Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Office 365. 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: Absolutely Positioning a Graphic.

Absolutely Positioning a Graphic

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated November 16, 2019)

Word, as you know, allows you to insert pictures into your documents. When you insert a picture, it is basically placed where your insertion point is located. You have total control, however, over where your picture is positioned on a page.

Let's say, for instance, that you want your picture to appear exactly 3 inches from the top of the paper, and 2 inches from the left side of the paper. In order to affect this positioning, you would follow these steps:

  1. Insert your graphic as you normally do.
  2. Click on the graphic one time to select it.
  3. Make sure the Format tab of the ribbon is displayed.
  4. In the Arrange group, click the Position tool. Word displays a number of stock ways in which the image can be positioned.
  5. Click More Layout Options. Word displays the Advanced Layout dialog box (Word 2007) or Layout dialog box (later versions of Word).
  6. Make sure the Text Wrapping tab is displayed. (See Figure 1.)

    7. Figure 1. The Text Wrapping tab of the Layout dialog box.

  7. Select one of the Wrapping options except In Line With Text.
  8. Click the Picture Position tab (Word 2007) or the Position tab (later versions of Word). (See Figure 2.)

    9. Figure 2. The Position tab of the Layout dialog box.

  9. In the Horizontal area of the dialog box choose the Absolute Position radio button and set the picture to be 2 inches to the right of Page.
  10. In the Vertical area of the dialog box choose the Absolute Position radio button and set the picture to be 3 inches below Page.
  11. Make sure the Move Object with Text check box is cleared.
  12. Click OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8714) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Office 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Absolutely Positioning a Graphic.

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. ...

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