Adding Color and Patterns to Cells

Adding Color and Patterns to Cells

Colors and patterns added to the worksheet's light gray grid help identify data and streamline entering and reading data. If your data spans many columns and rows, color every other row light yellow to help readers follow the data. Or add a red dot pattern to cells with totals. Color adds background shading to a cell. Patterns add dots or lines to a cell in any color you choose. You can use the Format Cells dialog box to add color and patterns to a worksheet. However, if you want to add color to cells quickly, you can use the Fill Color button on the Formatting toolbar.

Apply Color and Patterns

Select a cell or range to which you want to apply colors and patterns.

Click the Format menu, and then click Cells.

Click the Patterns tab.

To add shading to the cell, click a color in the palette.

To add a pattern to the cell, click the Pattern list arrow, and then click a pattern and color in the palette.

Click OK.

Apply Color Using the Formatting Toolbar

Select a cell or range.

Click the Fill Color list arrow on the Formatting toolbar.

If necessary, click the Toolbar Options list arrow to display the button.

Click a color.