To change the border color of a table in PowerPoint, you primarily use the Table Tools Design tab on the ribbon and specifically the Pen Color option within the Draw Borders group.
Here's a step-by-step guide to changing your table border colors:
Steps to Change Table Border Color
- Select the Table: First, click on the table whose borders you want to change. This will make the Table Tools contextual tabs appear on the ribbon.
- Access Design Tab: Go to the Table Tools Design tab on the ribbon.
- Locate Draw Borders: Find the Draw Borders group on the Design tab.
- Choose Pen Color: Within the Draw Borders group, select the Pen Color option.
- Select Your Color: Click on the desired color from the standard palette that appears.
Exploring More Color Options
If the standard color palette doesn't contain the color you want, you can access more options:
- Click on More Border Colors... at the bottom of the color palette.
- A dialog box will open with two tabs:
- Standard Tab: Offers a grid of common colors to choose from.
- Custom Tab: Allows you to mix your own color using color models like RGB or HSL, or by selecting a color from a spectrum.
- Select your preferred color from either tab and click OK. The Pen Color will be updated to your selection.
After choosing the Pen Color, you can apply this color to table borders using the Border Painter or by selecting existing borders and applying the color.
Applying the Chosen Color
Once you've set the desired Pen Color, you can apply it in several ways:
- Using Border Painter: Click the Border Painter button (it looks like a paintbrush) in the Draw Borders group. Your cursor will turn into a paintbrush. Click on the specific borders you want to change to the selected Pen Color.
- Applying to Selected Borders: Select the borders you want to change (e.g., by selecting the entire table, specific rows, columns, or individual cells). Then click the Borders dropdown in the Table Styles Options group and select the desired border location (e.g., All Borders, Inside Borders, Outside Borders, etc.) to apply the current Pen Color.
By following these steps, you can effectively customize the border colors of your tables in PowerPoint to match your presentation's design.
