How to Remove the Page Drop Shadow in Microsoft Publisher 2007
Question details
The user wants to know how to remove the drop shadow effect that appears around the page boundary in Microsoft Publisher 2007 and whether it affects printed or exported files.
- Product
- Microsoft Publisher 2007
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Viewing a publication in the software workspace and preparing to print or export the document to PDF.
- Observed behavior
- A noticeable drop shadow is displayed between the page edges and the surrounding gray Publisher workspace.
Before proceeding, verify whether the shadow you see is applied to a specific image or text box on your page, or if it is the default page border shadow located in the outer gray workspace area.
Understand the Publisher Workspace Shadow Effect
The drop shadow around the entire page is a built-in visual effect of the Publisher 2007 workspace and does not affect your final output.
Microsoft Publisher 2007 features a default drop shadow positioned between your active white publication page and the dark gray background workspace. This is strictly a user interface visual effect designed to help your page canvas stand out from the application background.
Because this is a hardcoded display feature rather than a document format setting, there is no option to remove or disable this specific workspace shadow in the settings.
Look closely at your screen to ensure the shadow appears strictly on the outermost edges of your white page layout against the gray background, rather than on internal design elements.
Navigate to 'File' > 'Print' and print a single copy of your document. You will see that the shadow does not transfer to the physical paper.
Go to 'File' > 'Publish as PDF or XPS'. Save the document and open the resulting PDF file to confirm the page shadow is completely excluded from the final export.
Remove Drop Shadows from Specific Objects
If the shadow is attached to a specific text box, shape, or image rather than the overall page edge, you can manually remove it using formatting tools.
Create Professional Layouts Easily with WPS Office
While WPS Office does not natively support .pub files, it offers a powerful, modern suite of tools for your desktop. You can design stunning flyers, newsletters, and documents using WPS Writer or Presentation with a clean interface and zero intrusive workspace shadows.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up the suite on your device.
- 3. Start designing: Open WPS Writer or Presentation to start creating beautiful layouts with full control over all visual effects and shadows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the page drop shadow in Publisher 2007 show up when I print my document?
No, the drop shadow you see around the main page edge in the Publisher workspace is strictly a visual effect for your screen. It will never be included in your printed documents.
Does exporting my document to PDF include the page drop shadow?
Exporting or saving your Publisher 2007 document as a PDF will ignore the workspace page shadow. Only the actual shapes, text, and images you deliberately placed on the page will be exported.
Can I change the background workspace color in Publisher 2007 to hide the shadow?
Publisher 2007 does not provide a direct setting to change the dark gray workspace background color or its associated shadow. It is a fixed part of the software's user interface design.
