WordArt

WordArt is a way of converting text into a graphic. You can modify this graphic in the same way as you modified your AutoShapes (covered in earlier issues of this magazine). For example, you can add or remove 3-D and shadows, move or resize, recolour, rotate, and modify shape. The fill effect can be a colour, gradient, texture, pattern or photo.

Create the WordArt object

Before creating the WordArt object, display the Drawing toolbar. To do this, click on View – Toolbars – Drawing.

1.    Click on the WordArt button on the Drawing toolbar. The WordArt gallery is displayed.

2.    Select a style, remembering that you can make changes later.

3.     Click on OK. The Edit WordArt dialogue box is displayed.

4.    Type in your text. It is best to keep headings short. Otherwise, they may become difficult to read. Here you can also change font, size and style (make it bold, italic or both).

5.    Click on OK. Your WordArt object now appears on the page.

Tip: if you want to use existing text in your WordArt object, select the text first. Then click the WordArt icon. Select a style from the gallery and click OK. The text you selected will appear in the next dialogue box.

Tip: don’t limit yourself to Times New Roman and Ariel fonts. Try using Symbol, Webdings, Wingdings or other “picture” fonts. A WordArt object can be created using a single character, producing a unique picture.

Tip: If using WordArt for headings, note they do not appear in a table of contents. This is because they are a picture and do not have an underlying style.

Modify WordArt objects

Now you can modify your object. Changes can include:

WordArt and PowerPoint

WordArt objects can be used successfully in PowerPoint as part of a title page. The following special effect can make an impact on your audience.

Find a photo. It preferably needs to be sharp, clear and distinctive and have a single theme (eg a dolphin, a herd of cattle).

Use the photo as a background (format – background – fill effects).

Create a WordArt object using the word that describes the background photo (eg Dolphins, Cattle, etc.) Alternatively, use the title words of the presentation. Whether you want the words readable is up to you. You may be going for effect only.

The fill effect for the WordArt object needs to be exactly the same photo as used in the background. Remove any fancy effects from the WordArt object – shadows, 3-D, etc. Probably the best one to use is the first one in the gallery.

Experiment time. Move the WordArt object, resize it, rotate it. Blend it in, or make it stand out. Add or remove lines. Set a transparent shadow. Have a play and see what you can come up with.

Another alternative is to use a different photo with the same theme. For example,

§    A different photo of dolphins

§     A photo of the same scene but from a different angle

§    A herd of cattle in one photo and a single cow in the second photo. This may be a cut-out from the original photo

§    A sunrise and a sunset

§    Two characters from the same television series, program or movie

§    Cloudy sky and clear blue sky

§    City and country views (eg a city skyline and a farm scene).

§    Before and after shots (garden makeovers, home improvements)

WordArt lets you be very imaginative and the above is only one example you can try. Put on your creative thinking cap and have some fun with WordArt.

The next article in this series is about watermarks in Word.