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How to Add Backgrounds in Word

This wikiHow teaches you how to change the blank, white background in a Microsoft Word document to a watermark or solid color. Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white 'W' on top.
Method 1 of 5:

Adding a Stock Watermark

  1. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 1How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 1
    Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.
    1. If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.
  2. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 2How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 2
    Click Blank document. It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.
    1. If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.
  3. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 3How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 3
    Click Design. This tab is near the top-left of the Word window, to the right of the "Home" and "Insert" tabs near the top of the page.
  4. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 4How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 4
    Click Watermark. It's in the top-right side of the Word toolbar, near the top of the window. You'll see this option to the left of the "Page Color" and "Page Borders" options.
  5. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 5How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 5
    Click a watermark template. You can select any of the following templates to apply their text to your Word document's background:
    1. "CONFIDENTIAL"
    2. "DO NOT COPY"
    3. "ASAP"
    4. "URGENT"
  6. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 6How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 6
    Add text to your document, like usual. The watermark will remain in the background of your document, meaning anything you type will remain on top of the watermark.
    1. You can remove a watermark by clicking Remove Watermark at the bottom of the watermark templates drop-down menu.
Method 2 of 5:

Adding a Custom Image Watermark

  1. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 7How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 7
    Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.
    1. If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.
  2. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 8How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 8
    Click Blank document. It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.
    1. If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.
  3. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 9How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 9
    Click Design. This tab is in the top-left side of the Word window, to the right of the "Home" and "Insert" tabs near the top of the page.
  4. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 10How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 10
    Click Watermark. It's in the top-right side of the Word toolbar near the top of the window. You'll see this option to the left of the "Page Color" and "Page Borders" options.
  5. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 11How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 11
    Click Custom Watermark. This option is near the middle of the "Watermarks" drop-down menu. Clicking it will bring up the "Printed Watermark" window.
  6. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 12How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 12
    Click the circle next to "Picture watermark". It's near the top of the "Printed Watermark" window.
  7. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 13How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 13
    Click Select Picture. You'll see this button just below the "Picture watermark" section.
  8. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 14How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 14
    Click From a File. This option is at the top of the "Printed Watermark" window. Clicking it will open your computer's default picture storage file (e.g., "Photos") for browsing.
    1. You can also choose Bing or OneDrive from this menu if you'd rather search for a photo or use one from Cloud storage, respectively.
  9. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 15How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 15
    Click a picture. Doing so will select it for your watermark.
  10. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 16How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 16
    Click Insert. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window. This action will take you back to the "Printed Watermark" window.
  11. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 17How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 17
    Click OK. You'll find this at the bottom of the window. Your selected picture will appear as your document's background watermark.
    1. You can also resize your picture by clicking the "Auto" box and choosing a percentage (e.g., 200), or you can uncheck the "Washout" box to prevent your picture from appearing transparent.
  12. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 18How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 18
    Add text to your document, like usual. The watermark will remain in the background of your document, meaning anything you type will remain on top of your selected image. Your text color will also change to stay visible if the picture you chose is too dark or too light to adequately display text.
Method 3 of 5:

Adding a Custom Text Watermark

  1. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 19How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 19
    Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.
    1. If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.
  2. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 20How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 20
    Click Blank document. It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.
    1. If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.
  3. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 21How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 21
    Click Design. This tab is in the top-left side of the Word window, to the right of the "Home" and "Insert" tabs near the top of the page.
  4. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 22How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 22
    Click Watermark. It's in the top-right side of the Word toolbar near the top of the window. You'll see this option to the left of the "Page Color" and "Page Borders" options.
  5. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 23How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 23
    Click Custom Watermark. This option is near the middle of the "Watermarks" drop-down menu. Clicking it will bring up the "Printed Watermark" window.
  6. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 24How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 24
    Click the circle next to "Text watermark". It's in the middle-left side of the "Printed Watermark" window.
  7. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 25How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 25
    Type your watermark's text into the "Text" box. This box is near the middle of the window; it should say "ASAP" by default. Your other customization options include the following:
    1. Font - The style of text that your watermark uses.
    2. Size - Your watermark's size. "Auto", which automatically resizes your text, is the default setting.
    3. Color - The watermark's color.
    4. Layout - You can click Diagonal or Horizontal here to determine how your watermark is oriented.
    5. You can also uncheck the "Semitransparent" box to display your watermark in a bold format.
  8. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 26How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 26
    Click OK. You'll find this at the bottom of the window. Your custom text watermark will be applied to your document's background.
  9. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 27How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 27
    Add text to your document, like usual. The watermark will remain in the background of your document, meaning anything you type will remain on top of your watermark text.
Method 4 of 5:

Adding a Background Picture

  1. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 28How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 28
    Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.
    1. If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.
  2. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 29How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 29
    Click Blank document. It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.
    1. If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.
  3. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 30How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 30
    Click Design. This tab is in the top-left side of the Word window, to the right of the "Home" and "Insert" tabs near the top of the page.
  4. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 31How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 31
    Click Page Color. It's in the top-right side of the Word toolbar near the top of the window.
  5. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 32How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 32
    Click Fill Effects. It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu here.
  6. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 33How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 33
    Click the Picture tab. You'll see it at the top of the "Fill Effects" window.
  7. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 34How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 34
    Click Select Picture. It's near the top of the window.
  8. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 35How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 35
    Click From a File. This option is at the top of the "Printed Watermark" window. Clicking it will open your computer's default picture storage file (e.g., "Photos") for browsing.
    1. You can also choose Bing or OneDrive from this menu if you'd rather search for a photo or use one from Cloud storage, respectively.
  9. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 36How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 36
    Click a picture. Doing so will select it.
  10. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 37How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 37
    Click Insert.
  11. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 38How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 38
    Click OK. It's at the bottom of the window; doing so will apply your selected picture to your document's background.
    1. Unlike with an image watermark, this background picture won't be transparent.
  12. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 39How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 39
    Add text to your document, like usual. Your text color will change to stay visible if the picture you chose is too dark or too light to adequately display text.
Method 5 of 5:

Changing the Background Color

  1. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 40How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 40
    Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.
    1. If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.
  2. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 41How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 41
    Click Blank document. It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.
    1. If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.
  3. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 42How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 42
    Click Design. This tab is in the top-left side of the Word window, to the right of the "Home" and "Insert" tabs near the top of the page.
  4. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 43How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 43
    Click Page Color. It's in the top-right side of the Word toolbar near the top of the window.
  5. How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 44How to Add Backgrounds in Word Picture 44
    Click a color. Doing so will apply it to your document's background. If needed, your document's default font color will change in order to stay visible.
    1. If you want to create your own color, click More Colors below the color options here. You'll be able to click and drag a slider around a color gradient to create a custom color.
    2. You can also click Fill Effects to add pre-determined textures or patterns to your document's background.
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