Microsoft Office XP

Using the Fill Effects Dialog Box

A highly customized look for shapes and text boxes can be created by adding a gradient, pattern, texture, or picture as fill. However, only one of these effects may be applied to your object. You can create a customized look by using the Fill Effects dialog box. The many options available through the tabs in this dialog box are discussed in this document.

Accessing the Fill Effects Dialog Box
Adding Color Gradient
Adding Texture
Adding a Pattern
Adding a Picture

Accessing the Fill Effects Dialog Box

Select the shape(s) that you want to adjust
From the Format menu, select AutoShape...
OR
Right click the shape » select Format AutoShape...
The Format AutoShape dialog box appears.
Select the Colors and Lines tab
In the Fill section, from the Color pull-down list, select Fill Effects...
The Fill Effects dialog box appears.

Adding Color Gradient

Rather than filling an object or text box with one color, you may want to fill it with gradations of one or two colors.

Access the Fill Effects dialog box
Select the Gradient tab
Under the Colors section, select One color, Two colors, or Preset
Your selection will determine further options available to you.
If you selected One color, use the Dark/Light scroll bar to adjust the darkness and lightness of the gradient
If you selected Two colors, from the Color 1 and Color 2 pull-down lists, select the other colors you want to use
If you selected Preset, from the Preset colors pull-down list, select a preset color combination
Under the Shading styles section, select your style option
Variants of your shading style appear in the Variants section.
From the Variants section, select the style you prefer
Your selection appears as the Sample.
When satisfied with your selections, click OK

Adding Texture

You may decide that you want to add texture to your color. You can choose from the Office preset textures or use a graphic file that you have downloaded or created.

Adding Texture: Preset

Access the Fill Effects dialog box
Select the Texture tab
Click a texture to select it
Your selection appears as the Sample.
Click OK

Adding Texture: From a File

Access the Fill Effects dialog box
Select the Texture tab
Click OTHER TEXTURE...
The Select Texture dialog box appears.
Using the Look in pull-down list, navigate to and select the graphic file you want to use
Click INSERT
In the Fill Effects dialog box, your selection appears as the Sample.
Click OK

Adding a Pattern

Office offers 48 patterns to fill your object. You may choose the background and foreground colors.

Access the Fill Effects dialog box
Select the Pattern tab
From the Pattern section, click a pattern to select it
From the Foreground pull-down list, select a color
This is the color of the lines or pattern.
The Sample reflects your choice.
From the Background pull-down list, select a color
This is the color the pattern will appear on.
The Sample reflects your choice.
Continue to adjust your selections until the Sample reflects the pattern and colors you want
Click OK

Adding a Picture

Office gives you the option of filling your object with an image that you have downloaded or created.

Access the Fill Effects dialog box
Select the Picture tab
Click SELECT PICTURE...
The Select Picture dialog box appears.
Using the Look in pull-down list, navigate to and select the graphic file you want to use
Click INSERT
In the Fill Effects dialog box, your selection appears in the Picture section.
Click OK