How to Position Images Behind or in Front of Text in Google Docs

Working with images in Google Docs allows you to create visually engaging documents. You can insert images and position them behind or in front of text to produce creative effects. This tutorial will teach you how to:

• Insert images from various sources into your document
• Wrap text around images for better flow
• Reorder images to place them behind or in front of text
• Align images relative to text or other objects
• Adjust image transparency and size
• Use guides to accurately position images

Follow these steps to start designing beautiful documents that effectively incorporate images with text in Google Docs.

Inserting Images into Google Docs

The first step is to upload or insert images into your Google Docs file. You have a few options:

Upload Your Own Images

You can upload JPEG, PNG, SVG, BMP and other standard image files from your computer into a Google Doc. To do this:

1. Click Insert > Image > Upload from computer in the Docs toolbar.
2. Select the files you want to upload from your computer.
3. The images will be inserted into the document.

Search for Images Within Google Docs

Google Docs has an image search tool you can use to find free-to-use public domain and Creative Commons-licensed images.

1. Click Insert > Image > Search the web in the toolbar.
2. Enter keywords related to the image you need and hit enter.
3. Select the perfect image to insert from the search results.

Tip: Carefully review licenses to ensure images can be legally reused.

Consider Copyright When Inserting Images

It’s important to avoid copyright infringement when using images you didn’t create. Stick to public domain images or ones with Creative Commons licenses that allow commercial use and modifications. If you want to play it safe, only use your own photographs.

Positioning Images Behind or in Front of Text

Once your images are inserted, you can position them behind or in front of text elements using the ‘Order’ option.

Wrap Text Around Images

Wrapping text around images creates a more natural flow compared to having blocks of text divided by images.

To wrap text around an image:

1. Click the image to select it.
2. Click the Text wrapping icon in the toolbar.
3. Choose Wrap text around image.

Tip: You can fine-tune spacing around wrapped images in the Layout panel.

Send Images Backward/Forward or Send to Back/Bring to Front

The Order menu allows you to precisely position images behind or in front of text or other images:

1. Select the image(s) you want to reorder.
2. Right click and choose Order > Send backward or Send forward.
3. Use Send to back and Bring to front for more extreme changes.

For example, to create an image watermark effect, you’d:

1. Insert logo image.
2. Select logo image.
3. Choose Order > Send to back to position behind text.
4. Decrease logo transparency so it shows through.

Tip: Use keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + Shift + ] and Ctrl + Shift + [ to quickly send images backward and forward.

Align Images Relative to Text or Other Objects

Properly aligning images relative to text and other elements creates a clean, professional look.

To align an image:

1. Click the image to select it.
2. Click the Image alignment icon in the toolbar.
3. Choose from left, center, or right alignment options.

You can also align multiple images relative to each other using this method.

Tip: Use margins to provide breathing room between text and aligned images.

Fix Image Positions to a Certain Spot

You may want images to stay fixed to a certain position on the page, even if text reflows.

To fix an image to a spot:

1. Select the image.
2. Check the Lock image in position box in the Layout panel.
3. Fine-tune placement by entering exact horizontal and vertical positions.

This allows you to permanently place images behind specific sections of text.

Adjusting Image Transparency and Size

Fine-tuning images by adjusting transparency and size can take your document to the next level.

Adjust Transparency to Create See-Through Effects

Decreasing image transparency creates cool see-through overlays:

1. Select the image(s).
2. Use the Transparency slider in the toolbar to adjust, with 0% being opaque.

For example, you can place an image behind text and make it 75% transparent to create an interesting textured background effect.

Resize Images as Needed

Images may need to be resized to work alongside text.

To resize:

1. Click the image.
2. Drag the blue handles to manually resize, keeping aspect ratio.
3. Go to the Layout panel to enter an exact size in pixels.

Be careful not to drastically distort images when resizing. Crop images to subject first if needed.

Using Guides for Precise Positioning

Guides act as visual placeholders to help you accurately align images and text.

To add guides:

1. Select Insert > Guidelines in the toolbar.
2. Enter positions for horizontal and vertical guides.
3. Drag guides to reposition them.

Snap images to guides as you move them to perfectly place them relative to text.

Tip: View ruler units in pixels to position guides based on image sizes.

Tips for Positioning Images in Google Docs

• Text wrapping can impact image order. Wrap text first, then reorder images.
• Use headers with images to break up sections and improve flow.
• Keyboard shortcuts can quickly reorder images instead of menus.
• Positioning images effectively takes experimentation. Don’t be afraid to iterate.
• Create custom margins around images for better spacing with text.

With these tips in mind, you now have the knowledge to insert images into Google docs and creatively position them behind or in front text to produce professional, visually-engaging documents!

Let me know if you have any other questions!