Understanding WordArt
WordArt is an application you can use within PowerPoint to create special text effects such as shadowed, rotated, stretched, or multicolored text. PowerPoint treats WordArt pictures as drawing objects, not text, so the properties that apply to other drawing objects—such as formatting, the use of 3D, and the like—also apply to WordArt.
→ To learn how to apply 3D effects to WordArt, see “Adding Shadow and 3D Effects” in this chapter.
Caution
Spell check doesn't work with WordArt because it's a drawing object, not text. You must check spelling manually in WordArt pictures.
Figure 14.32 provides some samples of the type of text formatting you can do with WordArt.
Figure 14.32. WordArt provides numerous options for creating words with special graphic effects.
Caution
Be careful not to overuse WordArt in your presentation or it can become cluttered and confusing. WordArt should be used for emphasis only.
Inserting WordArt
To insert a WordArt image in your slide, follow these steps:
Select Insert, Picture, WordArt to open the WordArt Gallery dialog box, shown in Figure 14.33.
You can also open the WordArt Gallery dialog box by clicking the WordArt button from the Drawing toolbar.Select the WordArt style you want and click OK. The Edit WordArt Text dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 14.34.
Enter the text that you want to format using WordArt.
Format this text by choosing an appropriate Font and Size and by clicking the Bold and Italic buttons if you want to add these effects.
Click OK to place the WordArt drawing on your slide.
Figure 14.33. Preview WordArt styles before you choose one.
Figure 14.34. Enter the word or words you want to format in this dialog box.
Formatting WordArt
After you insert a WordArt image, the WordArt toolbar appears. You can use this toolbar to apply additional formatting options. Table 14.4 describes the WordArt toolbar buttons.
Tip from
Use the buttons on the Drawing toolbar for other formatting options, such as changing the fill color of a WordArt picture, adding a shadow, or applying a 3D perspective.
→ For more details on the powerful design capabilities of this toolbar, see “Using the Drawing Toolbar to Create Objects” in this chapter.
Formatting WordArt Characters
You can customize several aspects of character spacing and orientation using WordArt.
Click the WordArt Character Spacing button on the WordArt toolbar to choose spacing options from a menu that displays.
You can also set a Custom percentage for character spacing. The default is 100%—a higher percentage loosens the text; a lower percentage tightens the text. Select the Kern Character Pairs option if you want to adjust sets of characters together.
Click the WordArt Same Letter Heights button to make all the letters in your WordArt picture the same height as the highest character.
Click the WordArt Vertical Text button to change the WordArt picture from a horizontal to a vertical orientation. You might have to resize the picture to make it fit properly by dragging the bottom side with the mouse.
Figure 14.35 illustrates examples of text spacing modifications.
Figure 14.35. Spacing and orientation make WordArt adjust to your presentation needs.
Note
Click the Undo button to undo any WordArt formatting option that you apply.
Modifying WordArt
To modify an existing WordArt picture, select it to redisplay the WordArt toolbar again. Use the toolbar buttons to change or further customize the WordArt picture.