Gwinnett County Public Schools

A few tricks to take you beyond the basics of Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office: Ungrouping Clip Art

GCPS Tech Tips

Sometimes, when you are putting a piece of Clip Art into your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document, you might wish there were some way to edit the picture... to take out some part of it. With some types of Clip Art, this is

possible using the “Ungroup” command.

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

First, let’s talk about two different types of graphics. On the left above is a Raster graphic. Your computer sees

it as a photograph... made up of many tiny dots or pixels. With a Raster graphic, you do not have the

“Ungroup” option.

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

Now on the right above, is a Vector graphic. It is a much simpler line drawing. Since it

is only made up of lines and shapes... instead of all those little dots... it can be

ungrouped and edited.

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

To ungroup a Vector graphic, you use the “Drawing” toolbar. If the “Drawing” toolbar is

not showing on your screen, click on “View” at the top of your screen.

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

On the list that drops down, click on

“Toolbars.”

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

On the list of toolbars, click on “Drawing.”

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

With the Drawing toolbar displayed, click on “Insert Clip Art.”

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

That will open the “Insert Clip Art” box. Type in the name of the

thing you want a picture of and remove the check marks from

all sources except “Clip Art.” Then, when you

click on “Search,”

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

Microsoft will provide a selection of pictures.

Click on the picture you want, and it will be

inserted wherever your cursor was in Word,

Excel, or PowerPoint.

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

If you are using the GCPS library of Clip Art, you are ready to ungroup the drawing.

If not...

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

Microsoft may take you through another step or two to change the drawing into one that can be

ungrouped.

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

After that, if you right click on the

Clip Art, andlook under “Grouping,”

you’ll find the command to

“Ungroup.” Click on “Ungroup” and you are ready to...

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

grab those little round “handles” of the drawing and drag away the driver’s green helmet or one

of the colors of his tires.

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

Once you have rearranged the drawing the way you want it, click “Draw” to

open your options. Find “Regroup” and click on it so

Microsoft Office can regroup the image you

have created.

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

That’s all there is to it. Now, if you would like a copy of the step-by-step directions for

Ungrouping Clip Art, just print this last page. Have fun with that Clip Art!

OFFICE: Ungrouping Clip Art

To ungroup a piece of Clip Art:- Open the “Drawing” toolbar: - Click “View” - Click “Toolbars” - Click “Drawing”- On the “Drawing” toolbar, click “Insert Clip Art” - On the “Insert Clip Art” panel, - Type in your “Search text” - Uncheck all media file types except “Clip Art” - Click on “Search” - Click on the picture you want to use and it will be inserted wherever your cursor was in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

- If you are using Clip Art from a source other than the GCPS library of Clip Art, you may have to go through a Microsoft step or two to prep the drawing for ungrouping.

- Right click on the Clip Art picture. - Click on “Grouping” - Click on “Ungroup”- Use the little round “handles” on the Clip Art to drag parts of the picture away. You can also change parts’ colors or delete them altogether.- To regroup your creation: - Click on “Draw” - Click on “Regroup”