line With Text option forces an image to align with the line of text in which it was inserted, making it impossible to move the image freely. To allow an image to be moved freely within your document, choose an option other than In Line With Text.
    text wrapping drop down

Picture Tools Command Tab Options

Once you have inserted a picture into your document, many options can enhance the look of your image. The Picture Tools command tab lets you change the appearance of your image by providing options such as line style, transparency, contrast, changing color, and cropping.

To access the Pictures Tools command tab

  1. Select an image
    Under the Picture Tools tab, the Format command tab appears.

Adjust Group
Allows you to edit the picture (e.g., adjust brightness, contrast, color), and also undo any changes you make.
adjust group

Picture Styles Group
From here you can apply preset or custom picture styles (e.g., image shape, border, effects).
picture styles group

Arrange Group
Lets you to reposition, change text wrapping, arrange layers, and rotate objects.
arrange group

Size Group
This is where you can change image size with the Crop tool or by specifying dimensions in the Height and Width text boxes.
NOTE: Changes made in the text boxes are proportional (i.e., if you change image height, its width changes proportionally).
size group