Learn how to easily transform your picture into various shapes directly within Excel using the Crop to Shape feature.
## Changing Your Picture's Shape in Excel
To change the shape of a picture you've inserted into your Excel spreadsheet, you use the built-in cropping tools specifically designed for shapes. This feature allows you to quickly change a standard rectangular picture into a circle, a star, an arrow, or many other predefined shapes.
## Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to change the shape of your picture in Excel:
1. **Select Your Picture:** Click on the picture in your Excel sheet that you wish to reshape. This action will typically activate the *Picture Format* (or just *Format*) tab on the Excel ribbon at the top of the window.
2. **Access the Crop Tool:** In the *Picture Format* tab, locate the **Size** group on the right side. Within this group, you will find the **Crop** button. Click the small down arrow located just below the Crop button.
3. **Select Crop to Shape:** From the dropdown menu that appears, hover your cursor over or click the option **Crop to Shape**.
4. **Choose Your Shape:** A gallery displaying a variety of shapes will pop up. Browse through the categories (like Basic Shapes, Block Arrows, Stars and Banners, etc.) and click on the shape you want to apply to your picture.
Once you select a shape, your picture will be instantly cropped to fit within the boundaries of the chosen shape.
Here's a summary of the key action path:
| Action | Ribbon Tab | Group | Command | Sub-command |
| :------------- | :------------ | :---- | :---------------- | :------------ |
| Change Shape | Picture Format | Size | Crop (Dropdown) | Crop to Shape |
## Exploring Shape Options
The "Crop to Shape" gallery offers a diverse collection of shapes to give your pictures a unique look. You can choose from standard geometric shapes to more complex designs.
* **Basic Shapes:** Ovals, Triangles, Hexagons, etc.
* **Block Arrows:** Various arrow directions and styles.
* **Equation Shapes:** Plus, Minus, Multiply, Divide, etc.
* **Flowchart Shapes:** Process, Decision, Terminator, etc.
* **Stars and Banners:** 4-point stars, 5-point stars, Scrolls, Ribbons.
* **Callouts:** Speech bubbles and thought bubbles.
You can further refine the picture's position or the shape's dimensions after applying the shape using the standard picture formatting tools.
This method provides a quick and visual way to integrate images into your Excel spreadsheets with more creative layouts than just standard rectangles.
