Specifying Colors

You can apply color to objects, text, and lines using three different Drawing toolbar buttons. The Fill Color, Font Color, and Line Color buttons all work in basically the same way, with slight differences based on the selected object. To apply the default color, click the button directly. To apply a different color, click the arrow next to the button and choose a color from the palette that appears. You can also specify color in the Format dialog box.

Specifying Fill Color

To set an object's fill color, select it, and click the arrow next to the Fill Color button. The Fill Color palette displays, as shown in Figure 14.7.

Figure 14.7. You can add colors or patterns to fill an object.

You can do one of the following in this palette:

• Click No Fill to make the object transparent. You'll see the slide background through the object.

• Choose one of the colors that appears under the Automatic color box option. These colors are compatible with your slide's color scheme.

• Click More Fill Colors to open the Colors dialog box ”from which you can choose from many other colors or create a custom color.

• Click Fill Effects to open the Fill Effects dialog box in which you can fill the object with a gradient, a texture, a pattern, or a picture.

Using the Colors Dialog Box

Click More Fill Colors on the palette to open the Colors dialog box, illustrated in Figure 14.8.

Figure 14.8. Choose from many common colors in the Colors dialog box.

To choose a new color,click it in the palette on the Standard tab. The color appears in the New section of the preview box to contrast with the Current color.

NOTE

You can set transparency (making the color appear transparent) by dragging the Transparency scrollbar or by entering a specific transparency percentage. The higher the percentage, the more transparent the color, allowing things behind the object to show through.

Click the Preview button to preview what the color will look like in your presentation. Click OK to keep the color or Cancel to return to the original color.

Using a Custom Color

To add a custom color, click the Custom tab on the Colors dialog box, shown in Figure 14.9.

Figure 14.9. Create a custom color to suit your exact needs.

You can create a custom color in two ways. One way is to click and drag the crosshair in the Colors area until you find the color you want. The other way is to choose either RGB or HSL in the Color model field, and then adjust the color's hue, saturation, and luminance (for HSL) or level of red, green, and blue (for RGB). Click the Preview button to see how the color looks on your slide. Click OK to keep the color or Cancel to discard it.

NOTE

Hue represents the actual color, saturation represents the color's intensity, and luminance represents the color's brightness. In general, the lower the number, the lighter or less intense the color.

Red, green, and blue represent the amount of each of these primary colors in the color you're creating.

For more information about color theory, see "Using Color" in Chapter 25, "The Media ”Designing Visual Support" p. 566 .

Specifying Fill Effects

To set fill effects, select the object to format, click the arrow next to the Fill Color button, and choose Fill Effects from the palette that appears. The Fill Effects dialog box, shown in Figure 14.10, opens, giving you several kinds of fill effects: gradients, textures, patterns, and pictures.

Figure 14.10. Choose from gradient, texture, pattern, and picture effects.

Applying a Gradient Fill

A gradient creates a smooth transition from one color to another using gentle blending. To apply a gradient, click the Gradient tab on the Fill Effects dialog box. In the Colors group box, choose one of the following:

• One Color ” Lets you choose one color for the gradient. Choose the color from the Color 1 drop-down list. You then choose how much to darken or lighten this color by adjusting the scrollbar that appears below the Color 1 field. PowerPoint creates a gradient between the color you choose and its darkened or lightened counterpart .

• Two Colors ” Lets you choose the two colors you want to use from the Color 1 and Color 2 drop-down lists.

• Preset ” Displays a drop-down list of preset color combination options such as Daybreak, Peacock, and Rainbow.

Next, set the transparency by dragging the Transparency scrollbars or by entering specific transparency percentages.

Finally, use the Shading Styles area to choose how to apply the gradient. Options include Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal Up, Diagonal Down, From Corner, and From Center. Click an option in the Variants group box; it displays in the Sample box. Click Preview to see the gradient in your presentation. Click OK to keep the gradient or Cancel to discard it.

Applying a Textured Fill

To apply a texture, click the Texture tab on the Fill Effects dialog box and scroll down the available textures until you find one you like. Click it and click OK. Figure 14.11 shows the Texture tab.

Figure 14.11. Textures can add visual depth to an object.

If you have a graphic file on your computer that you'd like to use as a texture, click the Other Texture button to open the Select Texture dialog box. Navigate to where you keep the graphic file, click the file, and click the Insert button. The graphic appears among the textures in the Fill Effects dialog box. Click the graphic and click Preview to see what it looks like in your slide. Click OK to use the graphic as a texture, or click OK to discard the change.

Applying a Patterned Fill

To apply a pattern, select the Pattern tab on the Fill Effects dialog box (see Figure 14.12).

Figure 14.12. PowerPoint provides many different pattern effects.

Choose foreground and background colors and then select from the many available patterns.

CAUTION

If you plan to print your presentation, be sure to verify how your chosen pattern looks when printed. Certain patterns are too dense to print well on some printers.

NOTE

The default foreground and background colors coordinate with your object's color.

Click Preview to preview the fill effect. Click OK to keep the fill or Cancel to discard it.

Applying a Picture Fill

You can even fill an object with a picture. Click the Picture tab on the Fill Effects dialog box, which Figure 14.13 shows.

Figure 14.13. Use your own image, such as a logo, as a fill.

Click the Select Picture button to open the Select Picture dialog box, shown in Figure 14.14.

Figure 14.14. Choose a picture of your own to apply as a fill.

Find and select your graphic image and click Insert to return to the Fill Effects dialog box. Click OK to apply the fill or Cancel to discard it.

CAUTION

Some pictures just don't look good as fills. Look at yours carefully . If it doesn't look good, press Ctrl+Z to undo it, and then apply some other fill.

Specifying Line Color

To add color to a selected line, click the arrow to the right of the Line Color button on the Drawing toolbar. The Line Color palette appears, as shown in Figure 14.15.

Figure 14.15. Format or remove lines in the Line Color palette.

Choose from the following options:

• Click No Line to hide the existing line.

• Choose one color under the Automatic color box. These colors are compatible with your slide's color scheme.

• Click More Line Colors to open the Colors dialog box in which you can select from many other colors or create a custom color.

• Click Patterned Lines to open the Patterned Lines dialog box. This dialog box is almost identical to the Pattern tab on the Fill Effects dialog box.

NOTE

Unless you create a very thick line, patterns in a line probably won't be visible.

Specifying Font Color

To add color to selected text, click the arrow to the right of the Font Color button on the Drawing toolbar. The Font Color palette appears, as shown in Figure 14.16.

Figure 14.16. Specify the color of your text here.

You can choose a color in two ways:

• Select one of the colors under the Automatic color box. These colors are compatible with your slide's color scheme.

• Click More Colors to open the Colors dialog box in which you can choose from many other colors or create a custom color.

If you don't want to use one of the compatible colors, be sure that the color you choose is clear and readable on your slide.