How do I add pictures to my chart in Excel?

Customising your excel charts with pictures is a fun and simple process. You can chose to have a picture background, picture plot area or even picture columns. See the video demonstration eblow or scroll down for a few basic instructions. Example from John Walkenbach's Excel 2007 Bible.

Background or plot area picture: Left click into the chart (or plot area only) to select it and then right click to bring up the menu. Choose Format Chart Area (or Format Plot Area if you are only adding the picture behind the series). Under fill options, select Picture or Texture Fill.

Insert from file to browse for the location of the picture on your computer and select the image you require. You can now make any stretch or transparency adjustments as you see fit. Close. There you have a picture background!

Columns as picture: Left click onto the columns in order to select them and right click to bring up the menu. Choose Format Data Series > Fill > Picture or Texture Fill > Insert From File. Locate the image on your computer and select it.

Several options are available to stretch the image, stack the image or scale it. Adjust these as suits your needs. Close. Now you have picture columns!