Formatting a Frame and a Background

In this section:

The frame of a chart is the area that contains the plot points. It is also the area in which horizontal and vertical gridlines are drawn.

The background of a chart is the area around the frame.

You can adjust the appearance of the frame and background to achieve different visual effects for your charts. For example, you can change the appearance of the chart frame line, or you can change the color of the background of your chart.


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Frame & Background Dialog Box

Whether you access frame and background options from the ribbon, or the right-click menu, you are presented with the Frame & Background dialog box of options for formatting the frame and background of a chart. The Frame & Background dialog contains the following tabs:

The Frame & Background dialog box and pertinent tabs are discussed in this section for the following types of charts:

Note: The options in the Frame tab vary based on the chart type selected.

Use the Frame tab for 2D charts and 2D charts with 3D effects to set a frame depth angle and depth radius, select a fill for a frame, and set a shadow for a frame for these types of charts. The Frame tab for 2D charts and 2D charts with 3D effects is shown in the following image.

Frame and Background Dialog Box Frame Tab

The Frame tab for 2D charts and 2D charts with 3D effects contains the following options:

Fill

Gradient style

Shadow

Use the Frame Edge tab for 2D charts and 2D charts with 3D effects to set a frame depth angle and depth radius, select a fill for a frame, and set a shadow for a frame for these types of charts. The Frame Edge tab is shown in the following image.

Frame and Background Dialog Box Frame Edge Tab

The Frame tab for 2D charts and 2D charts with 3D effects contains the following options:

Side Frame

Bottom Frame

Use the Frame tab for pie charts to set pie depth and tilt, select a fill and color for a pie frame, and set a shadow for the frame. The Frame tab is shown in the following image.

Pie Chart Frame and Background Dialog Box Frame Tab

The Frame tab for pie charts contains the following options:

Fill

Shadow

Use the Frame Edge tab for pie charts to set the edge of a pie frame. The Frame Edge tab is shown in the following image.

Frame and Background Dialog Box Frame Edge Tab for Pie Chart

The Frame Edge tab for pie charts contains the following options:

Bottom Frame

Use Wall and Floor tabs to set the walls and floor of a 3D chart. The Left Wall tab is shown in the following image.

3D Chart Frame and Background Dialog Box Left Wall Tab

These Wall and Floor tabs contain the following options:

Use the Advanced tab for 3D charts to modify additional properties for 3D frames. The Advanced tab for 3D charts is shown in the following image.

Frame and Background Dialog Box Advanced Tab for 3D Charts

The Advanced tab contains the following options:

Use the Background tab to set and customize a border for a chart. The Background tab is shown in the following image.

Frame and Background Dialog Box Background Tab

The Background tab contains the following options:

Gradient Style

For instructions on how to open this dialog box, see the procedures in Using Frame and Background Properties.


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Frame and Background Right-Click Menu

When you right-click a chart background, a menu of options opens. The options for the background and frame elements are described in the following table.

Element

Option

Description

Background

Background Color

Enables you to specify the color of the background, using the Color dialog box. For instructions, How to Change the Color of the Background.

Show legend

Controls the display of the legend on the background. When selected, it displays the legend. When cleared, it suppresses the display of the legend.

More Frame and Background Options

Opens the Frame & Background dialog box. For more information, see Frame & Background Dialog Box.

Frame

Frame Color

Enables you to specify the color of the frame, using the Color dialog box. For more information, see Color Dialog Box.

Show 3D

Controls the depth of the frame. The value On renders the frame in 3D depth. The value Off renders the frame in one dimension.

For instructions, see How to Set 3D Depth on a Bar Chart.

More Frame and Background Options

Opens the Frame & Background dialog box. For more information, see Frame & Background Dialog Box.



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Using Frame and Background Properties

How to:

The following sections contain procedures for customizing frame and background properties. The options for the following procedures are found in the Features group of the Format tab.



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Procedure: How to Change the Color of the Frame

The default color of the frame in a chart is determined by the Document Theme selected on the Options window. For more information, see Changing User Preferences. The following image shows a chart with the default frame color.

Chart With Default Frame Color

This procedure describes how to change the color of the frame.

  1. Create a chart.
  2. Access the Frame & Background dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Features group, click Frame & Background.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click the chart, and select More Frame & Background Options.

    The Frame & Background dialog box opens.

  3. On the Frame tab, in the Fill area, click the Color icon.

    Note: Solid fill must be selected for the Color icon to appear.

    The Color dialog box opens. Select a new color for the frame. For more information on the Color dialog box, see Color Dialog Box. You can also set the depth angle and depth radius for the frame, as well as set a shadow for the frame.

  4. Click OK.

    The chart displays the new frame color.

    The following image shows the same chart with a new frame color.

    Chart With New Frame Color



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Procedure: How to Change the Color of the Background

The default color of the background of a chart is determined by the Document Theme selected on the Options window. For more information, see Changing User Preferences. The following image shows a chart with the default background color.

Bar Chart With Default Background Color

  1. Create a chart.
  2. Open the Frame & Background dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Features group, click Frame & Background.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click the background of the chart, and select Background Color.

    The Frame & Background dialog box opens.

  3. On the Background tab, in the Fill area, click the Color icon.

    The Color dialog box opens. Select a new color for the background. For more information on the Color dialog box, see Color Dialog Box.

  4. Click OK.

    The chart displays the new background color.

    In the following image, the chart now has a background color.

    Chart With New Background Color


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