Troubleshoot modifying color fills

The color I selected looks too bright or dark

You can modify the color by increasing or decreasing its tint or shade.

  1. Select the object you want to change.
  2. On the Formatting toolbar, click the arrow next to the Fill Color button ,  click Fill Effects, and then click the Tint tab.
  3. Under Tint/Shade, click the tint or shade you want, and then click OK

I can't fill my text with a pattern, texture, or gradient

Although you can change the color of text and modify it with tinting and shading, you cannot fill it with patterns, textures, or gradients. If you want to create special color effects, use WordArt instead of text.

  1. On the Objects toolbar, click the WordArt button  .
  2. In your publication, drag to create a WordArt frame.
  3. Select the WordArt you want and type your text.
  4. Right-click the WordArt, and then click Format WordArt
  5. In the Format WordArt dialog box, select the options you want.

I can't add a gradient or pattern to my color palette

You're working with a color scheme, which can only contain colors or tints and shades of colors. Though you can't add these effects to the actual color palette, you can fill an object with patterns or gradients created from your scheme colors.

I can't undo color changes I made to my picture

Restore original colors for WordArt, AutoShapes, and drawing objects

Click the Undo button

On the Standard toolbar, click the Undo button until the original fills and borders are restored.

This method works best when your most recent action was to change the object's borders or fill. Otherwise, you might undo other effects you've applied to the object.

Click the arrow next to the Fill button

On the Formatting toolbar, click the arrow next to the Fill Color button , click No Fill, and then reapply the object's original borders or fill.

Restore original colors for clip art or other pictures

  1. Right-click the picture, and then click Format Picture.
  2. In the Format Picture dialog box, click the Picture tab.
  3. Under Image Control, click Recolor.
  4. Click Restore Original Colors, click Apply, and then click OK twice.