Add or change an effect for a picture

Add an effect to a picture

1. Select the picture for which you want to add or change an effect.

   Note

   To add the same effect to multiple pictures, click the first picture, and then press and hold CTRL while you click the other pictures. If you are using Word, you must copy the pictures to a drawing canvas if they are not already there. Click Insert > Shapes > New Drawing Canvas. (After adding or changing the effect, you can copy them back to the original location in your document.)

2. Under Picture Tools, on the Format tab, in the Picture Styles group, click Picture Effects.

3. Rest your pointer on one of the Picture Effects options to see a menu of different ways to apply each effect. When you rest your pointer on one of the menu effects, the effect appears as a preview on the picture in your document.
   

   Note

   • To customize the effect you’re adding, click the Options selection at the bottom of each effect menu. For example, if you’ve opened the Shadow menu, click Shadow Options to make custom adjustments to the shadow effect.
   • If you do not see the Picture Tools or Format tabs, double-click the picture to make sure that you selected it. If you see [Compatibility Mode] next to the file name at the top of the program window, try saving your document into a format such as *.docx or *.xlsx instead of an earlier file format such as *.doc or *.xls, and then try again.

Remove an effect from a picture

Each category of picture effect has a No <Effect Name> option at the top of its menu. Select that option to turn off an effect that you don't want.

For example, to remove a shadow, point to Picture Effects > Shadow > No Shadow.

1. Select the picture for which you remove an effect.

2. Under Picture Tools, on the Format tab, in the Picture Styles group, select Picture Effects.

3. Select the Picture Effects category that you want to remove. In the menu that appears, the first option is No <Effect Name> (such as No Shadow or No Reflection). Select that option to remove that kind of effect from the picture.

   

Do any of the following:

Quickly apply a style

1. Click the picture, and then click the Format Picture tab.
2. Click Quick Styles, and then click the style that you want.
   

Add or change a shadow, reflection, glow, edges, bevel, or 3-D rotation

1. Click the picture, and then click the Format Picture tab.
2. Click Picture Effects, point to a type of effect, and then click the effect that you want.
   
3. To fine-tune the effect, click Options at the bottom of any effect menu.

See also

Insert pictures