An image in a header or a footer may overlap into the data area of a worksheet in Excel

When you insert an image in the header or the footer in a Microsoft Excel worksheet, the image may overlap into the data area of the worksheet.

This issue occurs because the image is not automatically resized to fit inside the header or footer section when you place an image in a header or a footer. Additionally, the image is not resized when header or footer margins are subsequently changed.

To resolve this issue, resize the image that you place in a header or a footer to fit inside the area of the header or footer section.

To do this, follow these steps, as appropriate for the version of Excel that you are running.

Microsoft Office Excel 2007

1. Click the View tab.
2. Click in the header or footer section where the image is located.
3. Click in the &[Picture] text of the image.
4. On the Design tab under Header & Footer Tools, click Format Picture in the Header & Footer Elements group.
5. On the Size tab, adjust the size of the image to fit inside the header or footer section.
6. Click OK.

Microsoft Office Excel 2003 and earlier versions of Excel

1. On the View menu, click Header and Footer.
2. Click the Custom Header button or the Custom Footer button, depending on where the image is located.
3. Click in the &[Picture] text of the image, and then click Format Picture.
4. On the Size tab, adjust the size of the image to fit inside the header or footer section.
5. Click OK to close the Format Picture dialog box.
6. Click OK to close the Header or Footer dialog box.
7. Click OK to close the Page Setup dialog box.

You need to match the sizes of images that you place in worksheet headers or footers to the size of the header or footer area if the images are to be displayed properly and not obscure data in the body of the worksheet. You can do this either by adjusting the size of the header or footer area or resizing the image after you have placed it in that area.

When you put graphics in a header or footer, it is important to keep in mind the way in which the size of the header area is related to the dimensions of the Top Margin and the Header Margin, and the corresponding relationships for the Bottom Margin and the Footer Margin. At the top of the page, the actual amount of space available for text and graphics in the top margin is the difference between the Top Margin and Header Margin dimensions; the bottom margin behaves similarly.

To adjust the header area or the footer area to a specific size, follow these steps, as appropriate for the version of Excel that you are running.

Excel 2007

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, point to Print, and then click Print Preview.
2. If the margins are not displayed, click Show Margins in the Preview group.
3. Drag the header margin lines or the footer margin lines to adjust the size of the header or footer section as needed.
4. Click Close Print Preview.

Excel 2003 and earlier versions of Excel

1. On the File menu, click Print Preview.
2. If the margins are not displayed, click Margins.
3. Drag the header margin lines or the footer margin lines to adjust the size of the header or footer section as needed.
4. Click Close.

For more information about how to put images in headers or in footers, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: