Change the format of chart elements

You can change the format of individual chart elements, such as the chart area, plot area, data series, axes, titles, data labels, or legend. You can use the Format <Chart Element> dialog box to make formatting changes, or you can apply predefined or custom shape styles. You can also format the text in a chart element.

What do you want to do?

Change the format of a selected chart element

Change the shape style of a selected chart element

Change the format of text in a selected chart element

Use text formatting to format text in chart elements

Use WordArt styles to format text in chart elements

Change the format of a selected chart element

1. In a chart, click the chart element that you want to change, or do the following to select the chart element from a list of chart elements:

   1. Click anywhere in the chart.

      This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

   2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then select the chart element that you want to format.

      

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.

3. In the Format <Chart Element> dialog box, click a category, and then select the formatting options that you want.

   Note: Depending on the selected chart element, different formatting options are available in this dialog box.

Change the shape style of a selected chart element

1. In a chart, click the chart element that you want to change, or do the following to select the chart element from a list of chart elements:

   1. Click anywhere in the chart.

      This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

   2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then select the chart element that you want to format.

      

2. On the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, do one of the following:

   

   • To apply a predefined shape style, in the shape style box, click the style that you want.

     Tip: To see all available shape styles, click the More button .

   • To apply a different shape fill, click Shape Fill, and then do one of the following:

3. To use a different fill color, under Theme Colors or Standard Colors, click the color that you want to use.

   Tip: Before you apply a different color, you can quickly preview how that color affects the chart. When you point to colors that you may want to use, the selected chart element will be displayed in that color on the chart.

4. To remove the color from the selected chart element, click No Fill.

5. To use a fill color that is not available under Theme Colors or Standard Colors, click More Fill Colors. In the Colors dialog box, specify the color that you want to use on the Standard or Custom tab, and then click OK.

   Custom fill colors that you create are added under Recent Colors so that you can use them again.

6. To fill the shape with a picture, click Picture. In the Insert Picture dialog box, click the picture that you want to use, and then click Insert.

7. To use a gradient effect for the selected fill color, click Gradient, and then under Variations, click the gradient style that you want to use.

   For additional gradient styles, click More Gradients, and then in the Fill category, click the gradient options that you want to use.

8. To use a texture fill, click Texture, and then click the texture that you want to use.

9. To apply a different shape outline, click Shape Outline, and then do one of the following:

10. To use a different outline color, under Theme Colors or Standard Colors, click the color that you want to use.

11. To remove the outline color from the selected chart element, click No Outline.

    Note: If the selected element is a line, the line will no longer be visible on the chart.

12. To use an outline color that is not available under Theme Colors or Standard Colors, click More Outline Colors. In the Colors dialog box, specify the color that you want to use on the Standard or Custom tab, and then click OK.

    Custom outline colors that you create are added under Recent Colors so that you can use them again.

13. To change the weight of a line or border, click Weight, and then click the line weight that you want to use.

    For additional line style or border style options, click More Lines, and then click the line style or border style options that you want to use.

14. To use a dashed line or border, click Dashes, and then click the dash type that you want to use.

    For additional dash-type options, click More Lines, and then click the dash type that you want to use.

15. To add arrows to lines, click Arrows, and then click the arrow style that you want to use. You cannot use arrow styles for borders.

    For additional arrow style or border style options, click More Arrows, and then click the arrow setting that you want to use.

16. To apply a different shape effect, click Shape Effects, click an available effect, and then select the type of effect that you want to use.

    Note: Available shape effects depend on the chart element that you selected. Preset, reflection, and bevel effects are not available for all chart elements.

Change the format of text in a selected chart element

To format the text in chart elements, you can use regular text formatting options, or you can apply a WordArt format.

Use text formatting to format text in chart elements

1. Click the chart element that contains the text that you want to format.

2. Right-click the text or select the text that you want to format, and then do one of the following:

   • Click the formatting options that you want on the Mini toolbar.

     
     

   • On the Home tab, in the Font group, click the formatting buttons that you want to use.

     

Use WordArt styles to format text in chart elements

1. In a chart, click the chart element that contains the text that you want to change, or do the following to select the chart element from a list of chart elements:

   1. Click anywhere in the chart.

      This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

   2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then select the chart element that you want to format.

      

2. On the Format tab, in the WordArt Styles group, do one of the following:

   

   1. To apply a predefined WordArt style, click the style that you want.

      Tip: To see all available WordArt styles, click the More button .

   2. To apply a custom WordArt style, click Text Fill, Text Outline, or Text Effects, and then select the formatting options that you want.