I only have Word 97 but this method works for me: load your poster and make sure drawing toolbar is visible: using the drawing toolbar select and draw a rectangle to fill the entire page right to all edges. This will cover up your text and images. Now right click on the rectangle and under Order choose Send behind text. Now right click on it again - Format Autoshape then Colours and Lines - under Fill select your colour (you can also have interesting two colour fill effects), under Lines select No lines (otherwise you will have a border). Hope this helps