Microsoft Word Step by Step Tutorial to Create a Computer Classes Flyer: Document Setup to Format Shape Outline

This tutorial gives the illustrated step by step instructions to create a Computer Classes Flyer using the Business Application - Microsoft Word.

Computer Classes Flyer

Steps

01: Document Setup

02: Create Rectangle

03: Create Duplicates

04: Fill & Outline Color

05: Royalty Free Clip Art

06: Text Group

07: Insert Picture

08: Format Shape Outline

09: Edit Image

10: Free Fonts

11: Insert Text

12: Text Fill & Stroke

13: Drop Shadow

14: Add Remaining Text

15: Save File

Step 01: Document Setup

Microsoft Word Page Layout Tab - Page Setup Group

To properly setup your document, go up to the Ribbon and select the Page Layout Tab.

Then in the Page Setup Group, select Size > Letter from the drop down menu.

Microsoft Word Margins Options - Narrow — Microsoft Word Margin Options - Narrow

Click on Margins and select Narrow from the drop down menu.

This sets the Top, Bottom, Left and Right Margins to 0.5" each.

Next click Orientation and select Portrait from the drop down menu.

Microsoft Word Orientation Options - Portrait — Microsoft Word Orientation
Options - Portrait

Now that Document Setup is complete you can start working on the flyer background.

Step 02: Create Rectangle

The Computer Classes Flyer is a very simple flyer that looks like you took some time to create it.

Microsoft Word Illustrations Group - Shapes

The first thing that you will add to the Flyer is a Rectangle. On the Ribbon, select the Insert Tab.

In the Illustrations Group select Shapes > Rectangle (the 4th shape in Recently Used Shapes or the 1st shape in Rectangles).

Draw a Rectangle on the page.

You will notice that the Ribbon has changed to the Format Tab which showcases the Drawing Tools.

8 Blue Resizing Handles appear around the Rectangle.

Microsoft Word Size Group - Width and Height — Microsoft Word Size
Group - Width & Height

On the far right of the Format Tab is the Size Group.

Set Height to 2.6" and Width to 4.15".

Select the Rectangle and move it to the top left corner of the page.

Step 03: Create Duplicates

Select the Home Tab and go to the Clipboard Group.

Microsoft Word Clipboard Group - Copy — Microsoft Word Clipboard
Group - Copy

Select Copy.

Microsoft Word Clipboard Group - Paste — Microsoft Word Clipboard
Group - Paste

Then select Paste 7 times so that you will get 7 more Rectangles.

Line them up on the page so that they are equally spaced.

Step 04: Fill & Outline Color

Microsoft Word Shape Styles Group - Shape Fill

Select the 1st Rectangle. Click on the Format Tab and in the Shape Styles Group select Shape Fill which opens a drop down Color Menu.

Instead of using the Blue Colors that I used for the Computer Classes Flyer in Inkscape, let's try variations of Orange.

Microsoft Word Shape Fill Color Options — Microsoft Word
Shape Fill Color Options

In the Theme Colors Section select Orange, Accent 6, Darker 25%, which is the second to last Orange Color.

Microsoft Word Rectangle with Orange Fill, Blue Outline — Microsoft Word Rectangle
with Orange Fill, Blue Outline

The Rectangle now has an Orange Fill but still has its Blue Outline.

Microsoft Word Shape Styles Group - Shape Outline

To change the Outline Color, select Shape Outline in the Shape Styles Group.

Then select the Accent 6 Orange, 25%.

You will now have a Uniform Fill and Outline.

Microsoft Word Solid Orange Rectangle — Microsoft Word
Solid Orange Rectangle

Now repeat for the other Rectangles.
Rectangle 2 - Orange, Accent 6, Lighter 40%
Rectangle 3 - Orange, Accent 6, Lighter 80%
Rectangle 4 - Orange, Accent 6
Rectangle 5 - Orange, Accent 6, Darker 50%
Rectangle 6 - Orange, Accent 6, Lighter 60%

Microsoft Word Shape Fill - More Fill Colors — Microsoft Word
Shape Fill - More Fill Colors

For the Last 2 Rectangles, we'll try a different approach.

Select Rectangle 7.

In the Color Menu, instead of choosing a color from the Theme Colors, select More Fill Colors.

This opens the Colors Window.

Set Red to 246, Green to 130 and Blue to 34, then set Transparency to 20% by moving the slider or typing it in.

Click OK.

Then for the Outline Color, re-enter the RGB Values and Transparency.

Click OK.

For Rectangle 8, under More Fill Colors, set Red to 205, Green to 98 and Blue to 9.

Click OK. Repeat for the Outline.

So all the Colored Rectangles should look something like this:

Draw another Rectangle on the Page.

This time set its Height to 10" and Width to 7.5".

The Default Fill Color will be Blue.

Set both the Fill and Outline to White by choosing this Color from the Theme Colors section.

Microsoft Word Computer Classes Flyer Background — Microsoft Word
Computer Classes Flyer Background

Now the flyer background is complete, we can move onto inserting the Image.

Step 05: Royalty Free Clip Art

Open Clip Art Library - Computer Clipart

The Public Domain Vector Clip Art for this Computer Classes Flyer was downloaded from the .

The Clip Art is called Cartoon Computer and Desktop by DTRave.

Once the image has been downloaded, you will need to place it into the flyer.

Step 06: Text Group

In Adobe Illustrator, OpenOffice Draw, Inkscape, Corel Draw and Microsoft Publisher, you are able to freely move an Image anywhere on the canvas. This is also possible in Microsoft Word as long as you first place the Image within a Text Box.

To Insert a Text Box, go back to the Ribbon and select the Insert Tab.

Then go to the Text Group and select Text Box.

Microsoft Word Built In Window - Draw Text Box

At the bottom of the Built-In Window, select Draw Text Box.

Your cursor will change to an X.

While holding down your mouse button, drag and draw a Text Box on the Flyer.

The Text Box will have 8 Handles around it for resizing.

Step 07: Insert Picture

Click anywhere inside of the Text Box so that you have a flashing cursor.

Since drawing the Text Box, notice that the Ribbon has changed to the Format Tab.

Microsoft Word Illustrations Group - Picture

Go back to the Insert Tab and click on the Picture Icon in the Illustrations Group.

This allows you to Insert a Picture from File.

It opens up the Insert Picture Window, where you can select your file and then click Insert.

Be certain that your images are in a format that will be recognized by Microsoft Word.

These images are saved in PNG (Portable Network Graphics) Format.

Once the Image has been inserted, Resize it by selecting one of the Circles and holding down the Ctrl and Shift Keys together, so that you don't get a disproportionate Image.

Step 08: Format Shape Outline

The Image will then be placed inside of the Text Box.

Select the Text Box, then right click over it to reveal another menu.

Select Format Shape.

Microsoft Word Format Shape Window - Fill

This opens the Format Shape Window.

Microsoft Word Format Shape Window - Line Color

Right below the Fill Tab is Line Color.

Select this to make changes to the Outline/Stroke of the Text Box.

Notice that the Window has also changed.

Microsoft Word Format Shape Window - Line Color No Line — Microsoft Word Format Shape Window - No Line Color

Select No Line, changing the window yet again.

Click Close.

The Image now appears with no visible border around it, however, you know that it is still there.

Remember to move this image, you will have to select its invisible border and not the Image itself.

You can tell if you have the right box selected by its border.

The Text Box Border has Dashes while the Image Border is a Solid Line.

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