I have a multi-page document in formatted in two columns. However, there is only enough text on the final page to occupy one column. So I inserted a column break at the half-way point to break it into two columns so that the text on this final page looks balanced, i.e., occupies two columns, each occupying equal amounts of vertical space. So far so good.

Now I want to add an illustration to the lower part of the page that occupies full page width, i.e., formatted as one column. So I inserted a continuous break and then added the illustration. However, that didn’t work -- the illustration is forced over to an additional page. I have fiddled with it and fiddled with it – continuous break, column break, etc. I can’t find a solution that keeps the page-width illustration on the same page as the text. I’m sure the solution is simple but what is my mistake? What am I missing?

One continuous section break at the end of your columnar material.
No column break needed in that case.
Change to one column in the new section.
Insert your image.

Thank you, but no, that doesn't work. I suspect the reason why might be because that final page has two footnotes in it, one in each column. I would like the image to appear under the text but above the footnotes.
Can you comment, please?

Is there a reason you aren't floating the graphic and putting it wherever you want?

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Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

Are the footnotes being restarted in the new section? In that case, Word tends to break the page (even with a "continuous" section break).

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

There is no need to have a Section break after the text - simply give the graphic an 'around' wrap format and place it wherever you want.

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Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]