Saving WordArt Graphics as Files

It is easy to develop unique graphics and text flourishes in WordArt. Unfortunately, the program does not provide a way for your creations to be saved as regular graphics files. (You may want to save your work in a graphics file so you can use it in a program besides WordArt or Word.) There are ways around this problem, however. Perhaps the simplest way to save your WordArt graphic in another format is to use the Windows Clipboard. You can accomplish this method by following these steps:

1. While using Word, click (don't double-click) on the WordArt graphic.
2. Press Ctrl+C. This copies the graphic to the Clipboard.
3. Start your favorite graphics program, such as Windows Paint or Paint Brush Pro.
4. Press Ctrl+V to paste the contents of the Clipboard (your graphic) to the graphics program.
5. Using your graphics program, edit your graphic as desired and save in the format desired.

You can also use PowerPoint to accomplish much the same task. Follow these steps:

1. While using Word, click (don't double-click) on the WordArt graphic.
2. Press Ctrl+C. This copies the graphic to the Clipboard.
3. Start PowerPoint.
4. Choose Paste Special from the Edit menu. This displays a submenu, from which you should select Picture as the insertion type.
5. Double-click on the inserted image. PowerPoint will display a dialog box asking if you want to convert the picture to a Microsoft Office drawing. Click on Yes.
6. Resize the drawing so that it is the size desired.
7. Choose Save As. In the dialog box, indicate a file name and save your file as a Windows Metafile.
8. When prompted, indicate you want to save only the current slide.

The resulting WMF file can be inserted into any application that can work with WMF graphic files. You may also want to load it into a graphics program to further edit it.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1906) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.