I have inserted an image into my document and cannot figure out how to make the image a background image with text overlaid. I also cannot figure out how to make it the background image for the entire document. I want to ensure that it stays as the background image when I make a template from the document.
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4)
In Pages v5.5.1, choose View > Show Layout.
Pick any rectangular shape, and then drag it to fill the visible text area. With the shape box still selected, click the Fill word from the Style panel. Choose Image Fill, Scale to Fill, and then pick a suitable portrait oriented image. This will now fill the shape. Reduce opacity until you are reasonably certain that overlying text will be legible. No border. No reflection.
With the shape still selected, change to the Arrange tab. Object placement is Stay on Page, and Text Wrap is None. Click Back to send to the background, and then Lock.
Choose View > Hide Layout. Click once in the margin. You should now be able to start typing text over the background image, or copy/paste — as I have done — for the example below with its peregrine falcon. Image courtesy of openclipart.
Everything worked up until the "Send to Back" part. No matter what image or shape I use the "send to back/forward" buttons are always greyed out. I think the reason is I am typing in the document rather than typing in a "text box." Is there a way to make an image in the background "standard" for the document without having to create separate text boxes on each page?
Followed my preceding instructions, and was able to recreate the above example from a new blank template. All of the document foreground/background/back/front buttons on the arrange tab remain dimmed, whether you click on them, or not. This is not reassuring, but follow my prior advice, and the solution works. No need for text boxes, unless you want to organize text in regions above your image.
If you want a document with the image set to the background, save the document first, then Save As Template.
On a Mac, I did not find the way to have a background on the Master page.
But, on an iPad, you go in Photos, you Copy the image you want as a background to all your pages in the document.
Return in Pages, go in Tools -> Page Configuration.
You touch the middle of the white page and Select "Paste"...
You can then resize it, and you can add Style and even reduce its Opacity...
This background will appear in Pages on your Mac, but you will not be able to edit it.
So, you can create on an iPad some Pages documents templates with your preferred backgrounds...
If you want a persistent background image, then when you have done all of the steps I outlined above, and just prior to View > Hide Layout, select Section Masters > Move Object to Section Master — from the bottom of the Arrange menu. Once done, the background object will appear on new pages and sections.
What version of Pages?
Peter
The most recent version (5.5.1).
Sounds like you may have the object as Inline in the text, float it and then send it back.
Peter
How do I make an image the background image in Pages?
