To color fill a shape in PowerPoint, you need to select the shape and then use the 'Shape Fill' options available on the 'Drawing Tools Format' tab.
Filling a shape or text box with color is a straightforward process using the built-in tools in PowerPoint. This allows you to customize the appearance of elements on your slides to match your presentation's design.
Steps to Color Fill a Shape
Follow these steps to apply a solid color fill to a shape or text box in PowerPoint:
- Select the shape or text box. Click on the shape or text box you wish to fill with color. Selection is indicated by selection handles appearing around the object.
- Access the Format Tab. Once the shape or text box is selected, the Drawing Tools Format tab will become visible in the ribbon. Click on this tab.
- Find Shape Fill. On the Drawing Tools Format tab, locate the Shape Styles group. Click on the Shape Fill option. This will open a drop-down menu with various fill options.
- Choose a Color. From the Shape Fill drop-down menu, you can:
- Select a theme color or a standard color shown in the basic palette.
- Click More Fill Colors to access additional options.
Using More Fill Colors
As noted in the provided reference, clicking More Fill Colors gives you more control:
- In the Colors box, either click the color you want on the Standard tab, or mix your own color on the Custom tab.
- The Standard tab offers a fixed palette of standard colors.
- The Custom tab allows you to define colors using color models like RGB or HSL, giving you precise control over the hue, saturation, and luminosity.
It's important to note the behavior of these color types:
- Custom colors and colors on the Standard tab aren't updated if you later change the document theme. This means if you select a color from these tabs, it will remain the same even if you switch to a different PowerPoint theme that uses a different color scheme. Theme colors, on the other hand, will update automatically with the theme change.
Understanding Color Options
PowerPoint offers several ways to select colors for your shapes:
- Theme Colors: Colors that are part of the active presentation theme. These update automatically if the theme changes.
- Standard Colors: A fixed set of commonly used colors. These do not change with the theme.
- Recent Colors: A list of colors you have recently used.
- More Fill Colors: Opens the dialog box to select Standard or Custom colors.
- Eyedropper: Allows you to sample a color from anywhere on your screen. (Note: While a common feature, this specific option wasn't detailed in the provided reference text).
| Color Type | Behavior with Theme Change | Selection Method |
|---|---|---|
| Theme Colors | Updates | Basic palette in Shape Fill menu |
| Standard Colors | Does not update | More Fill Colors -> Standard tab |
| Custom Colors | Does not update | More Fill Colors -> Custom tab (mix your own) |
By following these steps, you can effectively color fill shapes and text boxes in your PowerPoint presentations, selecting from theme colors, standard colors, or creating custom colors based on your specific needs.
