Sometimes you want to print only the outline of text instead of solid letters. Whether you’re creating coloring pages, tracing worksheets, craft templates, or decorative signs, Microsoft Word makes it possible with a simple formatting trick.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to apply text outline effects, hide the fill color, and adjust the outline weight to create outlined text that’s ready to print. The same technique can be adapted for a variety of creative and educational projects.

What You’ll Learn

  • Apply an outline effect to text.
  • Change the text fill to white while keeping the outline visible.
  • Adjust the outline thickness for better print quality.
  • Create printable outlined text for crafts, worksheets, and templates.
  • Understand why printers ignore the white text fill.

Common Uses

This technique works well for:

  • Coloring pages
  • Children’s tracing worksheets
  • Classroom activities
  • Craft projects
  • Printable templates
  • Decorative signs
  • Bulletin board lettering
  • Handwriting practice sheets

Practice & Resources

Follow along using the sample Word document created for this tutorial. It includes example text already formatted with outlined lettering, step-by-step instructions, and screenshots showing where to find each setting in Microsoft Word.

Click the button below to view the resources available for this tutorial.

View Document

Requirements & Compatibility

Requirements

  • Microsoft Word with Text Effects & Typography support.

Compatibility

This technique works in modern desktop versions of Microsoft Word, including Microsoft 365 and Word 2019, 2021, and similar versions.

Some older versions of Word may display the Text Effects options differently or may not include all outline settings.

Video Tutorial

Breaking Down the Concept

Unlike many Word tutorials, this technique doesn’t rely on formulas or advanced tools. Instead, it combines several formatting options:

  • Text Outline: Adds a visible outline around each character.
  • Font Color: Changing the font color to white hides the interior of each letter when printed on most printers.
  • Outline Weight: Increasing the outline weight makes the printed outline darker and easier to see.
  • Bold Formatting: Applying Bold can also make the outline appear thicker.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Highlight the text you want to format.
  2. On the Home tab, locate the Text Effects & Typography button (the blue outlined A).
  3. Choose Outline and select your preferred outline color.
  4. Open the Font Color menu and change the font color to White.
  5. If desired, press Ctrl + B to make the outline slightly thicker.
  6. For an even bolder outline:
    • Open Text Effects & Typography again.
    • Choose Weight.
    • Select a thicker outline.
  7. Print your document.

Most printers will ignore the white fill and print only the colored outline.

Additional Tips

Helpful Tip

Before printing multiple pages, print a single test page to make sure the outline is the thickness you want.

Version Compatibility

The location of the Text Effects & Typography button may vary slightly between versions of Word, but the overall process remains similar.

FAQ

Why doesn’t the inside of the letters print?

Most printers don’t print white ink. By changing the text color to white, only the colored outline is printed.

Can I use colors other than black?

Yes. You can choose any outline color supported by Microsoft Word.

Can I make the outline thicker?

Yes. Increase the Outline Weight or apply Bold formatting to make the outline more prominent.

Does this work on colored paper?

Yes. Since the white text fill typically isn’t printed, the paper color will show through the middle of the letters.

Related

How to Remove the Thick Black Line (Horizontal Line) in Word

Learn how to remove the thick black line that sometimes appears in Microsoft Word after pressing Enter. This tutorial explains why it happens, how to remove it using paragraph borders, how to prevent it from happening again, and includes a quick reference guide for Word’s automatic line styles.

2 Ways to Insert Filler Text in Microsoft Word

Learn two quick ways to insert filler text in Microsoft Word using the built-in =lorem() and =rand() commands. This tutorial shows how to generate both Lorem Ipsum and random English text while controlling the number of paragraphs and sentences created.

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