Adjusting Picture Appearance

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 25, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

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. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Using the Status Bar

When developing a macro, you may want to display on the status bar what the macro is doing. Here's how to use this ...

Discover More

Changing the Style Gallery

The style gallery appears on the Home tab of the ribbon. You may want to modify how Word displays styles within the ...

Discover More

Using Header Information as the Filename

Save a document for the first time, and Word helpfully suggests a filename you can use or change. If you want this ...

Discover More

Program Successfully in Excel! John Walkenbach's name is synonymous with excellence in deciphering complex technical topics. With this comprehensive guide, "Mr. Spreadsheet" shows how to maximize your Excel experience using professional spreadsheet application development tips from his own personal bookshelf. Check out Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA today!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Using Chart Titles

Titles can be a great addition to any chart. They help provide explanatory information about the information in the ...

Discover More

Exporting a Graphics Group

Need to export a graphics group from a chart so that you can use the group in a different program? It's not as easy as ...

Discover More

Resize Graphics Outside of Excel

Graphics are a common addition to almost any workbook. If you need to change the size of your graphics (which Excel lets ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is one less than 9?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.