Gradients and other options
The Format Data Series, Format Plot Area and Format Chart Area dialogs have options for formatting the data series of charts and backgrounds of charts. One option is . Select this option and click to open the Gradients and Other Options dialog. You can create multiple layers of formatting and combine them. The available options can be used singly, or in combination, to create a range of visual effects for use as the backgrounds of charts or data series.
For each layer, the options Automatic, Solid fill and No fill are available. These are the same as those described in the fill options of the Pattern tab.
For example, you could create two solid fill layers but make one transparent. This would have the effect of blending the two colors together. But you also have these options:
- Gradient
- Pattern
- Image
Layers
By default, a single, gradient, layer is created. If required, you can change this to a different type of layer such as solid fill. You can also add layers and reorder them. By giving the top layer a degree of transparency, the lower levels are visible beneath.
By default, a layer occupies the entire area in which it is defined (that is, the selected data series or chart background). But you can cut layers into shapes, and move shapes within the layer so that only part of the shape is visible.
To add a layer, click the Plus (+) icon. To remove a layer, select it and click the X icon. Use the Up and Down arrows to reorder the layers.
To enable or disable a layer, click its check box.
Use the Duplicate option in the toolbar to duplicate a layer. To copy a layer to a different chart, use the Copy and Paste options.
Cut out
You can cut a layer so that only a portion of the layer is filled with a selected color or gradient. For example, you could use a diagonal cut make the tops of the columns in a column chart appear pointed rather than flat.
Select the layer and click . The Edit Cut-out dialog is displayed. You can cut a layer at an angle (a Linear cut) or on an arc (a Radial cut).
Select Linear or Radial.
Two or three markers are displayed on the layer, depending on the type of cut you select. Drag the markers to specify the angle or shape of the cut. Or, use the X and Y axis fields to specify the exact position of the markers.
You can invert linear cuts. That is, you might cut off the bottom right corner of a layer, for example. If you then select , the cut flips so that the top left corner is removed.
By default, cuts are horizontal. That is, they apply, to the width of the layer. But you can change the orientation of a cut to Vertical. You might do this if you had cut the columns of a Column chart, and then decided to change the chart to a Bar chart. To maintain the orientation of a cut, whatever the orientation of the chart, select in the Orientation list.
A Radial cut has a Fixed option. If you select , you can drag the orange marker to drag the cut shape to a different position, without changing its profile.
To undo a cut, select None in the Edit Cut-out dialog.
Gradient
A gradient displays the gradual transition from one color to another. The default layer displays a linear gradient. Linear is one of seven Fill Settings, or styles, for gradients. Each style renders the transition in a different way. The fill settings are:
- Linear
- Triangular
- Radial
- Rectangular
- Path
- Radial Fixed
- Rectangular Fixed.
Select the style to use from the Fill Settings list.
By default, a gradient displays a gradual, even, transition from one color to another. But you can specify Stops to emphasize one or more shades in the gradient.
Each gradient has a Start and an End stop. In a black to white gradient, black is the Start stop and white is the End stop. You can drag a stop to a different position. For example, if you drag the Start stop to the mid point of a black and white gradient, the transition from black to white begins only at the mid point.
You can also add stops and drag them to different points. So, you could, for example, specify that the first third of the gradient transitions from black to dark grey, the second third transitions from dark grey to pale grey, and the final third transitions from pale grey to white.
Click the + and - buttons to add and remove stops.
You can drag the stops into position or select them and then use the Position field to specify their exact positions.
By default a gradient has two stops, from black to white. Stops can be moved, their color can be changed and more stops can be added. Select the color of the first stop from the Color list. But there are five Preset Colors which transition from a dark shade to a light. You can use a preset color on its own, or modify it by selecting a Start color from the Color list. In this way you can specify a gradient that does not transition to white.
All gradient styles except Linear give the illusion of a three-dimensional object lit from above. The effect varies with different gradient types and color schemes.
By default, a gradient fills the area for which it is specified (that is, the selected data series or chart background). You can change the horizontal and vertical position of a non-linear gradient within its area, and change the apparent direction of the light source.
For Pie charts and Doughnut charts, the specified gradient is applied to each slice separately. To specify a single gradient for the entire pie, or for each Tiled pie. Select .
For non-linear gradients, use the Horizontal and Vertical fields in the Scale section of the dialog to specify the position of the gradient within the layer. Use the horizontal and vertical sliders to move the point of focus away from the center. The effect varies with different gradient types and color schemes. But, for example, in a black and white rectangular gradient, moving the focus changes the apparent direction of the light source.
You can change the angle of Linear, Radial Fixed and Rectangular Fixed gradients. By default, the value in the Angle field is 0 and a linear gradient transitions from dark to light from left to right. You can specify an angle between 0 and 360. For example, if you specify 180 as the angle, the gradient transitions from right to left. An angle of 90 transitions from dark at the top to light at the bottom.
Unlike the other styles of gradient, Radial Fixed and Rectangular Fixed gradients have borders within the layer. The effect is, for example, that a Radial Fixed gradient gives the illusion of a sphere. Use the Grow to fill options to fit the gradient to the height or width of the layer. You can specify an offset of 0 to 1 or 0 to -1 to specify how much of the gradient is displayed. For example, an offset of -1 specifies that only the left half of the gradient is displayed. Similarly, an offset of 1 specifies that only the right half of the gradient is displayed.
You can specify that a gradient is transparent, and the degree of its transparency. For example, you could combine a gradient layer of 50% transparency with a solid fill layer. The color of the solid fill layer is visible through the gradient and so modifies its colors.
Pattern
You can apply various styles and colors of pattern to a selected area of a chart.
Select Pattern in the Gradients and Other Options dialog and select a style from the Hatch Style list.
Specify the foreground and background colors. The foreground color specifies the color of, for example, the grid lines in the Large Grid style, or of the dots in the Percent hatch styles.
You can specify the degree of transparency of both the foreground and the background color. For example, the background color would be visible through a transparent foreground. This would modify the color of the foreground. If the background color of the grid were also transparent, it would be modified by the color of any layer beneath it.
Image
You can apply an image to a selected area of a chart.
Select in the Gradients and Other Options dialog.
You can browse to an image file, or select a shared image from the repository.
The Position list has these options for positioning images:
- Keep: The dimensions of the image are not changed. The center of the image is centered in the selected area. If the image is too large for the selected area, the outer areas of the image are not displayed.
- Stretch to: The image is stretched horizontally and vertically to fit the selected area. This option can distort the image.
- Tile: The image is repeated across the selected area. This is suitable for small images. If the image is large enough to fill the selected area, tiling has no effect.
- Best: The entire image is displayed and fitted to the selected area, without distortion.
- Crop to: The edges of the image are cut away as necessary to fit it to the selected area.
You can specify a degree of transparency of the image.