WordArt: Adding a Colored Background to WordArt Text

ID: Q124165

• Microsoft WordArt for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0b, 2.51, and 3.0
• Microsoft Works for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.0b, 4.0
• Microsoft Publisher for Windows versions 2.0, 2.0a, and 3.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0a, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a and 6.0c

SUMMARY

It is not possible to add a background color other than black to a WordArt frame from within the WordArt program. The WordArt Shading command has options for changing the foreground and background colors. However, with the exception of the White/Black Foreground option, which adds a black background, these color options will change only the color of the text, not the WordArt frame background.

WORKAROUNDS

To change the background color of the WordArt frame, use any one of the following methods.

Method 1: If you are using program that allows you to change the background

          color of a graphics frame (such as Microsoft Publisher),
          select the WordArt frame by clicking it once, and then change
          its color. See the documentation for that program for specific
          information about how to do this.

          background of a graphics frame (such as Microsoft Works), follow
          the steps below to copy the WordArt object to Microsoft Draw and
          add a rectangle with the desired background color.

          CAUTION: Before you add a colored background, make sure you have
          finished editing the text of your WordArt object. These steps
          will transform your text into a Draw object. After you complete
          these steps, you will be unable to open the object in WordArt to
          and will therefore be unable to change the text formatting there.

          a. Click the WordArt text object that you want to put a colored
             background behind.

          b. From the Edit menu, choose Cut.

          c. From the Insert menu, choose Drawing.

          d. In Microsoft Draw, choose Paste from the Edit menu.

          e. From the Draw menu, choose Group from the Edit menu.

          f. Select the text and drag it to the center of the Draw window.

          g. Choose the Rectangle button.

          h. Drag the mouse to create a box around the text that is the
             desired size for the colored area.

          i. From the Edit menu, choose Send To Back.

          j. Change the Line And Fill color at the bottom of the
             Draw screen to the desired background color.

          k. From the File menu, choose Exit, and return to your document.

          l. Choose the Yes button to update or save changes to your
             document.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about creating text on a black background using WordArt, query on the following:

   ARTICLE ID: Q114873
   TITLE  :    Creating White Text on a Black Background in Works

Keywords          : kbinterop kbole kbtool kbdta
Version           : windows:2.0,2.0a,2.0b,2.51,3.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: March 27, 1998