Inserting a Background in Word without messing everything up

[JPeters]

Hi,
I know this is probably a pretty simple question, but I'm not really familiar with most of the ins and outs of Microsoft Word. I am using MS Word 97 SR-1. I have a document that is already completely done. We would like to do one of 2 things with this document. We would either like to put a background in the document (this background would cover the ENTIRE page sort of like a watermark... but not so transparent. This way people can print off the document and it looks like they printed it on special paper (with a template design on it).
I tried going to header and footer, hiding the text, and inserting the picture then editing the properties to make it a watermark... no avail.. it just looks bad and my text is supressed somehow.. I cant figure this out. I also tried inserting a background, but it wouldn't print the background.. It would only show up on a web-page.
The other option is the make the document into a PDF (I know this isn't the Adboe Acrobat help place, but u all use Acrobat I'm sure), and do the same thing with a template picture as a background. Any of you smart folks out there know how to do this? Thanks a ton!
-Happen609
Wasting more of your valuable time...

 

[Mithrindal]

If you search in the word help index under Watermark, it gives a good description of how its done with pictures and / or text.

HS

 

[Dreamboat]

Format-background is for web page use only.

As piperhugh says, try the help. Here's my explanation without even looking:

Open the header/footer and paste your file into the header. Format it to be "float over text" if it is not already. Make it as big as you like--even the full 8.5 x 11, understanding that the image will only print as close to the edge of the paper as your printer will allow (better printers print closer to the edge).
techsupportgirl@home.com

http://www.PiersonTech.com

Brainbench MVP for Microsoft Word

 

[JPeters]

Okay... I went ahead and did something diferent. Opened a new document. Set the page setup so that the margins were identical to the doc I'm working with. I inserted my picture as float over text into the standard background. After pulling the image to the edges of the page so that it covered the entire page, I right clicked the image and chose picture settings. Set wrap around text to none. Closed the settings menu. Right cliked on the picture and went to the order option/send behind text. Right clicked the picture, copied it. Went back to my new document and pasted the picture on each page.

It pastes right behind the text, looks great. Exactly what I wanted. I even go into print-preview and I see the background behind my text. BUT WHEN I PRINT, all I print is the picture! AHHH!!! Help... eeek
-Happen609
Wasting more of your valuable time...

 

[Dreamboat]

What printer??

Some have settings "print truetype as graphics", try that.
techsupportgirl@home.com

http://www.PiersonTech.com

Brainbench MVP for Microsoft Word

 

[JPeters]

I tried each of those steps again.. but this time I opened up the destination document and saved it as a backup.... then on the original I erased all other clipart.... pasted my background.. then re-inserted the clipart from the backup onto the destination document... and saved it as a new doc.. it works fine now.. Very very strange.. Thanks for all of the help! -Happen609
Wasting more of your valuable time...

 

[sarahshsl]

you could also have made the background a watermark.
Click on the Header/Footer, insert the graphic/backgrouns, click format picture,make sure the text wrapping style is in front of text, choose layout, change to watermark..