This tutorial shows how to insert images into shapes in Microsoft Word. For example, you may want to crop any image into a circle, triangle, or star.
First, we are going to look at two different ways to insert the image into the shape. Then, we are going to look at how to modify the image’s size and position within the shape.
Table of Contents:
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The figures below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac (a.k.a., Word for Mac), Word 2021, Word 2016, and Word 2013. However, the older versions of the software offer fewer image options than those shown here.
How to Insert an Image into a Shape
Here are two methods to insert an image into a shape. The first method starts by inserting the shape. The second method starts by inserting the image.
Method One: Starting with a Shape
- Select the Insert tab.
- Select Shapes in the Illustrations group.
- Select a shape from the drop-down menu.
Your cursor will become a pointer with two crossed lines. Click and hold the pointer as you drag the shape onto the page.
- Use the resizing handles to adjust the size as necessary.
- Select the Shape Fill menu arrow in the Shape Format tab. (The Shape Format tab only appears when a shape is selected.)
- Select Picture from the drop-down menu.
- (PC Users) Select the image’s location in the Insert Picture dialog box: From a File, Stock Images, Online Pictures, or From Icons. (Only Microsoft 365 subscribers will have all these options.)
Mac users will locate and select their image in the Finder window, instead.
For this tutorial, we will insert a stock image.
- Locate and select the image, and then select the Insert button.
The image should now appear in the shape.
For more information about working with shapes, please see “How to Insert and Modify Shapes in Microsoft Word.”
Method Two: Starting with an Image
- Select the Insert tab (see figure 1).
- Select Picture in the Illustrations group.
- Select the image location from the drop-down menu: This Device, Stock Images, or Online Pictures. (Only Microsoft 365 subscribers will have all these options.)
Once again, we will insert a stock image.
- Locate and select the image, and then select the Insert button (see figure 10).
- Use the resizing handles to adjust the size as necessary (see figure 5)
- Select the Crop menu arrow in the Size group in the Picture Format tab. (The Picture Format tab only appears when an image is selected.)
- Select Crop to Shape from the drop-down menu.
- Select a shape from the submenu.
The image will appear in the shape.
For more information about working with images, please see “How to Insert and Modify Images in Microsoft Word.”
How to Modify an Image’s Size and Position within a Shape
- Right-click (PC) or Control-click (Mac) the shape with the image, and then select Format Picture or Format Shape from the shortcut menu.
- Select the Picture button in the Format Picture or Format Shape pane.
- Select the Crop menu arrow.
- Use the Picture Position Width, Height, Offset X (horizonal position), and Offset Y (vertical position) menus to adjust the image in the shape as necessary.
- Select the X to close the Format Picture or Format Shape pane.
Now that you have inserted an image into your shape, why not insert some text?
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