Color Schemes and Color Palettes

[durstbj]

Alright here is a quick question...
I have customized the top two rows of my color palette for my PPT
template. I have also customized my color schemes. Here is the
problem:

Whenever I insert a chart in PPT the color palette in the chart doesn't
reflect the one that is in the template... That is, it replaces the top
two rows with the default MS colors... Does anyone know why/how stop it
from doing this?

FYI: I know how to change the colors after the chart is created, but I
really don't want to have to do this every single time I insert one
from PPT.

Thanks in advance!

Branden

 

[TAJ Simmons]

Branden,

Start here to learn all about color schemes

http://www.echosvoice.com/colorschemes.htm

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

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

 

[durstbj]

I've already read that and it didn't really answer my question... Any
other suggestions?

 

[Echo S]

I've already read that and it didn't really answer my question... Any
other suggestions?

See this specific page:
http://www.echosvoice.com/colorschemes3.htm

Alright here is a quick question... Using PPT 2003 Pro, XP Pro
I have customized the top two rows of my color palette for my PPT
template. I have also customized my color schemes. Here is the
problem:

"Customized the top two rows of my color palette," could mean a whole lot of
different things, especially when you've said you have also customized your
color schemes.

If you're on a slide (not in a chart) and select an autoshape (say an oval)
and click on the Fill Bucket icon, the top row of colors on that dialog box
will come directly from the color scheme assigned to the slide. The
lowermost row will come from the last colors you selected by clicking "more
fills."

Whenever I insert a chart in PPT the color palette in the chart
doesn't reflect the one that is in the template... That is, it
replaces the top two rows with the default MS colors... Does anyone
know why/how stop it from doing this?

If you insert a chart, the topmost of the bottom two rows in the color
palette will pull their colors as described in the link above, which is
about PPT color schemes and charts. With the chart open, go to
Tools/Options/Color, and you'll see the standard chart palette labeled
Standard Colors. This resets itself to those default Standard Colors with
each new slide. You'll also see 8 swatches labeled "chart fills." 6 of these
come directly from your slide color scheme. The last 2 are standard MS
blues. The 8 swatches under "chart lines" are what I call the "MS Brights,"
and they're also standard and will reset themselves on each new slide, just
as the Standard Colors do.

If you modify the standard palette in a chart and assign the data series to
those swatches instead of the ones they default to (which are the 6 swatches
based on your color scheme), then you will have to create a user-defined
chart and set that as your default chart, or you'll need to copy the
existing chart (or entire slide) and change the data as necessary to create
new charts.

 

[durstbj]

Echo
Thanks for the feedback... I tried the user-defined chart option, but
that didn't seem to work... When I say the top two rows, what I mean
are the top two rows of swatches from the standard colors (the group of
40). I understand the dynamics of the bottom two rows (the first being
related to the color scheme, and the second being dynamic). It is the
top two rows of swatches from the "standard colors" that I want to
remain the same for all charts I insert. Do you have any suggestions?

 

[durstbj]

Here are the steps I used when I did the "user-defined chart option"

1) Inserted, selected, and opened new chart (in my case its a pie
chart)
2) Tools -> Options -> Colors
3) Replaced the top two rows of swatches from the Standard Colors
(group of 40 swatches)
4) Selected the first data series and had the fill color correspond
with swatch 1 (from the standard colors that I had just changed)
5) Selected the second data series and had the fill color correspond
with swatch 2 in the same manner as above (repeated same for the third
and fourth data series).
6) Selected Chart Type
7) Clicked Custom Types tab and clicked in the User-defined radio
button... then clicked the "Add..." button
8) Named the chart "test" clicked OK
9) Clicked "Set as default chart" button
10) When prompted if I was sure I clicked OK

I then inserted a new chart. The result? It kept the swatch positions
(1 through 4), but not the colors I had defined.

 

[Echo S]

I'm so sorry. When I posted this:

If you modify the standard palette in a chart and assign the data series to
those swatches instead of the ones they default to (which are the 6 swatches
based on your color scheme), then you will have to create a user-defined
chart and set that as your default chart, or you'll need to copy the
existing chart (or entire slide) and change the data as necessary to create
new charts.

I was wrong. You cannot modify the standard palette and have those modified
colors show up in a new slide, even if you've set it as a user-defined and
default chart. The standard palette always resets with a new slide. I will
make that more clear on the Graph+Color Scheme pages on my site. After
seeing your description of the steps you're taking, I understand why it
wasn't answering your question.

I blew it, durstbj. I apologize for leading you on a wild goose chase!
You'll have to copy the existing chart or slide and change the data. And
yeah, I know it sucks.

 

[durstbj]

No problem, so let me ask this question... If we now know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that the standard color swatches will reset, then
should we make the same assumption about the user-defined swatches (the
bottom to rows) as well? What I mean is, do you know of anyway I can
keep my colors embedded so that when I open up a new chart they will
stay? The problem is I won't be the only one using this template and
so I need to see if there is any possible solution... What if I replace
the bottom to rows of swatches? Do you know if they will stay put?
Here is the other aggrevating thing, I have already defined my color
palette in the rest of my template... in other words, my fill, font,
and line color tools already have my color pallete... its so bizzare
that this isn't working for the charts (FYI, my color palette is in the
default template for Excel too!)!!!

 

[Echo S]

No problem, so let me ask this question... If we now know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that the standard color swatches will reset, then
should we make the same assumption about the user-defined swatches
(the bottom to rows) as well? What I mean is, do you know of anyway
I can keep my colors embedded so that when I open up a new chart they
will stay? The problem is I won't be the only one using this
template and so I need to see if there is any possible solution...
What if I replace the bottom to rows of swatches? Do you know if
they will stay put? Here is the other aggrevating thing, I have
already defined my color palette in the rest of my template... in
other words, my fill, font, and line color tools already have my
color pallete... its so bizzare that this isn't working for the
charts (FYI, my color palette is in the default template for Excel
too!)!!!

The bottom two rows really aren't user-defined, though.

The top row of the bottom two swatch rows is based on your slide color
scheme, so it is user-defined, but it's tied to the slide color scheme.
These swatches will change if you change the color scheme on the slide. I
believe the last two swatches in that row (the ones I refer to as "the
blues") I *think* will reset to blue with each new chart. Not positive about
that off the top of my head.

The bottom row (of the bottom two rows) in the chart color palette is what I
refer to as "the MS brights" on my site, and these swatches will also always
reset to the brights when you create a new chart.

ISTR you're using PPT 2002 or 2003. If your users are using one of these
versions as well, you could create a special master for charts and apply a
specific color scheme to that master so the charts will pull from that color
scheme. Because this relies on the multiple masters feature, your users
would need to be using 2002/2003 also. Or you could provide an alternative
color scheme for one master and teach the users to apply a different color
scheme to chart slides. This would work for PPT 2000/97 users.

 

[durstbj]

Thanks Echo... Ive played around a little bit more with it and you are
right about the automatic reset. Doesn't seem like there is anything I
can do unless I'm willing to call MS and ask them to help me recode the
standard color palette. Thanks for all your input though!

 

[Echo S]

Thanks Echo... Ive played around a little bit more with it and you are
right about the automatic reset. Doesn't seem like there is anything I
can do unless I'm willing to call MS and ask them to help me recode the
standard color palette. Thanks for all your input though!

Sure wish I had a better answer for you!
Here's hoping for future versions....