Microsoft Office (includes Word, Excel, etc.) has tools that let you create amazing complex graphics and diagrams. Unfortunately not many people know how to take advantage of these tools. This guide will help you learn how to master the graphics tools of Office (in particular, Word) and use them to create both simple and complex works of art for your MC labs and reports.
Microsoft uses an interface called Microsoft Draw in all of its Office applications. You will notice that the “Drawing Toolbar” is almost identical in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Creations by Microsoft Draw can be categorized as vector graphics. What are vector graphics? There are two main types of computer graphics that exist: Raster and Vector. Raster graphics are most common. They involve pixel-by-pixel code to make up a picture. Vector graphics use symbolic data or basically mathematical formulas to create graphics. For example, when you draw a square, the data is stored as a mathematical formula for a square versus storing the color information at each pixel as in a Raster. Vector graphics are perfectly suited for our needs. They take less space and can easily be modified and edited.
To start creating graphics in any Office program, make sure the drawing toolbar is showing. The drawing toolbar should look something like this:
If you cannot see it, click View on the menu bar at top, then select Toolbars and click on Drawing. It should now be checked, and the drawing toolbar should pop up.
