Formatting Pictures in Microsoft Word 2016

Pictures make your document more attractive and easier to understand. Microsoft Word 2016 offers many tools to help you format images beautifully. You can crop, resize, add borders, and even apply artistic effects—all within Word. Let’s go step by step and learn how to make your pictures stand out.

1. Selecting and Opening the Picture Format Tab

Before making any changes, click on the picture in your document. This action opens the Picture Format tab in the Word ribbon. Here you’ll find all tools needed to adjust, style, and modify your image.

  • Select the Picture: Click once to highlight it.
  • Open the Picture Format Tab: The tab appears automatically when the image is selected.

Tip: Always make a copy of your image before applying big changes, especially when experimenting with effects.

2. Resizing and Rotating an Image

To make your picture fit perfectly in your document, you can resize or rotate it easily:

  • Resize: Drag the corner handles to make the image bigger or smaller. Hold the Shift key to maintain its original shape.
  • Rotate: Use the circular rotation handle at the top of the image to turn it in any direction.

3. Cropping an Image

Sometimes you may only want a certain part of a picture. Cropping helps you remove unwanted areas.

Steps to Crop an Image:

  • Click on the image to select it.
  • Go to the Picture Format tab and click the Crop button.
  • Black handles will appear on the sides and corners.
  • Drag them inward to cut out unwanted parts.
  • Click Crop again to apply.

Crop into a Shape

Want your picture to appear in a circle or heart shape? Try the Crop to Shape option.

  • Select the image.
  • Click the Crop dropdown and choose Crop to Shape.
  • Select any shape from the gallery.

4. Adding a Border to a Picture

Borders can make your images look neat and professional.

  • Select the image.
  • Click on the Picture Border button in the Format tab.
  • Choose a color, line thickness, and style.

Your border will appear instantly around the picture.

5. Adjusting Brightness, Color, and Effects

Microsoft Word 2016 lets you fine-tune your image’s appearance with easy tools.

  • Corrections: Adjust sharpness, brightness, and contrast.
  • Color: Change color intensity, temperature, or tint.
  • Artistic Effects: Add filters like watercolor, glow, or pencil sketch.

Use these tools carefully—too many effects can make your picture look unprofessional.

6. Using Picture Styles

Picture Styles offer ready-made combinations of borders, shadows, and effects. You can find them in the Picture Styles gallery on the Format tab. Hover over each style to preview before applying.

7. Compressing Pictures to Reduce File Size

If your document feels too large, image compression can help. It reduces file size without losing much quality.

Steps to Compress Pictures:

  • Select the image.
  • Click Compress Pictures under the Picture Format tab.
  • In the dialog box, check Delete cropped areas of pictures.
  • Choose an output option like Email (96 ppi) to make it smaller.
  • Click OK.

Note: Compression might slightly reduce image quality. Save a backup before applying.

8. Text Wrapping and Image Positioning

Proper text wrapping ensures your picture fits naturally with the content around it.

  • Wrap Text: Choose how text moves around your picture (Square, Tight, Behind Text, etc.).
  • Position: Use the Position button to move your picture to a preferred location on the page.
  • Group: Select multiple images and click Group to move them together.

5 FAQs of Formatting Pictures in Microsoft Word 2016

1. Can I format pictures in all versions of Word?

Yes. Most features like cropping, borders, and styles are available in Word 2013, 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365.

2. How can I keep the original size of my image while resizing?

Hold down the Shift key when dragging a corner handle to maintain the aspect ratio.

3. What is the best format for inserting pictures?

Use common formats like JPEG or PNG for better quality and compatibility.

4. Can I undo changes if I don’t like the effect?

Yes. Press Ctrl + Z immediately after the change, or use the Undo button.

5. Why does my file size increase after adding pictures?

Images take up storage space. Compressing pictures reduces the file size for easier sharing.

Conclusion

Formatting pictures in Microsoft Word 2016 is both easy and fun. With a few clicks, you can crop, resize, add borders, and enhance your images beautifully. Whether you’re designing a report, flyer, or school project, these tools help make your document look polished and professional. Practice a few times, and you’ll quickly become confident with image formatting in Word.

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