You can change the position of shapes, WordArt (WordArt: Text objects you create with ready-made effects to which you can apply additional formatting options.), or other objects (object: A table, chart, graphic, equation, or other form of information. Objects created in one application, for example spreadsheets, and linked or embedded in another application are OLE objects.) by rotating or reversing them. Reversing a shape is also referred to as creating a mirror image or flipping. For more information about WordArt, see Add, change, or delete WordArt.
Tip To rotate a table or a SmartArt graphic, copy the table or SmartArt graphic, paste it as a picture, and then rotate the picture.
Rotate a picture, shape, text box, or WordArt
Note When you rotate multiple shapes, they do not rotate as a group, but instead each shape rotates around its own center.
Rotate to any angle
- Click the picture (picture: A file (such as a metafile) that you can ungroup and manipulate as two or more objects or a file that stays as a single object (such as bitmaps).), shape, text box (text box: A movable, resizable container for text or graphics. Use text boxes to position several blocks of text on a page or to give text a different orientation from other text in the document.), or WordArt (WordArt: Text objects you create with ready-made effects to which you can apply additional formatting options.) that you want to rotate.
- Do one of the following:
Click the rotation handle at the top of the object, and then drag in the direction that you want.
Note To constrain the rotation to 15 degree angles, press and hold SHIFT while you drag the rotation handle.
- Do one of the following to specify an exact rotation:
- To rotate a picture, under Picture Tools, on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, click More Rotation Options. In the Format Picture dialog box, click Size in the left pane, and in the Size pane, under Size and rotate, enter the amount that you want to rotate the object in the Rotation box.
If you do not see the Picture Tools or Format tabs, make sure that you selected a picture. You may have to double-click the picture in order to open the Format tab.
- To rotate a shape, text box, or WordArt, under Drawing Tools, on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, click More Rotation Options. In the Format Shape dialog box, click Size in the left pane, and in the Size pane, under Size and rotate, enter the amount that you want to rotate the object in the Rotation box.
If you do not see the Drawing Tools or Format tabs, make sure that you selected a shape, text box, or WordArt. You may have to double-click the object in order to open the Format tab.
Rotate 90 degrees to the left or 90 degrees to the right
- Click the picture (picture: A file (such as a metafile) that you can ungroup and manipulate as two or more objects or a file that stays as a single object (such as bitmaps).), shape, text box (text box: A movable, resizable container for text or graphics. Use text boxes to position several blocks of text on a page or to give text a different orientation from other text in the document.), or WordArt (WordArt: Text objects you create with ready-made effects to which you can apply additional formatting options.) that you want to rotate.
- Do one of the following:
- To rotate a picture, under Picture Tools, click the Format tab.
If you do not see the Picture Tools or Format tabs, make sure that you selected a picture. You may have to double-click the picture in order to open the Format tab.
- To rotate a shape, text box, or WordArt, under Drawing Tools, click the Format tab.
If you do not see the Drawing Tools or Format tabs, make sure that you selected a shape, text box, or WordArt. You may have to double-click the object in order to open the Format tab.
- In the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then do one of the following:
- To rotate the object 90 degrees to the right, click Rotate Right 90°.
- To rotate the object 90 degrees to the left, click Rotate Left 90°.
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Flip a picture, shape, text box, or WordArt
When you flip a shape or other object (object: A table, chart, graphic, equation, or other form of information. Objects created in one application, for example spreadsheets, and linked or embedded in another application are OLE objects.), you create a reverse image of the shape or object.
Tip You can create a mirror image of an object by making a copy of the object and then flipping it. Drag the duplicate object into a position where it mirrors the original object.
- Click the picture (picture: A file (such as a metafile) that you can ungroup and manipulate as two or more objects or a file that stays as a single object (such as bitmaps).), shape, text box (text box: A movable, resizable container for text or graphics. Use text boxes to position several blocks of text on a page or to give text a different orientation from other text in the document.), or WordArt (WordArt: Text objects you create with ready-made effects to which you can apply additional formatting options.) that you want to flip.
- Do one of the following:
- To flip a picture, under Picture Tools, click the Format tab.
If you do not see the Picture Tools or Format tabs, make sure that you selected a picture. You may have to double-click the picture in order to open the Format tab.
- To flip a shape, text box, or WordArt, under Drawing Tools, click the Format tab.
If you do not see the Drawing Tools or Format tabs, make sure that you selected a shape, text box, or WordArt. You might have to double-click the object to open the Format tab.
- In the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then do one of the following:
- To reverse the object vertically, click Flip Vertical.
- To reverse the object horizontally, click Flip Horizontal.
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