WATERMARKS: “ONE PAGE EASY” in WORD 2000

For the uninitiated, a watermark is a Picture (graphic) or Text that appears faintly behind the text of a document. Perhaps you might want to add a large diagonal WordArt graphic that said “DRAFT” or “CONFIDENTIAL” in some color or a light gray; maybe a “calendar graphic” for dated material. Some companies prefer to add their Logos to the center background instead of in the header portion.

When you use watermarks in Microsoft WORD 2000, you will add them to the Header/Footer section of the document. However, the Watermark will appear wherever you place it upon the page, not just at the top, for example, like a true header

This is feature began with WORD 97, prior to that edition you had to be pretty darn clever to add a watermark. It wasn't impossible, just a pain in the neck!

STEPS TO INSERT A WATERMARK

  1. Click Insert | Picture | ClipArt…
  2. Choose a picture that suits your project, perhaps like this clip-art calendar or the confidential lettering I made in PhotoShop. Note: You'll be editing the picture shortly to turn it into a Watermark, and then you'll select the desired text wrapping style.
  3. Right-click the picture, then choose Format Picture.
  4. Click the Layout tab, and then choose Behind text, then select the Center Radio Button for Horizontal Alignment
  5. Click the Picture tab then click the Color list arrow in the image control group.
  6. Choose Watermark, (you may wish to increase or decrease the brightness and contrast if necessary), and then click OK.
  7. Choose Edit | Cut, (you'll paste it in the Header and Footer section in a minute.)
  8. Choose View | Header and Footer. Note: You might want to dock the Header and Footer Toolbar below the Formatting toolbar so it will stay open and out of the way.
    9. MS WORD 2000 Header/Footer Toolbar
  9. Click the Show/Hide Document Text button on the Header and Footer Toolbar. (It's the sixth button in from the right end.)
  10. Choose Edit | Paste to add your picture to the background. (Size and place it anywhere on the page you wish.)
  11. Click the Close button on the Header and Footer Toolbar. You're done!

And, I bet you thought this was going to be hard to do! You can see your new watermark in Normal, Print Layout or Print Preview views.

Copyright © 2001 & 2002 Professor Al Fichera
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