How to Make Rounded Corners in Microsoft Publisher

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Reshape your photos using Publisher's cropping tools.
Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images

Adding rounded corners to your photos and borders in Microsoft Publisher 2013 creates a warm, friendly layout. Many designers believe round-cornered rectangles are easier on the eyes and more inviting to readers. Publisher makes it simple to added rounded corners to your photos and other images; you can even go the extra step of adding beveling to create a raised image with rounded edges. You can also create text and page borders with rounded corners.

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Rounded and Beveled Photos

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Step 1

Select the picture you want to modify. With the picture selected, you should see a new "Picture Tools Format" tab next to the other tabs. Click the tab to display the photo-editing tools.

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Step 2

Click the arrow under the Crop tool on the ribbon and select "Crop to Shape" from the options. Publisher displays dozens of shapes from which to choose. Select the rectangular shape with the rounded corners from the Basic Shapes category. Publisher creates a mask in this shape that covers the corners of the photo, creating a round-cornered photo.

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Step 3

Add beveling to the photo if you want to create the illusion of a raised image. Right-click the photo and select "Format Picture." Select the "Shape Effects" button at the bottom of the dialog box and then select the "3-D Format" option. Increase the width and height settings of either the Top Bevel or Bottom Bevel settings. Set each value to about 20 points initially and apply the change. Check to see how the picture looks and adjust the settings if needed.

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Step 4

Right-click the image and select "Save as Picture" if you want to save the rounded photo for use in another application. If you try to copy and paste the photo into another program, you'll end up with the original image without the rounded corners.

Rounded Borders

Step 1

Click "Shapes" on the Home ribbon and select the rectangle with the rounded corners in the Basic Shapes category.

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Step 2

Drag your cursor over the area you want to enclose in the border. Don't worry about getting the size exactly right -- you can adjust it later. When you release the mouse button, you create a round-cornered rectangular shape filled with a solid color that covers the content behind it. This is normal, and you'll fix it.

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Step 3

Right-click the new shape and select "Format AutoShape." Change the Color setting in the Fill section to "No Fill." The shape becomes transparent, leaving only the border. Change the border's appearance by adjusting the settings in the Line section. You can change the color, thickness and transparency of the border, or change it into a double line or dotted line. You don't have the option of using fancy or custom borders when working with shapes in Publisher.

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Step 4

Click "OK" to save the changes and then use the handles on the border to adjust the size so that the border encloses your text or other content.

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