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Publisher 2010 Working with Shapes and Objects

Author: mety Labels:: Publisher 2010 Working with Shapes and Objects

Publisher 2010

Working with Shapes and Objects

Introduction

In Publisher, the components of any publication are called objects. You've already worked with text boxes, which are one type of object. Publisher offers decorative objects as well, including shapes and Building Blocks. Using these objects is an easy way add graphic design elements to your publication.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to create and modify shapes and Building Blocks. You'll also learn how to align, group, and arrange objects of all types.

Working with Shapes

Watch the video (2:45). Need help?

Watch the video to learn about adding and modifying shapes and Building Blocks.

To Insert a Shape:

Select the Insert tab and locate the Illustrations group.
Click the Shapes drop-down command.
The Shapes drop-down command
Select a shape from the drop-down menu.
Selecting a shape
Click and drag the mouse until the shape is the desired size.
Clicking and dragging to create a shape
Release the mouse button. The shape will be added to your publication.
The added shape

To Resize a Shape:

Select the shape.
Click and drag one of the sizing handles on the corners and sides of the text box until it is the desired size. You can:
- Drag the top or bottom sizing handles to modify shape height.
- Drag the side handles to modify shape width.
- Drag the corner handles to modify height and width at the same time.
Resizing a shape
To rotate the shape, click and drag the green handle.
Rotating a shape
Some shapes also have one or more yellow handles that can be used to modify the shape. For example, with this sun shape, you can adjust the diameter of the center circle and the length of the points.
Modifying a shape with the yellow handle

If you hold down the shift key while resizing a shape, the shape will keep its proportions instead of getting stretched out. For instance, if you hold down the shift key while you resize a square, the final shape will remain a perfect square with four equal sides.

Shapes that have been resized with the shift key

Modifying Shapes

To Change to a Different Shape:

Select the shape, then click the Format tab and locate the Shape Styles group.
Click the Change Shape drop-down command.
The Change Shape drop-down command
A drop-down list will appear. Select the desired shape.
Selecting a new shape
The shape will be changed.
The changed shape

To Change Shape Style:

Select the shape, then click the Format tab and locate the Shape Styles group.
Click the More Shape Styles drop-down arrow.
The More Shape Styles drop-down arrow
A drop-down list of styles will appear. Move your cursor over the styles to see a live preview of the style in your publication, then select the desired style.
Selecting and previewing a shape style
The style will be applied to the shape.
The shape, with the style applied

To Change the Shape Fill Color:

Select the shape, then click the Format tab and locate the Shape Styles group.
Click the Shape Fill drop-down command.
The Shape Fill drop-down command
A drop-down list of colors will appear. Select the desired fill color from the list. You can also choose No Fill to remove the fill from your shape or More Fill Colors to select a custom color.
Shape fill options
The new fill color will be applied.
The recolored shape

To Change the Shape Outline:

Select the shape, then click the Format tab and locate the Shape Styles group.
Click the Shape Outline drop-down command.
The Shape Outline drop-down command
A drop-down list of options will appear. Select the desired outline color from the list. You can also choose No Outline to remove the outline from your shape or More Outline Colors to select a custom color.
Selecting and previewing an outline color
If desired, further modify your shape outline by changing the outline's weight (thickness) and whether or not it is a dashed line.
Applying a thicker outline
The shape outline will be modified.
The updated shape

To Add a Shadow:

Select the shape, then click the Format tab and locate the Shadow Effects group.
Click the Shadow Effects drop-down command.
The Shadow Effects drop-down command
A drop-down menu with a list of shadow choices will appear. Move your mouse over a shadow effect to see a live preview of it in your publication.
Selecting and previewing a shadow effect
Click the desired shadow effect to apply it to your shape.
The shape, now with a shadow