How do I place a watermark in the margins?

Question

I would like to place information on the left side of my margins in a microsoft word document. For instance, when I write a letter, I would like my name and address to be placed on the margin of the letter in perpendicular. Thanks.

Answer 1

As you have no doubt noted, you are limited on your options using Format>Background>Watermark. There is a workaround to this dilema. First, go to File>Page Setup>Layout and adjust your Header margins to to very narrow (0"). (You can also select whether you want the same set-up on every page or a different first page at this point.

Next go to View>Header Header & Footer access the Header (which should be what appears by default). While working "in the Header" insert a Tex Box where you want your perpendicular watermark to be located. You should have a toolbar pop up that gives you access to Change Text Direction, click on it until the text faces the way you want. Enter your text that you want, then edit the text box format itself by (e.g., no line, no fill, etc.). Since it does not automatically make the text lighter (as a watermark does) you will undoubtedly also probably want to change the text color to a light or medium gray - or any other color you choose. Close the Header/Footer and you will be back to regular text.

Double check that your "watermark" is within the printer margins and that it will print correctly.

If you like your design and want to use it on a regular basis save it as a template and you can easily create new documents with this format.

Answer 2

My suggestion would be to use the WordArt option.

Go to View - Toolbars and activate the WordArt toolbar. Next, click on the button to Insert WordArt and select a pattern that you think would look good as the watermark. (Don't worry about the color or the fact that it first shows up horizontally across the page...)

Type in whatever it is that you want to show in the watermark as the text.

Next, change the color to the one that will work best as a watermark. I recommend light grey, light blue, or light green.

Finally, use the Free Rotate button. This will let you rotate the text 90 degrees on the page so you can expand it and place it on the left margin where you want it to be.

You may also need to right-click on the WordArt and choose the Order option to send the text to the background, so it prints behind any letters or pictures that you place on the page from that point on.

If all of that is too much of a hassle, you could design a custom background or border and then insert that on every letter that you prepare. Just look up "borders" or "background" in the Microsoft Word Help option.

Answer 3

Use WordArt instead.