Introduction
When it comes to creating professional-looking documents, properly formatting images is essential. The most common way to format an image is through text wrapping, but this can often limit your design options. In this article, we will explore alternative ways to format images in your documents to elevate your designs and make them stand out.
Using Tables
Tables can be utilized to format images in your documents. Not only do they provide a structured layout, but they also allow for precise placement of your images. To insert an image in a table, simply select the cell you wish to place the image, click on “Insert” then “Picture.” From here, you can adjust the size and placement of the image within the cell.
Tables are great for formatting images that require captions or text alongside them. For example, when designing a product specification sheet, having images of the product alongside their technical specifications is made easy with tables.
Creating a Separate Text Box
Another alternative to text wrapping is to create a separate text box to contain your image’s caption or description. To create a separate text box, simply insert a text box into your document and place it where you’d like your caption beside the image. You can then add your caption to the text box and format it as you wish.
Separate text boxes are great for adding an extra design element to your document. They also work well when you want your caption to be more prominent than usual, like when advertising an event and needing the details next to the event poster image.
Leaving Photos Unwrapped
In some cases, leaving images unwrapped can be the best option. For example, when designing a cover page or brochure, images may look better when they’re not constrained by text. Leaving images un-wrapped allows designers to fully utilize the image without any design restrictions.
When using this method, it’s important to ensure that the image placement doesn’t detract from the readability of the text surrounding it. Finding a balance between the text and image is key to successfully leaving photos unwrapped.
Design Tips for Avoiding Layout Issues
When using alternative methods to text wrapping, it’s important to keep layout issues in mind. The wrong image placement can create awkward layouts and detract from the overall design of your document.
To avoid layout issues, it’s essential to plan your document’s layout before beginning. Know where your images will be placed and what text will accompany them.
One helpful tip is to turn your document into a grayscale layout to see how the images and text balance without color. Additionally, use the “show margins” option to keep text within the margins and maintain proper alignment.
Using Negative Space
Negative space is a design technique that involves leaving blank spaces on the page to create a more harmonious layout. It can be used alongside alternative image formatting methods to create a more visually appealing design.
A common way to use negative space in image formatting is to place the image on one side of the page and leave space on the other side for text. Negative space can also be used to provide emphasis for an image by giving it its section on the page without any distraction from text.
Conclusion
Text wrapping is no longer the only option for formatting images in your documents. By using tables, separate text boxes, leaving images unwrapped, and utilizing negative space, designers can create visually stunning documents that stand-out while remaining free from layout issues.
Remember to plan out your layout before beginning and experiment with different designs to see what works best for each document. Properly formatting images is essential in creating professional-looking documents that catch the reader’s eye.