Microsoft’s Word is an incredibly versatile word processing tool that has become a de facto standard over the years, as it is widely used in both professional and personal settings. It offers a lot of interesting features, one of which is the ability to customize the background of documents, offering a wide variety of options to do so .
Whether you want to create a document with a uniformly colored background, insert a subtle gradient, a rich texture, an intriguing pattern, a watermark or an evocative image, Word has you covered. Let’s see how to make the most of these features to add a background to Word.
How to put a single color background in Word
If you want to add a pop of color to your document, Word makes this process simple and intuitive . Start by selecting the “ Design ” tab in the top menu. From there, you will find the “ Page Color ” option which, when selected, will open a drop-down menu with a wide range of colors to choose from.
Just click on the desired background color and the entire background of your Word document will take on that shade. This is a great option for adding some personality to your document without taking attention away from the content.
How to put a gradient background
If you want a slightly more sophisticated look, you may want to consider the Shades option. This option, which you find by first selecting the ” Design ” tab and then pressing on ” Page color “, “Fill effects” and then ” Gradient “, allows you to add a background to Word that fades between two or more colors.
You can customize the gradient in terms of direction, style and color variation, giving you the ability to create a truly unique design.
How to use a texture as a background in Word
Textures (also known as textures ) can give a rich and visually interesting look to your document.
To add a texture as a background in Word, always go in the “ Design ” tab to “Page Color ”, then “ Fill Effects ”, and finally in the dialog box to the “ Texture ” tab. A window will open with a variety of predefined textures to choose from, ranging from marble, to canvas, to wood, and many more.
If the textures provided are not enough for you, you can press the ” Other texture ” button to import one from a PC file or to search for it directly on the Web using the Bing search engine . Selecting one of these options will give your document a three-dimensional, tangible look.
How to use a pattern as a background
Patterns, or motifs, are another way to add a touch of personality to your Word document.
To add a pattern, always first go to “ Design ” then “ Page Color” , then “ Fill Effects ”, and finally “ Pattern ”. Here you will have the opportunity to choose from a number of geometric and abstract patterns, as well as customize the colors of the pattern.
A pattern can add a sense of movement and energy to your document.
How to add a watermark to a document
A watermark is a great tool for adding a touch of professionalism to your Word document. This could be your company logo, text like “Draft” or “Confidential ,” or anything else that might help identify the document or communicate the status or sensitivity of the content.
To add a watermark as a Word background, open your document and click on the “ Design ” tab. From there on the right of the bar, you will find the “ Watermark ” option. A click here will open a menu offering a set of predefined watermarks to add as your Word background.
If none of the available watermarks suit you, there is also a “ Custom Watermark ” option that allows you to create your own unique watermark.
You can choose whether to use text or an image, and you have control over the size, transparency, and position of the watermark. Once you’re done customizing your watermark, click “ Apply ” and you’ll see your watermark appear in the background of your Word document.
Remember, watermarks are generally thin and lightweight, so they shouldn’t interfere with the readability of your text.
Use an image as a background
If you really want to make an impression, you might consider using an image as the background for your Word document .
Always go to the “ Design ” tab, then “ Page Color ”, then “ Fill Effects ” and finally the “ Image ” tab. From here, you can upload an image directly from your computer by pressing the ” Select image ” button.
As an image you can select a photo, illustration or any other image that you think fits your document.
Remember that the image will be behind the text, so try to choose something that doesn’t compromise its readability.
How to change or remove a background in Word
If your Word document already has a background and you want to change it, or if you’ve decided you prefer a document with a plain white background, changing or removing the background from a Word document is just as easy.
To do this, go to “ Design ”, then “ Page Color ”. Here, to completely remove a background, just click on the “ No Color ” item.
If you want to replace your current background with a color, gradient, texture, pattern or image, simply follow the instructions above and Word will delete the previous background for you and replace it with your new choice.
In any case, always remember to save your changes before exiting the document so as not to lose the fruit of your work.
