In the Format AutoShape dialog box, you can change the color, pattern, outline, size, and other options.
Change the shape’s fill and outline (Colors and Lines tab)
To fill your shape with a solid color, click the color that you want.
Choose a fill
Color Click the color that you want, click No fill to make the shape the same color as the page background, or click More colors to create a custom color.
Fill Effects Choose between a gradient that blends from one shade to another, a texture, a pattern, or a picture.
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Gradient Click the Gradient tab to add a continuum of shades or colors.
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Under Colors, click One color, Two colors, or Preset, and then click the colors or preset color combinations that you want from the list that appears.
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Under Transparency, move the sliders to set transparency levels for each end of the gradient.
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Under Shading styles, click the direction you want your gradient to flow.
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Under Variants, click the version of the shading style that you want. You can see what it looks like in the Sample box
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Select the Rotate with shape check box to retain the orientation of the gradient to the shape if you rotate the shape.
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Texture Click the texture that you want, or click Other Texture to choose one of your own pictures.
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Pattern Click the pattern that you want to use. In the Foreground list, click the color that you want to use for the pattern. In the Background list, click the background color you want. You can see a preview of the colors in the Sample box.
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Picture Click Select Picture, browse to the picture you want to use, and then click Insert.
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To ensure that the picture maintain its proportions when you resize the shape, select the Lock picture aspect ratio check box.
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To retain the orientation of the picture to the shape if you rotate the shape, select the Rotate with shape check box.
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Transparency If you want to be able to see through your shape, you can use the slider or enter a percentage to set the transparency level.
Change the outline color and style
Line color Under Line, click the Color list, and then click the color you want.
Dashed lines To use a dashed line for your shape outline, click the Dashed list and then click the line type you want.
Style Click the Style list and then click the line style and line weight that you want.
Weight To adjust the line width of the style that you chose, enter a new value in the Weight box.
Special options for arrow shapes
If your AutoShape is an arrow, you can set the beginning style for the arrow and the ending style. Depending on the styles that you select, you can also change the size for the beginning and the end of the arrow.
Change the size (Size tab)
Click the Size tab to set sizing options. You can set a specific (absolute) measurement, or you can set the measurement as a percentage of the document page or margin.
On the Size tab, you can also set the shape’s rotation and scale.
Height and Width In the Height and Width areas, enter a size or use the up and down arrows to adjust till you get the desired value.
Rotate In the Rotation box, enter the number of degrees to rotate the AutoShape in a clockwise direction. For example, entering 90 degrees rotates the shape a quarter turn clockwise.
Scale Change the height or width by a percentage. To change both at the same time, select the Lock aspect ratio check box. Select the Relative to original picture size check box to make changes based on the original dimensions. If the Relative to original size check box is not available, click Reset.
Note: When you click Reset, the shape takes on its original size, which might not be the same size that it was when you inserted it in your document.
Change the object positioning (Properties tab)
Do not size with chart Select this option if you do not want to make the AutoShape stay with the chart when the chart moves.
