If entrepreneurship runs in your family, you may have discovered how your ancestors jazzed up their documents: the old-fashioned way, by printing them on paper already embossed with a border. And for pictures and other visual elements? If they had a steady hand, they used a thin, black marker or simply left well enough alone. Then Microsoft Word kicked off a revolution known as desktop publishing, enabling small business owners to produce professional-looking documents with the aid of Word border templates and especially custom borders. In your haste to print reports, client proposals and white papers, you may have forgotten that this functionality exists. Give your documents an air of distinction by learning how to add Word document borders in a few simple steps.
First click the line or border, then do one of the following: If selection handles appear at the ends of a line: It was added as a shape. Click Delete on the keyboard. If selection handles appear around the border: It was added as a shape. Click the Style tab at the top of the sidebar on the right, then click the pop-up menu to the right of Border, then choose No Border.
Create a Page Border in Word To create a custom page border in Word:. Open Word and click on the Design tab.
Under Page Layout, click Page Borders. Click Page Border in the Borders and Shading window. Select the Custom option from the list of choices. This is when the real fun begins. Now you can choose the color, style and width of your page border in Word. Decide whether you want the border to be applied to the entire document.
By default, Word will apply it to every page unless you direct it to do otherwise. To do this, go to the Apply to box on the bottom right and click on the arrow until you see the option that appeals to you most (such as applying the border to the first page only, all pages except the first page and other choices).
Click OK to create the border. As you might guess, it's worth experimenting with these options to find the custom choices you like best. As good as Word is at depicting, for example, the difference between a 1-, 2- and 3-point line, nothing compares to seeing that line encircle a page to appreciate its full effect. Add Borders to Visual Elements Documents with text boxes, pictures and shapes can really pop with the addition of borders.
To add a border, click on the text box, picture or shape and then click on Shape Format. Select Shape Outline, located next to the arrow. Now you will face a series of choices:. Add or change the color of a border by: clicking on your preferred color. Add or change the thickness of a border by: pointing to Weight and choosing the width that you want. Add or change the border style by: pointing to Dashes to make a selection.
If you change your mind, remember that nothing is permanent; simply click on No Outline to remove the border from the picture, text box or shape. With a little practice, you should become proficient at adding Word document borders that enhance your work without overtaking it.
Your efforts could make your employees, clients and especially your envious ancestors do an impressed double-take.