Word: Insert transparent image with watermark

Last week I answered a question about how to insert a transparent image in Word.

A couple of sharp readers were quick to point out that I missed a much simpler way to accomplish that task, using the watermark feature in Word. To which I can only respond, “Well, DUH!” I mean, if you want to do things the easy way, I guess you could try that. Thank you all for keeping me on my toes.

Let’s take a look at how to insert a transparent image with watermark. First, open Word and create a new document or open the one you wish to add the image to. Click the Design tab at the top of the page.

Select Watermark at the top-right.

Choose Custom Watermark at the very bottom of the menu that opens.

Choose Picture Watermark and then Select picture.

Select whether you’d like to work with images on your PC or online images.

Find the image you wish to use. Click Insert.

You can adjust the size of the Watermark and whether or not you want it to be washed out. Then select Apply.

Here’s the result.

I don’t think this gives you quite as much freedom as the method I described in my earlier article, but if it works with what you want to do, it’s a heck of a lot faster.

I’ll talk more about using watermarks tomorrow.