Colour gradients in charts

[Ken]

Hello all.

Is it possible to create a colour gradient between two linear boundaries
parallel to X axis, in any of these ways? A single colour ranging from light
to dark or three colours blending from green through amber to red.

Have tried inserting a filled rectangle and also importing an appropriate
image created in a drawing package. These are okay to a degree but can only
be placed in front of the chart covering the data or behind the chart and
out of sight.

What is needed is a means of visually indicating that all is well, or there
is something unusual happening, or that a dangerous condition has developed
when data plots into green, amber or red zones.

All suggestions would be appreciated.

Bayside

 

[Andy Pope]

Hi,

Try a variation on Jon's example.
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/ColoredVerticalBand.html

Cheers
Andy

 

[Del Cotter]

Is it possible to create a colour gradient between two linear boundaries
parallel to X axis, in any of these ways? A single colour ranging from light
to dark or three colours blending from green through amber to red.

Have tried inserting a filled rectangle and also importing an appropriate
image created in a drawing package. These are okay to a degree but can only
be placed in front of the chart covering the data or behind the chart and
out of sight.

You say "behind the chart and out of sight". Did you import the picture
into the plot area?

Format Plot Area.. Fill Effects.. Picture.. Select Picture

That should get you your picture in the plot area of the chart, but
behind the data. If you do...

Format Chart Area.. Fill Effects.. Picture.. Select Picture

....that puts the picture in the background behind the plot area instead.
That's still not fatal if you make the plot area itself transparent, but
putting it in the plot area's better if you want the picture to line up
with actual data.