Resize a shape or an entire SmartArt graphic

You can change the size of an entire SmartArt graphic, or of individual shapes within a SmartArt graphic.In this article

Overview of resizing SmartArt graphics, shapes, and text

Resize a single shape

Resize an entire SmartArt graphic

Overview of resizing SmartArt graphics, shapes, and text

When you change the size of an individual shape in a SmartArt graphic, the remaining shapes may adjust their sizes and positions in ways that depend upon the layout for the SmartArt graphic. In some cases, only the individual shape that you resize will change. In others cases, corresponding shapes will change their size as well.

When you resize a shape that contains text, the text automatically resizes to fit. However, if another shape at the same level in that SmartArt graphic does not have room to display larger text, the text size will remain the same for all shapes at that level. Also, if you have previously customized the text size in any shape, then the text in that shape will not resize.

For example, the following SmartArt graphic has three similarly sized shapes.

If you add more text to the first shape, and then make that shape smaller, the other two shapes decrease slightly in size and the text size decreases in all three shapes.

If you now make the third shape larger, the text size does not increase in any of the shapes, because the first shape is already full of text that cannot be any larger without overflowing the available space.

If you make the first shape larger, however, the text in that shape then has room to expand, and so the text size in the other two shapes also increases.

As a general rule, if typing more text in the shape increases the shape size, then increasing the text size will also increase the shape size. Conversely, if deleting text from the shape decreases the shape size, then decreasing the text size will also decrease the shape size. Depending on the layout for the SmartArt graphic that you choose, however, increasing or decreasing the text size does not automatically change the shape size for all shapes.

Also, depending on the layout for the SmartArt graphic that you choose, when you change the size of an entire SmartArt graphic, shapes within the SmartArt graphic will either scale proportionally or adjust to optimize spacing and flow.

Resizing associated shapes

Associated shapes are shapes that are combined to make up a larger shape. Your SmartArt graphic will usually contain several of these larger shapes. If you select all of the associated shapes in an SmartArt graphic (such as those in the Bending Picture Accent List layout in the List type) and then resize them, your SmartArt graphic may look distorted. In the example below, all of the associated shapes in a larger shape are selected. If you want to resize only one of the associated shapes, such as the small circular shape (the picture placeholder with the sun and mountains), be sure to select only that shape. If you want to resize the entire larger shape, select all of the associated shapes, as shown below.

Resize a single shape

1. Click the shape that you want to resize.

   To resize multiple shapes, click the first shape, and then press and hold CTRL while you click the additional shapes.

2. Under SmartArt Tools, on the Format tab, in the Shapes group, do one of the following:

   

   • To make the shape bigger, click Larger.
   • To make the shape smaller, click Smaller.

Notes:

• You can also use sizing handles to resize a shape. Point to one of the sizing handles, and when the pointer becomes a , drag the handle to make the shape larger or smaller.
• To restore a shape to its original size, under SmartArt Tools, on the Design tab, in the Reset group, click Reset Graphic.

  

  Important Any geometry, color, style, size, position, and effects changes previously made to that shape and to all other shapes in the same SmartArt graphic will be lost.

• If you change to another layout for a SmartArt graphic, any size, position, rotation, mirroring, direction (left to right or right to left), and shape geometry changes made previously may not transfer to the new layout. However, if you switch back to the original layout before you save and close your Microsoft Office system document, all of your customizations reappear in the original layout. Some customizations are not transferred because they might not look good in the new layout.

Resize an entire SmartArt graphic

1. Click the SmartArt graphic that you want to resize.
2. Point to a sizing handle on the SmartArt graphic border, and when the pointer becomes a , drag the handle to make the SmartArt graphic larger or smaller.

Tip You can also move an entire SmartArt graphic.

See also:

• Move a SmartArt graphic
• Move or resize the Text pane
• Switch the layout or type of a SmartArt graphic