Prototype: PixelMe/Shutterstock

Microsoft Word isn't a desktop publishing app, merely it has a lot of design features that anyone can use to create professional looking documents, flyers, brochures and more. For case, when you accept a fun bulletin, you might effort filling text with an image. Doing then lets yous create unique content with an heart toward blueprint, instead of ordinary text. In this commodity, I'll show y'all how to employ a SmartArt text shape to achieve this look—text filled with an paradigm.

SEE: 69 Excel tips every user should main (TechRepublic)

I'1000 using Microsoft 365, simply yous tin can use older versions. Yous can create your own certificate or work with the demonstration downloadable .docx file. The browser version will display filled text, just yous tin't create it in the browser.

1. Add SmartArt shape

When working with shapes, you tin can apply the Fill property with just about whatsoever photograph or drawing. Ordinary text doesn't have a Fill belongings as shapes do.

Instead of using ordinary text, we'll utilise a SmartArt text shape. You don't need to put a lot of thought into which shape, though. We need merely ane shape that displays text. We volition end upwardly deleting some pieces and resizing the ane that'southward left. The sit-in document uses Landscape orientation, but that's non necessary.

SEE: Windows x: Lists of song commands for speech recognition and dictation (gratuitous PDF) (TechRepublic)

Now, let's insert a SmartArt text shape as follows:

  1. Click the Insert tab and in the Illustrations group, click SmartArt.
  2. Choose the first or 2d List shape, as shown in Effigy A. Stay away from shapes with lots of bells and whistles because that's all stuff you'll take to delete anyway. The resulting shape is besides shown. Every bit you tin encounter at that place are 5 shapes that yous can utilize to display text. We only demand ane.
  3. Select four of the shapes and delete them. The remaining shape will fill up the shape (Figure B).
  4. At this point, you have a larger shape box and a text box. Resize so they both stretch from the left to the correct border.

Figure A

Figure B

At present that we have the SmartArt text shape, allow's add together and format the text. Remember, we're working with a text shape or box, not ordinary text.

two. Add and format the text

This step gives you lots of opportunities to be as creative or subtle as you similar. The document'south mood will help dictate your choices. To follow along, enter TechRepublic into the text shape. Select the text and ready the font size to 110 and click Bold. You can alter the font if you like, merely I didn't. As shown in Figure C, you now have formatted text, prepare to fill with a picture or cartoon.

Figure C

3. Fill the text

Filling text is simple. The bigger effect is choosing the right picture. The heaven really is the limit, but let the picture enhance your certificate'due south content. At present, let'south fill up the text with a picture as follows:

  1. Select the text.
  2. On the contextual Format tab, click the Text Fill dropdown in the WordArt Styles grouping.
  3. In the resulting dropdown, cull Picture.
  4. In the resulting dialog, enter "Bubbles" equally a search term.
  5. From the picture files, choose anything—I choose the circled graphic in Figure D.
  6. Click Insert.

Figure D

The movie fills the text, every bit you can run into in Figure E, simply it's not effective because of the background. Let's get rid of it. With the shape (not the text) selected, click the Shape Fill dropdown in the Shape Styles group (on the contextual Format tab). Choose No Fill. Figure F shows the filled text with no background.

Figure E

Figure F

I chose a colorful design, just for the fun of it. You'll want to experiment a bit until you get the hang of it. The technique is piece of cake to implement, only brand certain the filled text enhances your certificate instead of distracting viewers.