Microsoft Word 2010 : Using WordArt (part 1) - Inserting WordArt Text

WordArt is essentially a text box on steroids. It lets you create text that behaves like a graphic, tucked inside its own text box, which is also a graphic. Word offers 30 preformatted WordArt Quick Styles, but you can further accent WordArt text with angles, colors, textures, 3-D effects, shading, and shapes. Figure 1 shows a few random examples of WordArt.

WordArt is great for adding effects to greeting cards, certificates, invitations, and the like. But try as you might, it can take a lot of work to make WordArt text look truly professional. So, I don’t advise you to use WordArt to create a logo for your business or to dress up a resume. For casual documents, however, WordArt can add fun and visual interest.

WordArt is also easy to use. The following sections show you how to add some WordArt text to a document, edit the text, and reformat a WordArt object.

Inserting WordArt Text

Creating WordArt is the easiest part of the process. You just type your text and apply a quick style. The hardest part comes later, if you decide to add more formatting to a piece of WordArt.

Creating WordArt

Here’s how to jazz up a few words of text with WordArt:

1.	Type a short greeting or shout-out (such as “Happy Birthday,” or some such).
2.	Select the text; then click the Insert tab.
3.	In the Text group, click WordArt. A menu drops down, showing the available WordArt quick styles, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2. Applying a WordArt quick style to selected text.
4.	Click a style. Word applies the style and places the text in a text box, as shown in Figure 3. When the text box is selected, it is surrounded by a thin blue border and sizing handles, and the Drawing Tools Format tab appears on the Ribbon. Figure 3. The text formatted as WordArt, in a new text box.
5.	Click outside the WordArt text box to deselect it.

Editing WordArt Text

You edit WordArt text just like text in a normal text box. Just click the text and make your changes. You can select, insert, add, delete, backspace, type over, and otherwise repair or replace WordArt text in all the usual ways. ‘Nuff said.