How do I control the light/dark variations Excel 2007 color theme?

[RuthMor]

Hello!

I'm converting Excel chart templates from 2003 to 2007. The problem: the
company has 12 distinct colors it uses for its charts. Now, 6 of the 12
colors are lighter versions of the others, BUT none of the automatically
generated lighter colors match.

Is there ANY WAY to control how the lighter color variations in the theme in
2007?

Help!

 

[Billns]

Hello!

I'm converting Excel chart templates from 2003 to 2007. The problem: the
company has 12 distinct colors it uses for its charts. Now, 6 of the 12
colors are lighter versions of the others, BUT none of the automatically
generated lighter colors match.

Is there ANY WAY to control how the lighter color variations in the theme in
2007?

Help!

Have you tried adjusting the brightness and contrast settings of your
monitor?

If that doesn't help, perhaps your company needs to rethink its color
scheme. Do you really need twelve colors?

Bill

 

[RuthMor]

The contrast/brightness doesn't impact the color when it prints... If i
wasn't clear I apologize; I need to be able to control the RGB value of the
lighter color options in the 2007 theme.

And yes, the company really wants 12 color options.

Really.

 

[robert morris]

Don't know if this will help but...... http://www.cosmin.com/
is a beautiful free program which tells you exactly what RGB codes your
computer sees. I have
used it for a couple of years (several times a day). It will tell you if
two colors are the same.

Bob Morris

 

[Billns]

The contrast/brightness doesn't impact the color when it prints... If i
wasn't clear I apologize; I need to be able to control the RGB value of the
lighter color options in the 2007 theme.

And yes, the company really wants 12 color options.

Really.

Ok, then it's a printing problem not a monitor problem.

My HP ink jet printer has sliders on the color tab of the printer
properties dialog box. You can adjust the saturation, brightness, and
color tone there. Perhaps your printer has similar controls.

Have you tried copying and pasting your charts into another program,
such as PowerPoint, to see if the colors come out distinctly when printed?

If your company insists on 12 colors some one in authority should be
able to come up with ones that print distinctly.

Bill

 

[RuthMor]

Let's try again...

In 2007, you pick your base colors (your top line). Excel (or Word or PPT)
will then generate a assortment of lighter options for you (the lower lines).

Is it possible to control and/or influence how Excel (or Word or PPT)
generates the lighter options? For instance, if the MS default is 10% lighter
per increment (and I don't know if it is), and I want it to be 15% lighter
per increment, can I ask and/or program it to be 15% lighter?

Can I get any control on the RGB values of the lighter options in the color
theme?

We print on an assortment of printers (HP, Xerox, Fiery) and that doesn't
figure into it. And this is for the entire company, so individual screen
resolution doesn't figure, either.

(Apologies if I sound as frustrated as I feel... )

Thanks for your help...
~Ruth