Overlay Letterhead Template Onto Document

Q: The short of it: Is there a way to create something like a template overlay document that contains all your letterhead elements that will overlay the actual document and print both the "letterhead overlay" and the actual document at the same time? This reduces document file size considerably and means that you don't need to have preprinted letterhead. The longer explanation: I'm using Word XP. In our small business we decided that it made more sense to make the letterhead material (logo at the top of the document and contact info at the bottom of the document) part of the Word document rather than having special letterhead printed at the print shop. The logic was that we would have more flexibility to change the contact information at the bottom of the letterhead based on the individual sending the letter rather than being stuck with the inflexibility of printed letterhead. We also reasoned that you wouldn't have to be careful about which paper was in the printer every time you went to print (Is it loaded with letterhead or plain paper?). The problem is that the Word documents that contain the letterhead are 10 times larger and up compared with the documents that don't have the letterhead logo and so on. While this really doesn't matter for a few letters, it can add up over time with many letters. This creates a larger backup burden if nothing else. The question is this: Is there a way to create something like a template overlay document that contains all your letterhead elements that will overlay the actual document and print both the "letterhead overlay" and the actual document at the same time? This would provide the flexibility of "home made" letterhead without the increase in file size. That is because you would only have to save the overlay template once and the volume of documents would only contain the text itself. The letterhead is in color.

We are presently printing on a Canon S750 color inkjet which has a very low cost per page to operate. Are there any other options to deal with the problem beyond what I have mentioned? And no, I don't want to run it through the printer twice

A: -If you save the entire header and footer as graphics, then you can create a letterhead template that has the graphics inserted as links rather than embedded in the document. This will reduce file size considerably. Alternatively, link just the existing graphic elements (logo, for example). The text alone won't inflate the file size. -See: http://home.zebra.net/~sbarnhill/Letterhead.htm