Using the Drawing tools on the Insert Ribbon
Overview
The Drawing tools in Word 2010 allow you to add shapes, lines and effects to
your document. Most of these tools are on the Insert ribbon at the top of the
Word screen.
Most of the common drawing tools are
here in the Illustrations group
Some of the drawing tools have more options. This is indicated by a small arrow
below the name. For example, if you click on the arrow below the Shapes icon,
you’ll be presented with a huge choice of shapes to draw.
Drawing a box,
circle, rectangle,
square or line
Selecting
drawing objects
1. Click on the relevant shape icon.
2. Move your mouse pointer to the top left corner position where you
want to draw from.
3. Drag the mouse to create the object.
4. If you want an exact shape (eg a perfect circle, an exact
square, a straight line), hold down the SHIFT key while you
drag the mouse.
5. The shape has resizing “handles” at each corner and in the
middle of each side. Click the mouse on the relevant handle and drag to
resize the object.
After you have finished working on a drawing object, you can select it again by
pointing to its outside edge with the mouse, and clicking once with the left
mouse button. The mouse becomes a four sided arrow. You can move the
object by dragging it around with the mouse.
If you want to select more than one object, change to the Home
ribbon, and click on the Select Objects arrow. Draw a selection
box around the selected objects. Another way is to click on each
object while at the same time holding the Ctrl key.
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Using the Drawing tools on the Insert Ribbon, Continued
Special Drawing
tools
When you have created a drawing object, if it is highlighted, you will see an
extra ribbon appear above the normal Word ribbon. Its tab is a different colour
(in this case, yellow) to indicate that this ribbon is only available when you have
the drawing object highlighted. This ribbon gives you tools just for formatting
the drawing object. When you click back on text in your document, this ribbon
disappears. Depending on what kind of shape or picture you have drawn, the
ribbon will have different tools and may be called a different name. The Picture
ribbon is shown below.
Note that some of these tools are also available on the Page Layout ribbon, but
they are more conveniently grouped together on the Picture Tools or Drawing
Tools ribbon. The ribbon will have the correct set of tools available for the type
of object you have highlighted.
Changing colour
and style
Each object by default is coloured black. You can change this by first selecting
the object, then choosing a different colour or style. The most recently used
style or colour shows in the icon concerned, but you can select the one you
want by clicking the little arrow next
to it. Note that shapes can have both
a line colour and a fill colour.
You can also apply a pre-defined
Scroll here
collection of formatting options at
once by choosing a style from the style selector. There are many more available
if you scroll down the list.
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Using the Drawing tools on the Insert Ribbon, Continued
Text wrapping
You can set how text “wraps” around any drawing object. By default, the object
the text wraps
is set as “In line with text”, which means that
around the sides but doesn’t go up the side of the picture. The cat graphic
above is wrapped this way.
Often the most convenient text
where the text wraps right around
square border. The cat graphic at
way.
If you opt for “Tight”, then the graphic is
wrapped by the text, which goes right up to
graphic. Some graphics have curved edges, so this
suitable in this instance. The cat graphic in this
wrapped using the “Tight” option.
wrap option is “Square”,
the graphic, but leaves a
right is wrapped this
completely
the side of the
can be very
paragraph is
Grouping
objects
You can group drawing objects together for ease of moving them around
together. To group objects, first select them by clicking the Select
Objects tool and drawing a selection box around the objects (or hold
down Ctrl and individually click the shapes). Then choose the Group
tool from the ribbon, and they will become one object. You can
ungroup by clicking somewhere on the grouped objects and clicking
the Ungroup tool. Alternatively, click on the object and use the right click menu.
Ordering
objects
Sometimes objects are overlaid in an untidy way, and you want to
hide part of one object under another as shown at right. Select the
object you want to change with the Select Objects tool, then use the
Arrange tools on the ribbon to
send the object further back or
forward. Alternatively, click on
the object and use the right click
menu.
Text boxes
Text boxes are useful because you can enter text and then move it
around as an object that is separate from the main body of text.
You can format text in a text box however you want, and choose
line and fill colours, or optionally use no line at all.
This is a
text box
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Using the Drawing tools on the Insert Ribbon, Continued
Text boxes
(continued)
The Text Box ribbon will appear when you select the text box, offering
numerous tools for formatting. To format a text box (rather than the text in it),
use the tools on the Text Box ribbon. Alternatively, click on the text box and use
the right click menu.
WordArt
Word Art is artistic lettering. It can be useful in a document
but don’t overdo it, as it can be distracting! Click the WordArt
icon on the Insert Ribbon, and you will be presented with
many different artistic effects to choose from. Next you will see a dialog box
with a text area and formatting options. Type in your text and select the font
and size.
The WordArt ribbon appears when you click on the WordArt you have created,
allowing you to change the WordArt object as you wish.
Shadow and 3D
To add shadow and 3D effects to shapes, select the relevant
object, then use the Shadow or 3D tools on the ribbon. Note that
some objects don’t support 3D effects.
Adding text to
shapes
You can add text to shapes that are not text boxes in their own
right. First draw the shape, then right click and select Add Text.
Note that this automatically makes the shape become a text
box, and the Text Box ribbon will appear.
Getting help
For more on the Drawing Tools, look up the relevant topics in Word Help.
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