Applying Color Fills

When you create a closed drawing object such as a square, it applies the Shape Fill color to the inside of the shape, and the Shape Outline color to the edge of the shape. A line drawing object uses the Shape Outline color. You can set the Shape Fill to be a solid, gradient, texture or picture, and the Shape Outline can be a solid or gradient. If you want to make multiple changes to a shape at the same time, the Format Shape dialog box allows you to do everything in one place. If the solid color appears too dark, you can make the color fill more transparent. If you no longer want to apply a shape fill to an object, you can remove it.

Apply a Color Fill to a Shape

Select the shape you want to modify.

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Click the Format tab under Drawing Tools.

Click the Shape Fill button.

Select the fill color option you want.

To remove a color fill, click the Shape Fill button, and then click No Fill.

Did You Know?

You can set the color and line style for an object as the default. Right-click the object, and then click Set as Default Shape. Any new objects you create will use the same styles.

You can use the document background as the fill for a shape. Right-click the object, click Format Shape, click Fill in the left pane, click the Background option, and then click Close.

You can undo changes made in the Format Shape dialog box. Since changes made in the Shape Format dialog box are instantly applied, it’s not possible to Cancel the dialog box. To remove changes, click the Undo button on the Quick Access Toolbar.