Gradient Outlines
Author: Geetesh Bajaj
Product/Version: Microsoft PowerPoint 2007
OS: Microsoft Windows XP / Vista
Date Created: February 5th 2009
Last Updated: February 26th 2009
Excerpt/Capsule:
I have already showed you the different outline attributes in PowerPoint 2007. In this tutorial, the outline options series will conclude with this article on gradient lines. Gradient lines are a new feature in PowerPoint 2007. Figure 1 shows you some sample gradient lines.
Figure 1: Sample gradient lines
To see a sample presentation containing gradient lines in PowerPoint, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
Follow these steps to get started:
- Select the line shape that you want to apply a gradient line to. Alternatively, if you just want to follow this tutorial step-by-step, launch PowerPoint. Most of the time, PowerPoint will open with a new slide in a presentation -- PowerPoint 2007 users can change the slide layout to Blank by selecting Home tab | Layout | Blank.
- Under the Home or Insert tab of the Ribbon, choose the Shapes button to view the Shape gallery that you can see in Figure 2. Select the rectangle (or any other shape), and then either drag and draw, or click once on the blank slide to place an instance of the shape.
Figure 2: Shape gallery
- To make the gradient line stand out, change the weight of the line to anything higher than 10 pt. -- 20 pt. is even better!
- Right click the shape, which opens the context menu shown in Figure 3. Choose Format Shape...
Figure 3: Format Shape
- This opens the Format Shape dialog box, as shown in Figure 4. In the Format Shape dialog box, on the Line Color tab, click the radio button next to Gradient Line if it is not already selected.
Figure 4: Gradient Line
The options in this dialog box are explained below:
- Preset Colors: Clicking the downward pointing arrow next to this option brings up several ready to use default gradients (see Figure 5). These can be either applied straightaway, or used as a base to edit and create your own gradients using the other options available in this dialog box.
Figure 5: Preset colors
Figure 6 below shows some shapes that have their outlines applied with a preset gradient.
Figure 6: Lines applied with preset gradients
- Type: There are four gradient types available -- these are Linear, Radial, Rectangular, and Path (see Figure 7).
Figure 7: Gradient Type dropdown list
Linear gradient types are either horizontal of vertical gradients although they can be diagonal to any degree -- use the Angle option explained later on this page to change the degree. Figure 7 shows some samples of the same linear gradient outlines rotated to different angle values. I normally don't use gradients that are so gaudy -- but since our previews are so small, I though this sort of gradient will bring out the differences in gradient types well!
Figure 8: Shapes with linear gradients outlines rotated to different angle values
Radial gradient types start with one color from a center position, and then merge into other colors towards the edge of the shape they fill. You can change the position of the center from which the gradient radiates to either the center, or any of the four corners as you can see in Figure 9. If your radial gradient has many stops with contrasting colors, the gradient might end up looking like concentric lines rather than smooth gradients -- that's exactly what has happened in Figure 9 -- but use a simpler two color gradient, and you'll see more subtle results.
Figure 9: Shapes with radial gradient outlines centered from different positions
Rectangular gradient types are the same as radial gradients in all ways, but they spread out from a center position in a rectangular (or square) form rather than a circular form. Compare Figure 9 above with Figure 10 below and you'll understand what I am explaining! Again, you can change the position of the center from which the gradient merges to either the center, or any of the four corners as you can see in Figure 10.
Figure 10: Shapes with rectangular gradient outlines centered from different positions
Path gradient types again are similar to radial or rectangular gradient types -- but they follow a path -- so a circular shape shows a circular gradient, a curved arrow shows a curved gradient, and so forth -- see Figure 11. Not surprisingly, a path gradient or a radial gradient within a circle may look the same, as you can see in the bottom-left shape in Figure 11 below.
Figure 11: Shapes with path gradient out lines
- Direction: With this option, you can set the direction of the applied gradient to any of the available directions (see Figure 12).
Linear gradients provide 8 directions (see Figure 12), radial and rectangular gradients provide 5 directions, and path gradients provide no direction editing options.
Figure 12: Direction options
- Angle: Sets the angle of the gradient -- this option is only available for linear gradients.
- Gradient Stops: This option provides you with a comprehensive gradient editor, almost as capable as a mini-application within PowerPoint -- a separate article is available on Gradient Editing with Stops.
- Preset Colors: Clicking the downward pointing arrow next to this option brings up several ready to use default gradients (see Figure 5). These can be either applied straightaway, or used as a base to edit and create your own gradients using the other options available in this dialog box.
Tip: If you use a gradient line on a shape that has no fill, you will attain a simple look that will make the actual shape area transparent thus resting the entire focus to the gradient line. To change the fill of a shape to none, look at our Fills for PowerPoint 2007 tutorial.
Related Link: My book Cutting Edge PowerPoint 2007 For Dummies covers many aspects of PowerPoint 2007. A free chapter excerpt PowerPointing with the Best of Them is available on this site.
Sample Presentation
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