Table cell shading is covering linework and text boxes

Question

Table cell shading is covering linework and text boxes

DanMar 0

I have a table in Word and in that table I have a cell which includes linework, shapes and text boxes. (It came to us from a client that way.)
If I shade the cell a different colour to white, it "covers" all of the text and most of the linework. I have brought all the linework and text "to front" but it won't stop being hidden by the colour of the shading.
Any idea how to fix this?

John Korchok 223.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-12-12T16:21:08.68+00:00

Perhaps the posted replies will help you. If not, please post a sample document showing the problem to a cloud service, then post a share link here so we can take a closer look
Stefan Blom 323.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2025-12-12T20:36:21.6566667+00:00

I agree with John—for more specific advice, you should upload a sample document, so that we can see what you are dealing with.

2 answers

Your answer

John Korchok 223.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-12-12T16:21:08.68+00:00

Perhaps the posted replies will help you. If not, please post a sample document showing the problem to a cloud service, then post a share link here so we can take a closer look
Stefan Blom 323.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2025-12-12T20:36:21.6566667+00:00

I agree with John—for more specific advice, you should upload a sample document, so that we can see what you are dealing with.

Answer 1

When you apply shading to a table cell in Word, it can indeed cover any content within that cell, including linework, shapes, and text boxes. Here are a few suggestions to resolve this issue:

Adjust the Order of Objects: While you mentioned you have already brought the linework and text to the front, ensure that they are indeed on the top layer. You can do this by right-clicking on the object, selecting "Bring to Front" or "Send Backward" to adjust their layering.
Change the Shading Color: If the shading color is too dark, consider using a lighter shade that allows the text and linework to be visible. You can specify the shading color in the format "#RRGGBB" or by using a color name.
Use Transparent Shading: If possible, use a transparent shading effect. This way, the shading will not cover the text and linework completely.
Move Content Outside the Cell: If the above methods do not work, consider moving the linework and text boxes outside the shaded cell. This can help maintain visibility without interference from the shading.
Check Grouping: Ensure that the linework and text boxes are not grouped in a way that prevents them from being layered correctly. Ungrouping them may help.

If these suggestions do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider redesigning the layout to accommodate the shading without obscuring important content.

DanMar 0 Reputation points

2025-12-12T06:30:23.6333333+00:00

Hi.

There are 27 shapes and text boxes in that cell, so they can't all be brought to front. But whichever way I order it they are still covered by the shading.

This happens for every colour of shading - changing the colour makes no difference.

3 There is no option to use transparent shading in a Word table cell - please confirm.

4 The items are needed within the table cell, and it needs to be shaded.

5 All items are ungrouped and this does not change the outcome. There is no way to make any of these items be "in front of" the cell shading, as the cell shading is not an object.

Answer 2

Hello @DanMar,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum.

Based on your description, it appears you are experiencing an issue where table shading in Word hides pictures, text, and lines.

In our testing environment, when creating a table and adding pictures, text, and lines, applying shading automatically places it behind the objects without requiring any manual adjustment.

To help us investigate further, could you please try reproducing the issue in a new blank document? Create a table, add a picture, some text, and a line, then apply shading. If the issue persists, kindly provide the exact steps you followed along with a screenshot, if possible.

Additionally, this behavior might occur if a rectangle shape is involved.

User's image

Please check by clicking on the table outline and confirm if it appears as shown below. You can also try using the “Send to Back” option to ensure the shading does not hide your objects.

User's image

Please let us know if you have any updates or additional details. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Table cell shading is covering linework and text boxes

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