How do you apply or remove cell shading to Excel cells?

You can apply or remove cell shading (background color) in Excel using the "Format Cells" dialog box. This process involves selecting the desired cells and choosing a color from the fill options.

Applying Cell Shading

Here's how to apply cell shading to your Excel cells, following the reference:

1. Select Cells: Begin by selecting the cells where you want to add background color.
2. Open Format Cells: Click the Format menu, then click Cells. This opens the "Format Cells" dialog box.
3. Navigate to Fill Tab: In the dialog box, click on the Fill tab.
4. Choose a Background Color: Within the "Background color" box, select the desired color for your cell shading.
5. Apply Changes: Click OK to apply the chosen background color to the selected cells.

Removing Cell Shading

To remove cell shading, follow the same steps, but when you reach step 4, choose "No Fill" or a white color from the color palette. This effectively removes the background color.

Example

Let's say you want to shade cells A1 to A5 light blue.

1. Select cells A1:A5.
2. Go to Format > Cells.
3. Click the Fill tab.
4. Choose a light blue from the Background color box.
5. Click OK. The cells A1 through A5 will now have light blue shading.

To remove this shading:

1. Select cells A1:A5.
2. Go to Format > Cells.
3. Click the Fill tab.
4. Choose "No Fill" or white from the Background color box.
5. Click OK. The shading will be removed.

Additional Formatting Options

The "Fill" tab in the "Format Cells" dialog box also offers other options, like:

• Pattern Style: Allows you to apply patterns to the cell fill color.
• Pattern Color: Lets you choose the color of the pattern.
• Fill Effects: Provides options for gradients and textures.

By exploring these options, you can customize cell shading to suit your needs.