Excel 2010 Bible

Part I: Getting Started with Excel

130

Adding a Background Image to a Worksheet.....................................................................

Excel also enables you to choose a graphics file to serve as a background for a worksheet. This

effect is similar to the wallpaper that you may display on your Windows desktop or as a back-

ground for a Web page.

To add a background to a worksheet, choose Page Layout ➪ Page Setup ➪ Background. Excel dis-

plays a dialog box that enables you to select a graphics file; all common graphic file formats are

supported. When you locate a file, click Insert. Excel tiles the graphic across your worksheet. Some

images are specifically designed to be tiled, such as the one shown in Figure 6.11. This type of

image is often used for Web page backgrounds, and it creates a seamless background.

FIGURE 6.11

You can add almost any image file as a worksheet background image.

On the CD
This workbook, named background image.xlsx, is available on the companion CD-ROM. n

You also want to turn off the gridline display because the gridlines show through the graphic.

Some backgrounds make viewing text difficult, so you may want to use a solid background color

for cells that contain text.

Keep in mind that using a background image will increase the size of your workbook. This may be

a consideration if you plan to e-mail the workbook to others.