Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Problems Pasting Large Pictures.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 19, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
If you paste a large picture into a document (or resize a small picture so it is larger), the picture may disappear from where you think it should be on the screen. Don't panic; the picture is still there—it is just off the screen at the moment.
A common default setting for pictures is "Move with text" and word-wrap is set to "Above and Below." The picture is attached to a paragraph mark, and when you inserted the picture (or resized it), the paragraph mark and picture pushed to the next page. When this happens, some people panic and think the best solution is to undo the paste/resize.
The picture is still selected, even if you don't see it. Here's an easy way to see the picture again: Click Format | Picture and set the word wrap to None. At this point everything jumps back to where it belongs because the text now flows "through" the picture. This makes it easy to decide if you want to move the picture to the next page manually or keep it where it is.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (3817) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Problems Pasting Large Pictures.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
Word documents can contain more than just words. They can also contain drawing objects such as lines and simple shapes. ...
Discover MoreWord allows you to easily add images to your documents. For documents intended for monochrome printers, grayscale images ...
Discover MoreWindows provides a way of "capturing" the image on the screen into the clipboard. You can then paste the image from the ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2020-10-03 18:01:54
Patricia Brenes
When I paste a picture from Excel it's usually too big. Can I set figures so that they have a fixed size when I paste them? A
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here:
Comments