Image Quality and Graphics Placement (Microsoft Word)
Images and graphics are vital for books with illustrations, photos, charts, or diagrams. Proper placement keeps pages readable and professional. This guide shows how to insert, wrap, anchor, and group images in Microsoft Word so layouts stay consistent as you edit.
Placing images and graphics
- Insert the image — Place your cursor, then go to Insert → Pictures and choose This Device… (or another source).
- Adjust size — Select the image and drag a corner handle to resize proportionally (avoid side handles to prevent distortion). For print, use 300 dpi recommended (200 dpi minimum) at final size.
Setting up image wrapping
Wrapping controls how text flows around an image. Select the image and click the Layout Options icon to choose:
- In Line with Text — Treats the image like a text character. Easiest for simple documents.
- Square — Text wraps evenly on all sides.
- Tight — Text hugs the image’s outline (best for non-rectangular images).
- Top and Bottom — Text appears above and below, not beside.
- Behind Text / In Front of Text — Layers image with text; use carefully to avoid obscuring content.
Linking images to the relevant text (anchoring)
Anchoring keeps images attached to the right paragraph when content reflows.
- Right-click the image → Size and Position….
- Open the Position tab → check Lock anchor.
- Set horizontal/vertical alignment relative to Paragraph, Page, or Margin as needed.
Set relative positioning
For predictable movement, use relative alignment:
- In Size and Position…, use the Layout (or Text Wrapping) options.
- Align to Paragraph for figures that should travel with the text; align to Page/Margin for fixed placements.
Grouping images and captions
Keep captions attached to images so they move together during edits:
- Select the image and its caption (use Ctrl/⌘+Click).
- Right-click → Group → Group.
Tips for maintaining image quality
- Format: Use PNG or TIFF for graphics/line art; avoid JPEG for type/line art due to compression artefacts.
- Resolution: 300 dpi recommended, 200 dpi minimum at final print size.
- Consistency: Keep similar figures at the same size across chapters for a uniform look.
Best practices for placement
- Balance the layout: Don’t overcrowd pages; balance text and visuals.
- Margins & alignment: Keep images inside margins unless the design calls for full bleed (handled at prepress).
- Spacing: Use paragraph spacing to maintain clear space between images and text.
- Black-and-white books: Convert images to greyscale to avoid colour shifts and extra cost.
Pro tip: For long documents, use Word’s References → Insert Caption with figure numbering and cross-references. It keeps callouts accurate as pages reflow.
