Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Problems Pasting Large Pictures.

Problems Pasting Large Pictures

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 5, 2017)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016


1

If you paste a large picture into a document (or resize a small picture so it is larger), the picture may disappear from where you think it should be on the screen. Don't panic; the picture is still there—it is just off the screen at the moment.

A common default setting for pictures is "Move with text" and word-wrap is set to "Above and Below." The picture is attached to a paragraph mark, and when you inserted the picture (or resized it), the paragraph mark and picture pushed to the next page. When this happens, some people panic and think the best solution is to undo the paste/resize.

The picture is still selected, even if you don't see it. An easy way to see the picture again is to make sure the Format tab is visible (it will be, assuming that the picture is still selected). In the Arrange group click Text Wrapping (Word 2007) or Wrap Text (Word 2010 or later) then click In Front of Text.

At this point everything jumps back to where it belongs because the text now flows "through" the picture. This makes it easy to decide if you want to move the picture to the next page manually or keep it where it is.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (4266) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Problems Pasting Large Pictures.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Avoiding Scientific Notation on File Imports

When importing information from a CSV file, you may get unintended results from time to time. Here's how to force Excel ...

Discover More

Saving All Open Workbooks

Wouldn't it be nice to have a single command that would save each of you open workbooks, all at once? It's easy to do ...

Discover More

Displaying File Extensions

File extensions help both you and Windows understand how to work with a particular file. By default, these extensions are ...

Discover More

Do More in Less Time! Are you ready to harness the full power of Word 2013 to create professional documents? In this comprehensive guide you'll learn the skills and techniques for efficiently building the documents you need for your professional and your personal life. Check out Word 2013 In Depth today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Replacing an Image Filename with the Actual Image

Want to insert a whole bunch of images in your document all at once? The macro in this tip shows you how easy it is to ...

Discover More

Wrapping Text Around a Graphic

Place a graphic in your document, and you may want to make sure that your document text "wraps" around the edges of the ...

Discover More

Printing Graphic Thumbnails

If you are doing work with a lot of graphics, it may be helpful to create a summary page that contains thumbnail ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 9 + 3?

2017-08-05 08:28:02

Lee

Excellent tip, Allen! I've had that happen several times in Word 2007. I thought it was yet another Word bug. Now I know how to fix it.

By the way, can you include an Edit button for these comments? I know this is not a full-fledged forum, however, it's very annoying when you submit a comment and realize you made an error :(! It's been known to happen :). Thanks.


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.