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Format Object (Line Color pane)

Applies to: Microsoft Office Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007, Word 2007

 

 Notes 

  • When you change options in this dialog box, the changes are immediately applied to your shape, making it easy to see the effects of the changes in your SmartArt graphic or shape without closing the dialog box. However, since the changes are instantly applied, it is not possible to click Cancel in this dialog box. To remove changes, you must click UndoButton image on the Quick Access Toolbar for each change that you want to remove.
  • You can simultaneously undo multiple changes that you made to one dialog box option, as long as you did not make changes to another dialog box option in between.
  • You may want to move the dialog box so that you can see both the shape and the dialog box at the same time.

No line    To make a line transparent or colorless, or to remove fill for a line, click this option.

Solid line    To add color and transparency to a line, click this option.

Gradient line    To add a gradient (gradient: A gradual progression of colors and shades, usually from one color to another color, or from one shade to another shade of the same color.) fill to a line, click this option.

Solid line

Color    To choose a color for a line, click ColorButton image, and then click the color that you want. To change to a color that is not in the theme colors (theme colors: A set of colors that is used in a file. Theme colors, theme fonts, and theme effects compose a theme.), click More Colors, and then either click the color that you want on the Standard tab, or mix your own color on the Custom tab. Custom colors and colors on the Standard tab are not updated if you later change the document theme (theme: A set of unified design elements that provides a look for your document by using color, fonts, and graphics.).

Transparency    To specify how much you can see through a shape, move the Transparency slider or enter a number in the box next to the slider. You can vary the percentage of transparency from 0 (fully opaque, the default) to 100% (fully transparent).

Gradient line

Preset colors    To choose a built-in gradient fill for the line, click Preset colorsButton image, and then click the option that you want.

Type    To specify the direction to use when drawing the gradient fill, select an option from the list. The Type that you select determines the available Direction.

Direction    To choose a different progression of color and shades, click Direction, and then click the option that you want. The Directions that are available depend on the gradient Type that you choose.

Angle    To specify the angle that the gradient fill is rotated within the shape, click the degree that you want from the list. This option is available only when you select Linear as the Type.

Gradient stops

Gradient stops consist of a position, color, and a transparency value. The transparency value applies to the gradient stop, not to the overall fill. Gradient stops are used to create non-linear gradients. For example, if you want to create a gradient that goes from red to green to blue, you need to add three gradient stops — one for each color. Or, if you want to create a gradient that shows up only in the corner of a shape, you need to use gradient stops to make the gradient non-linear.

Stop list    The gradient fill is made up of several gradient stops, but you can change only one gradient stop at a time. When you click the gradient stop that you want to edit in the list, the color, position, and transparency options reflect the current settings for that gradient stop.

Add    To add a gradient stop, click Add, and then set the Stop position, Color, and Transparency that you want.

Remove    To delete a gradient stop, click the Stop number in the list that you want to delete, and then click Remove.

Stop position    To set the location for the color and transparency change in the gradient fill, move the Stop position slider or enter a number in the box next to the slider.

Color    To choose the color used for the gradient stop, click ColorButton image, and then click the color that you want. To change to a color that is not in the theme colors (theme colors: A set of colors that is used in a file. Theme colors, theme fonts, and theme effects compose a theme.), click More Colors, and then either click the color that you want on the Standard tab, or mix your own color on the Custom tab. Custom colors and colors on the Standard tab are not updated if you later change the document theme (theme: A set of unified design elements that provides a look for your document by using color, fonts, and graphics.).

Transparency    To specify how much you can see through at the specified Stop position, move the Transparency slider or enter a number in the box next to the slider. You can vary the percentage of transparency from 0 (fully opaque, the default setting) to 100% (fully transparent).