Microsoft Word Insert and Picture Format Bars

If you want to be fancy, or need to create a brochure or flyer, you need to get acquainted with the Insert bar. Mixing pictures, clip art, shapes, and text boxes can be a bit of a pain, since if you don't know what you're doing (and even when you do) they tend to behave in ways contrary to your wishes, but it gets easier the more you practice.
Here's a quick review of what you'll most use.

The Insert Bar:

Click for a larger image. Right-click and open in new tab to switch between text and picture.

This allows you to add design elements to your work. You can put in pictures, clip art, charts, shapes that you can use as background or to write in, headers, footers, page numbers, and text boxes.


You can add a simple text box, click the right button on it to get the option to remove content control, and then move it and make it the size you want.


Once you have your design element you can customize it with the format bar. This only appears once you’ve inserted something.

The Format Bar (Picture Tools):

Click for larger image.

You can move a shape (or any design element) around by clicking the “Position” arrow on the right and choosing a placement. Once you’ve done that you’re free to move the picture/shape/text box anywhere you want.

If you want to use a picture or shape as background click on the “Send to back” option. I recommend putting in your text first before the background otherwise your picture might disappear.

You can also do picture effects and change the picture border.

The Shape bar is a little different.

The Format Bar (Drawing Tools):

With this you can change the color and outline of the shape, give it a shadow or 3-D effect, rotate it, or set it as background with “Send to back”. You can add text to it as well.

Next post will be a brochure creation exercise. Follow the instructions to get an idea of how everything works. I'll also post a screen shot of what I came up with while using them.