SHAPE FORMATTING

You can add a variety of shapes to your document, including arrows, callouts, squares, stars, and flowchart shapes. Shapes can be used for a number of things from using a line to set your name and address apart from the rest of your resume, using flowchart shapes to create a diagram showing a timeline or process, using callouts to pass an important message and so on. While you may not need shapes in every document, they can add visual appeal and clarity. Here are some interesting shape formatting options.

1. Ordering: use for bringing a shape to the front or send to the back of another in a case of overlapping.
2. Resizing & Rotation: MS Word allows you to resize the shape or rotate otherwise as it may suit your document type.
3. Modifying shapes: this enable you to change a shape into a different shape, format a shape’s style and color, and add various effects.
4. Filling & Outline: Enable you to fill up the shape with any color or theme of your choice. You can also add and format the outline of the shape to suit your discretion or industry prescription.
5. Shape Effects: Enable you to create a semi-graphic outlook on your shape. It has options for 3D and other interesting outlook that may be really fulfill your basic design needs.

How to create and Add Text to a Shape

1. Click on Insert on the Menu Ribbon and then Shapes, and select your preferred shape from the gallery.
2. While holding down the Right-button on your mouse, start drawing from any area of the page to any size you want.

• Right click anywhere in your shape and click “Add Text” Command

This places an insertion point in the shape where you can type your text. Once you’ve added whatever you want to write, the “Format” tab has tools you can use to give your text a little pop with things like text styles and shading.

You can also select the text and use the standard Font, Paragraph and styles tools on the Home tab to format your text, just as if it were a normal part of the document. When you right click your text, you’ll find the usual quick options as well.

Another alternative to adding text to your shape is through Text Box. This gives you control over the placement and boundaries of your text, you can add a text box inside your shape instead. When you insert a new image or select an existing image, word automatically switches you to the “Format” tab. You will see two ways here to insert a text
box, both of which add a text box in the same way.

Select one of the options and move the cursor over your image. A yellow + mark will replace your pointer. Hold down the lift mouse button and drag the + sign to create a text box. When the box looks about right, release the left click (don’t worry if the text box isn’t exactly the size or location you want, you can change it afterword) and your text box will be created.

You can use the handles (the little squares) around the text box to resize it or select the whole text box to move it around within your shape. Add your text and format it in whatever way you want.

There are also text boxes with preset formatting that you can add by selecting your shape and then clicking Insert > Text Box.