How to Draw in Excel

If you’re looking to create bespoke visualizations or diagrams, drawing in Excel can be a helpful way to achieve your goals. Using Microsoft Excel’s built-in drawing tools, you can create a variety of lines, shapes, and free-form objects directly within your worksheet. With just a few clicks, you can design precisely what you need, customize objects to fit your exact requirements, and add text, colors, and decorative features to make your drawings shine. In this article, we will explore some basic techniques and tips that will help you get started with drawing in Excel, regardless of your level of experience.

Step 1: Open a Blank Workbook in Excel

The first thing you need to do is open Excel and create a new, blank workbook. This can easily be done by clicking on “File” and then selecting “New.” Once you’ve done this, select “Blank workbook.”

Step 2: Insert the Drawing Toolbar

In order to access the drawing tools, you’ll need to insert the drawing toolbar. You can do this by clicking on “Insert” and then selecting “Shapes.” When you’ve brought up the Shapes dropdown, select “New Drawing Canvas.” This will create a new menu with all of the drawing tools on it.

Step 3: Create Basic Shapes

With the drawing tools menu open, you can start creating basic shapes by selecting the shape you want from the gallery. Options include lines, rectangles, circles, and other pre-defined shapes. Simply click on the shape you want and then click and drag in the workbook to create a shape the size you need. From here, you can customize shapes using the drawing tools formats section.

Step 4: Customize Objects

Once you have created a basic object, you can customize it as needed. This includes resizing shapes, adding text boxes, and filling shapes with color. You can also add borders to shapes or adjust the thickness and color of the shape’s outline.

Step 5: Group and Align Objects

If you need to create sets of shapes or align multiple shapes in a specific way, Excel makes it easy to do so. You can select multiple objects by holding down the shift key while clicking on each object, then right-click on them and select “Group.” From there, you can use the alignment tools to arrange objects as you wish.

Step 6: Save and Share Your Drawing

Once you’ve finished your drawing, you’re ready to save and share it. You can save the workbook as you normally would and give the file a descriptive name. If you want to share the workbook with others, you can easily send it via email or upload it to a cloud-based storage solution.

Conclusion:

Drawing in Excel is an easy and effective way to create custom visualizations, diagrams, and other design elements within a familiar environment. Using these simple steps and techniques, you’ll be able to create shapes, customize objects, and even group shapes together quickly, and then share your drawing with others.

Tips for Drawing in Excel

If you want to create more detailed and complex drawings in Excel, consider the following tips:

• Use the Gridlines: The gridlines in Excel can help you line up shapes and objects, so they are more evenly placed in your drawing. You can adjust the size of the cells to create smaller or larger grids as needed.
• Use the Format Painter: If you have already customized an object and want to apply the same formatting to another object, you can use the Format Painter tool. Select the object you’ve customized, click on Format Painter from the Drawing Tools menu, and then select the new object you want formatted the same way.
• Use connectors: Connectors are lines that are used to link shapes together. You can find them in the Line drop-down menu. Using connectors will help keep your diagram’s objects organized.
• Try WordArt: If you want to add some impact to your drawing, you can use WordArt. WordArt allows you to add text to your drawing in various shapes, colors, and styles. Simply click on the WordArt button in the Drawing Tools menu and select the style you prefer.

What Can You Use Your Drawing For?

The possibilities are endless! Here are a few examples of how you might use Excel drawings:

• Create a company organization chart or diagram
• Plan a room layout for an event or meeting
• Design a pie chart or bar graph to showcase sales data
• Draw illustrations for a report or article

Final Thoughts

While Excel may not be the first tool you think of when it comes to creating images, graphs, and diagrams, the drawing tools it provides are robust and easy to use. By following these steps and experimenting with the different drawing tools available, you will be able to create professional-looking drawings in no time.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about drawing in Excel that you might find helpful:

Can I delete or change an object after I’ve drawn it?

Yes! It’s easy to delete or change an object after you’ve drawn it. To delete an object, simply click on it and then press the delete key on your keyboard. To change an object, select it and use the Drawing Tools menu to format and customize.

Can I use Excel to create shapes that are not in the Shapes Gallery?

Yes. Besides the pre-defined shapes located in the gallery, you can also draw shapes that are not available by selecting from the pen, pencil, or freeform shapes. You can choose a line weight, style, and color to match your drawing’s needs.

Can I use the drawing tools in Excel on a Mac?

Yes! The instructions for drawing in Excel on a Mac are relatively similar to those given in the article.

Can I save or export my drawing as a PNG or a JPEG?

Yes, you can. To do this, select the object you want to save or export, right-click on it, and select the option to copy the image. Then open an image editor or email program and paste the object into the program. From there, you can save the image as a JPG, PNG, or other file type as you wish.

Why might I choose to draw in Excel instead of a dedicated graphic design tool?

If you’re already using Excel to organize data or create reports, drawing in Excel provides an added convenience. Plus, Excel offers a wide array of shapes and styles, making it easier for those without graphic design experience to create simple illustrations and diagrams quickly.