Format Object (3-D Format pane)

Use the options in the Format Object dialog box to customize the three-dimensional (3-D) effects applied to lines, shapes, charts, SmartArt graphics, or pictures in your document.

You may want to move the dialog box so that you can see both the shape and the dialog box at the same time.

• When you change options in this dialog box, the changes are immediately applied to your shape or text, 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 the changes, you must click Undo 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.

Bevel

A bevel is a three-dimensional edge effect that is applied to the top or bottom border of a shape. This gives the appearance that the edge is raised and highlights the edges of a shape.

Top     To apply a raised edge to the top of a shape, click Top ,and then click the option that you want. When you choose a Top or Bottom edge type, the corresponding width and height numbers will automatically change unless you customize them.

Width    To specify the width of the top edge, enter a number in the box.

Height    To specify the height of the top edge, enter a number in the box.

Bottom    To apply a raised edge to the bottom of a shape, click Bottom , and then click the option that you want. When you choose a Top or Bottom edge type, the corresponding width and height numbers will automatically change unless you customize them.

Width    To specify the width of the bottom edge, enter a number in the box.

Height    To specify the height of the bottom edge, enter a number in the box.

Depth

Depth is the distance of a shape from its surface.

Color    To choose a color for the depth, click Color , and then click the color that you want. To change to a color that isn't in the theme colors, 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.

Depth    To specify the depth, enter a number in the box.

Contours

A contour is a raised border applied to a shape.

Color     To choose a color for the contour, click Color , and then click the color that you want. To change to a color that isn't in the theme colors, 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.

Size    To specify the width of the contour, enter a number in the box.

Surface

Use the Material choices to change the appearance of a shape by changing the specular highlight. Specular highlights make objects look more shiny or less shiny.

Material     Material can be used to make shapes look dull, plastic, metallic, or translucent. To describe the way light interacts with the shape's surface, click this button, and then select the option that you want.

Below is a brief description of the available Material choices:

Standard

Matte     No specular highlights, which results in a fairly "flat" look.

Warm Matte     Some specular highlight, which gives the surface of the shape a softer look than plastic.

Plastic     Crisp, white specular highlights that give a shiny, plastic appearance to the surface of the shape.

Metal     Specular highlights match some of the material's base color so that the look of the shape is shiny and highly reflective.

Special Effect

Dark Edge     Similar to plastic because white specular highlights give a shiny appearance to the surface appearance of the shape, but with dark edges that more crisply define the shape against a light background.

Soft Edge     White specular highlights with edges that become slightly transparent, making the shape look very integrated into a scene or group of shapes. When this look is applied to the surface of a shape, the edges of the shape appear to reflect some of the background color.

Flat     Solid color with white specular highlights compose this look. Shading based on the light direction or intensity is not done, so the specular highlights define the shape. This option is designed specifically to work well with the Flat Lighting option.

Wireframe     No highlights or fill effects. Only the wireframe or outline of the shape or object is shown.

Translucent

Powder     Large specular highlights that give a very soft pastel look to the surface of a shape.

Translucent Powder     Similar to Powder, but this surface look is transparent with soft or gradually fading edges.

Clear     Transparent with crisp, white highlights and dark edges that result in a hard, shiny appearance, similar to glass.

Lighting     Each Lighting type defines a rig of one or more lights that are used to illuminate a 3-D scene. This is also known as scene coherent 3-D. Each light in a rig has a position, intensity, and color. Most Lighting types also have an ambient light, which is directionless illumination evenly applied to all shape surfaces. All shapes in a 3-D scene share the same lighting rig, so when you change the Lighting type, you are changing the lighting for the entire 3-D scene (not just for the selected shape).

To pick a Lighting type, click Lighting, and then select the option that you want.

Below is a brief description of the available Lighting choices:

Neutral

Three Point     The classic key, fill, and back light trio of lights. This is a good general purpose choice, unless you know that you need something different. Point lights have a color and position within a scene, but no single direction. They give off light equally in all directions.

Balance     A version of the Three Point light rig, but with less contrast.

Soft      A simple light rig with only a single light.

Harsh     A two light rig that creates stronger highlights and light and dark regions.

Flood     A three light rig that puts very bright light onto the edges of the shapes.

Contrasting     A light rig that eliminates all of the shading across the surface and provides a couple of specular highlights. It makes any material appear to be Flat.

Warm

Morning, Sunrise, Sunset     A trio of warm colored light rigs that give a warm, orange tint to whatever they light. The intensity of the coloration increases as you move from the Morning option to the Sunset option.

Cool

Chilly, Freezing     Two light rig choices that provide a cold, bluish light and are on the other side of the spectrum from the Morning, Sunrise, or Sunset options.

Special

Flat     Designed specifically to work well with the Flat Material option, this is a three point light rig that creates nice specular highlights to define the shape.

Two Point     This is a good general purpose rig with two lights. Typically, the lights are positioned so that the shape is lit from two different directions, emphasizing the borders or contour of the shape.

Glow     A light rig that fully illuminates the front of the shape and deliberately over-brightens the sides of the shape to give the illusion that the shape is glowing.

Bright Room     A light rig that provides an even more extreme version of the Glow light rig.

Angle     Rotates all of the lights for the current Lighting types around the front face of a shape. If your Lighting types have a strong primary or key light, this allows you to control which side of a 3-D scene receives the brightest illumination.

To specify an angle for the lighting, enter a number in the list.

Reset

To remove 3-D formatting and restore the default settings, click this button.