Word 2010

Changing a text box's appearance

To change the text box shape:

1. Select the text box. A new Format tab appears with Drawing Tools.
2. Go to the Format tab.
3. Click the Edit Shape command.
   The Edit Shape command
4. Click Change Shape to display a drop-down list.
   Choosing a different shape for the text box
5. Select the desired shape from the list.

To choose a shape style:

Choosing a Shape Style allows you to apply a preset fill and outline color, and in some cases other effects such as beveling and shadow. You don't have to pick a style for your text box, but it can help you save time or experiment with different appearances.

1. Select the text box. The Format tab appears.
2. Select the Format tab.
3. Click the More drop-down arrow in the Shape Styles group to display more style options.
   Viewing the Shape Styles
4. Hover your mouse over the styles to see a live preview.
5. Select the desired style.

To change shape fill:

1. Select the text box. The Format tab appears.
2. Click the Format tab.
   Changing the fill color
3. Click the Shape Fill command to display a drop-down menu.
4. From the drop-down menu, you can select a color from the list, choose No Fill, or select More Fill Colors to use a color that's not on the list.

To change the shape outline:

1. Select the text box. The Format tab appears.
2. Click the Shape Outline command to display a drop-down list.
   Changing the outline color
3. Select a color from the list, choose No Outline, or select More Outline Colors to use a color that's not on the list.
4. From the drop-down menu, you can change the outline color, weight (thickness), and whether or not it is a dashed line.

To change shadow effects:

1. Select the text box. The Format tab appears.
2. Select the Format tab.
3. Click the Shape Effects command.
4. Click Shadow.
5. Move your mouse over the menu options to see a live preview in your document.
   Adding a shadow
6. Click the desired option to select the shadow effect.
   
   

To choose a different shadow color for your shape, select Shadow Options from the drop-down menu, then click the Color button.