Chart Default Colours

[Jamie]

Hi,

Does anyone know if it is possible to change the default
line colours used for a line chart in a PowerPoint
template.

I have found the (Tools > Graph Options) dialog box which
lets me change them for a particular chart but I was
wondering if you could change the default colours for the
whole template.

Any help or ideas would be really appreciated.

many thanks

Jamie

 

[TAJ Simmons]

Jamie,

To the best of my knowledge.... when you insert a new graph, it takes the colors from the current color scheme.

If you change the color scheme before you insert the graph you will see what I mean.

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
free powerpoint templates, tutorials, hints and tips etc
http://www.powerpointbackgrounds.com

 

[Adam Crowley]

In addition to what TAJ said:
When you saw the colours under Tools>Options you'll have seen that the
colour table for charts is split into 3 areas - Standard colours, Chart
fills and Chart lines. Of these only the first 4 colours under Chart fills
are affected by the template colour scheme (they take on the last 4 colours
in the scheme, i.e. those not associated with text). Sadly the standard
colours and lines are only editable on a chart by chart basis.

Jamie,

To the best of my knowledge.... when you insert a new graph, it takes the

colors from the current color scheme.

 

[Echo S]

Actually, the first 4 in the chart fills area = the last four in the color
scheme, but the next 2 in the chart fills = 3 and 4 in the color scheme. The
final 2 in the chart fills are always that steel blue and lavendar, so they
seem to be fixed.

 

[Adam Crowley]

Ah, thanks for that correction.
It's quite annoying that you can't set a default palette.
And if you press the reset button in Tools>Options>Colour it resets to an
even less relevant colour scheme. I'm sure Excel is more flexible.

Actually, the first 4 in the chart fills area = the last four in the color
scheme, but the next 2 in the chart fills = 3 and 4 in the color scheme. The
final 2 in the chart fills are always that steel blue and lavendar, so they
seem to be fixed.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

In addition to what TAJ said:
When you saw the colours under Tools>Options you'll have seen that the
colour table for charts is split into 3 areas - Standard colours, Chart
fills and Chart lines. Of these only the first 4 colours under Chart fills
are affected by the template colour scheme (they take on the last 4 colours
in the scheme, i.e. those not associated with text). Sadly the standard
colours and lines are only editable on a chart by chart basis.

the
colors from the current color scheme. see
what I mean.

 

[Echo S]

I agree, it is annoying.

And yes, in Excel, you can pull a color scheme from another open workbook. I
often set up an Excel workbook with appropriate colors for some of my more
frequently used schemes and call it "masterXYZ.xls" or something to that
effect.

Then, still in Excel, I open a new workbook when I need to make a chart,
also open masterXYZ.xls, and use Tools/Options/Color to "copy colors from"
the masterXYZ file.

You can modify colors and set default charts in Excel the same way you do in
PPT so that the default colors for the default chart type are linked to the
bigger palette instead of to the "slide" color scheme (8 colors).

I just put up a page on how colors work with MS Graph in PPT, if anyone's
interested. http://www.echosvoice.com/colorschemes3.htm

The "reset" button in MS Graph's Tools/Options/Color (within both Excel and
PPT) simply resets the palette to its default state.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

Ah, thanks for that correction.
It's quite annoying that you can't set a default palette.
And if you press the reset button in Tools>Options>Colour it resets to an
even less relevant colour scheme. I'm sure Excel is more flexible.

Actually, the first 4 in the chart fills area = the last four in the color
scheme, but the next 2 in the chart fills = 3 and 4 in the color scheme. The
final 2 in the chart fills are always that steel blue and lavendar, so they
seem to be fixed.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

In addition to what TAJ said:
When you saw the colours under Tools>Options you'll have seen that the
colour table for charts is split into 3 areas - Standard colours, Chart
fills and Chart lines. Of these only the first 4 colours under Chart fills
are affected by the template colour scheme (they take on the last 4 colours
in the scheme, i.e. those not associated with text). Sadly the standard
colours and lines are only editable on a chart by chart basis.

Jamie,

To the best of my knowledge.... when you insert a new graph, it

takes
the

colors from the current color scheme.

If you change the color scheme before you insert the graph you will see
what I mean.

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
free powerpoint templates, tutorials, hints and tips etc
http://www.powerpointbackgrounds.com

Hi,

Does anyone know if it is possible to change the default
line colours used for a line chart in a PowerPoint
template.

I have found the (Tools > Graph Options) dialog box which
lets me change them for a particular chart but I was
wondering if you could change the default colours for the
whole template.

Any help or ideas would be really appreciated.

many thanks

Jamie