Adjusting Picture Appearance

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated March 25, 2021)

Excel users can quickly and easily adjust the appearance of a picture once it is placed in a workbook. Adjustments are accomplished the easiest if you are using the Picture toolbar. This toolbar should become visible when you click on a graphic. If it does not, you can right-click on the graphic and choose Show Picture Toolbar from the Context menu.

The toolbar has several tools on it that control the appearance of the selected graphic. These tools include the following:

  • Image Control. This tool presents a menu of options you can use to specify how the graphic should be treated, i.e., as a black and white drawing or as a grayscale image.
  • More Contrast. Increases the contrast between light and dark in the image.
  • Less Contrast. Decreases the contrast between light and dark.
  • More Brightness. Turns up the overall brightness of the image.
  • Less Brightness. Makes the image more dark, overall.

In order to use the adjustment tools, simply click on them. (When using the Image Control tool you will need to select an option from a menu first.) Remember that if you mess things up you can always click on the Undo tool on the regular Excel toolbar. If you mess things up too bad, you can click on the Reset Picture tool on the Picture toolbar. This sets you image back to its pre-change settings.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (1998) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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