Creating Shapes, Graphics, Illustrations - Part 1

Although Excel is not designed as a comprehensive graphic design tool, we can create in Excel all kinds of shapes/illustrations, actually without limits. There are many ways to do that, and the main methods are:

• Obviously - charts: while primarily used for data visualization, the charting capabilities of Excel can be utilized to create simple illustrations. By manipulating the data  (applying various conditional formatting rules) and using other formatting options, you can create visually appealing illustrations within the charting framework.
• Inserting predefined shapes: Excel provides a variety of predefined shapes that you can insert from the "Insert" tab on the ribbon. These shapes include rectangles, circles, arrows, lines, and more. They can be customized in terms of size, color, rotation, and other formatting options.
• Using drawing tools (to draw shapes): Excel allows you to draw custom shapes using the "Shapes" tool. You can choose from different shapes, such as polygons, curves, and freeform shapes. By selecting the "Draw" option, you can manually create the desired shape by clicking and dragging on the worksheet.
• Using SmartArt: this feature feature allows you to create diagrams, flowcharts, and other visual representations. SmartArt provides a variety of predefined layouts and styles, making it easy to create professionally-looking illustrations. You can access SmartArt through the "Insert" tab as well.
  
• Combining shapes: Excel also enables you to combine multiple shapes to create new ones. This can be done by selecting the desired shapes, right-clicking, and choosing the "Group" or "Combine Shapes" option.
• Editing shapes: Once a shape is created, you can further customize it by resizing, rotating, or changing its fill color, outline color, and other formatting options. This can be done by selecting the shape and using the available formatting tools.
• In addition, the Lasso Select tool is now available in Excel. This technique allows you to select non-contiguous cells or objects in Excel.

The following examples give some idea of how you can use these methods to design various graphic solutions and what you can create using Excel tools.

 

 

 

How do you draw such kind of shapes?

If you have a touch-enabled computer screen, you can draw with your finger, a digital pen, or a mouse. To start, select a pen on the Draw tab of the Ribbon. Tap it again to open the menu of Thickness and Color options for the pen. Select your preferred size and color and begin writing or drawing. To stop drawing, press the Esc key. Now you can further manipulate your written or drawn objects. You can also erase your creations, if needed, by using the Eraser on the Draw tab.

Any shape can be filled with some added picture/photo, texture, pattern, etc.. To insert, e.g., a picture, select your shape and then click Drawing Tools > Format. In the Shape Styles group, click Shape Fill > Picture. Next, navigate to the picture you want and insert it.

Now you can resize the shape and choose how to fit the picture in the shape. This may include cropping options (if you click the arrow under Crop in Picture Format>Size.

You can also use Edit Points feature to further edit or crop the shape. To do  that:

• click Shape Format, then
• select Edit Shape  > Edit Points (in the Insert Shapes group)
• drag vertex points of the shape to change it to your satisfaction.

In order to convert your drawing to a shape, on the Draw tab, select Ink to Shape. Once it is converted you can edit its style etc., using the Format tab.

If you wish, you can also draw your own unique shapes by hand. Just select Insert tab, and - in Illustrations group - click on the Shapes, and choose Scribble line in the Lines section. Click anywhere in your worksheet and drag your cursor to draw your freeform shape, whatever you want.

 End of Part 1