Microsoft Word: Embedded Image Background All Black

Today at work, I came across a very strange quirk in Microsoft Word. We had an image embedded in a .dot file whose background was supposed to be transparent. Instead, the background was showing up entirely black on some computers.

This had me baffled for a few minutes, but the solution is simple:

• Click on the image and open the Picture Toolbar (available from right-click context menu)
• Select the "Set Transparent Color" tool from the toolbar.
  
  

  Word's Picture Toolbar with the "Set Background Color" tool highlighted.
• Click on the image background
• Save and test

I believe the image inserted was a TIFF, but it's hard tell, since I did not did not create the template. Anyway, hope this saves someone a bit of grief.