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WeThotUWasAToad

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Create image with transparent background for selected content in MS Excel or Word

Hello,

What is the best/simplest way to create an image of selected content from Excel or Word with a transparent background?

For example, suppose you have a table of values in Excel (or a couple of paragraphs of text in Word) and suppose you want to superimpose that content — with or without cell borders — over some scenic image and use the result as your desktop background (wallpaper)?

People often mention Photoshop in response to image-related questions but I do not have nor know how to use Photoshop. I do know how to resize, position, and superimpose images in MS PowerPoint however. The obstacle I have is knowing how to obtain a transparent background.

Thanks
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Echo_S
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With PowerPoint, you can group all the objects then right-click and choose Save as Picture. Select PNG, and any area that is transparent in the group will be transparent in the resulting image.

PNG maintains transparency; JPG does not.
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Roy Cox
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Ah, that would work -- copy the range in Excel as a picture, then paste onto a PPT slide and right-click and Save As Picture. Make sure to select PNG from the Save As Type dropdown list in the Save As dialog.

An Excel range pasted onto a slide and Saved As a Picture will use EMF as the default save as type. EMF is a vector format and it can be useful. It will also support transparency, but Macs sometimes have trouble with them. It is a viable option to save a picture as, though. However, if you want to use it for your desktop wallpaper, I think EMF won't work and you'll want to use PNG.
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WeThotUWasAToad

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Thanks for the responses.

In Excel on the Home Tab you will see the clipboard tools. Copy has a drop down that allows you to copy a range as a picture.

Wow, close to 30 years using Excel and never knew that was there. :P
Pleased to help. I think the feature was only added in a recent version, I can't remember which one though.