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%20WordArt%20in%20modern%20documents%20-%20Microsoft%20Community_files/166f3f26-92c9-44eb-bf3a-2de604d320f3.png "Charles Kenyon")
Modern WordArt had its genesis in Word 2010 and further updates have further diminished the ability to use the classic patterns.
The modern Insert > WordArt is far more flexible and powerful than the classic 30 patterns, even with the controls that let you make real modifications to those classic patterns. You need to have an idea of where you are going and how to get there.
All of the screenshots in this article were taken using the desktop application Word from Microsoft 365 in Windows in April 2025.
You can insert Classic WordArt using the latest Word 365 desktop application or Word 2024 by first saving a file in .doc format.
Once in that format, any WordArt you create will use the classic patterns. However, there are some key features of the modern Word program that simply do not work in .doc format. That can require having two documents to get what you want.
You can download a free tutorial on this process from my downloads page: Classic WordArt (2003) in Modern Documents Tutorial and WordArt Generation Document This is a macro-free document in .doc format.
Here is a gallery of the classic patterns (thirty altogether).
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Once you have one of these inserted in a .doc format file, you have access to the classic WordArt contextual tab.
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Greg Maxey has a macro that also produces WordArt that can access this tab. See Classic WordArt by Greg Maxey.
The Shape Fill menu on this tab also allows use of a picture for your text fill. Again, this method is not available in the newer WordArt format.
Here are some of the the other controls available with this contextual tab.
3-D Effects - Vertical Text - Shadow Effects
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There are similar controls available for modern Word Art, but they are not the same. The presets available in the classic WordArt are not always something that can be replicated using the modern controls.
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The vertical patterns (6, 12, 18, 24, and 30) also do not reproduce well. They turn the text in the WordArt. (This may actually be more readable, but may not be what you want.)
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Workaround to use the ones that do not convert to the new text rendering engine.
If you do want one of the patterns that does not convert well and you want to use it, the way to do it is to take a screenshot of the WordArt from the .doc file and paste that screenshot into the .docx format file.
References:
My free Add-In: 2003 WordArt Add-In for 2010-2024 (365) which has the patterns in a custom building blocks gallery.
My macro-free tutorial document on this process: Classic WordArt (2003) in Modern Documents Tutorial and WordArt Generation Document
The very lengthy thread on this site discussing options.
http:// answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2010-word/old-style- word-art-in-word-2010/2e5c2156-697c-4d0c-b39b-908e84f304bb Read all of the posts, not just the one marked as an answer.
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