Add a border around a text box, picture, or other object in Publisher

Used sparingly, borders are a great way to get attention. Here's how to add a line, pattern, or custom border to a text box, picture, or other object.

Add a border of any color or width line

1. Right-click the text box, AutoShape, picture, or object that you want to add the border to.

2. Select the appropriate Format <object> menu item and click the Colors and Lines tab.

3. Under Line, choose the color and other options.

   Tip:  To add the border equally to both the inside and the outside of the rectangle, rather than to the inside only, uncheck the Draw border inside frame check box. This helps prevent the border from overlapping objects that are located inside of the rectangle.

Add a predesigned border pattern

1. Right-click the text box, AutoShape, picture, or object that you want to add the border to.

2. Select the appropriate Format <object> menu item and click the Colors and Lines tab.

3. Click BorderArt (this option won't be available if you've selected a table cell or AutoShape other than a rectangle).

4. In the Available Borders list, click the border you want.

Add a custom border

For extra pizzaz, create a custom border from clip art, a picture file, a scanned photograph, or a picture that you created in a drawing program.

Note:  The picture file that you use for a custom border must be smaller than 64 KB.

1. Right-click the text box, AutoShape, picture, or object that you want to add the border to.

2. Select the appropriate Format <object> menu item and click the Colors and Lines tab.

3. Click BorderArt.

4. In the BorderArt dialog box, click Create Custom.

5. Click Select Picture.

6. In the Insert Pictures dialog box, navigate to the location of your picture, either on your computer or from Bing's image search, click the picture, and click Insert.

7. In the Name Custom Border dialog box, type a name for your custom border, and then click OK.

If the file size of the picture that you select is too large (greater than 64 KB), or if the picture contains text, you may receive an error message. If this happens try using a smaller picture.

See also

Add or remove a page border in Publisher

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