In a chart, the Plot Area is the layer placed between the
Chart Area and other
chart elements such as Data Series and Gridlines. This layer
typically also has the axes on its perimeter. Look at Figure 1 below, where we have colored the Plot Area grey, so
as to highlight it.
Figure 1: Plot Area
Typically the Plot Area looks as if it is merged into the
Chart Area because it is often transparent, and you can see the
Chart Area through it (as shown in Figure 2 opposed to what you see in Figure 1). So, you may not be able to
distinguish it from the Chart Area. This default status works well. However, you can format the Plot Area separately to highlight it. You can change
its appearance by applying fills, borders, and effects with just a few clicks in
PowerPoint 2013. Follow these steps to explore more:
- Select the chart that you want to format the Plot Area for. If you don't have an existing chart,
insert a new chart in your slide.
- Now, carefully right-click the Plot Area to bring up a contextual menu as shown in Figure 2. In this contextual menu, select the
Format Plot Area option (refer to Figure 2 again). If you do not get the Format Plot Area option
in the contextual menu, you may have right-clicked on another chart element, make sure you then deselect anything in the chart, and then right-click
on the edge of the Plot Area.
Figure 2: Format Plot Area option
- This opens the Format Plot Area
Task Pane, as shown in Figure 3. In this
Task Pane, you'll find two tabs that provide you with all formatting options for the Plot Area:
- Fill & Line
- Effects
Select the Fill & Line tab, highlighted in red within Figure 3.
Figure 3: Fill & Line tab within the Format Plot Area task pane
Options within the Fill & Line tab are mainly divided into two sections, Fill and Border.
Options within the Fill section are used to apply (and edit) a fill type to the Plot Area, whereas the options within the
Border section are used to apply (and edit) a border to the Plot area.
To know more about these options, refer to our
Fill and Line options for the Chart Area in
PowerPoint 2013 tutorial. Even though the linked tutorial explains these options for the Chart Area, they work similarly with the Plot Area as
well.
- Select the Effects tab, highlighted in red within Figure 4.
Figure 4: Effects tab within the Format Plot Area task pane
There are four options within the Effects tab, Shadow, Glow, Soft Edges, and
3-D Format. To learn about how to use these options, refer to our
Effect Options for the Chart Area in PowerPoint 2013
tutorial. Once again, even though the linked tutorial explains these options for the Chart Area, they work in the same way for the Plot Area.
- Select the required options and format the Plot Area as required. In Figure 5, you can see that the Plot Area of our sample
chart is filled with a gradient and also applied with a shadow (compare with partially visible chart in Figure 2).
Figure 5: Plot Area with changed appearance
- Save your presentation often.
See Also:
Plot Area for Charts in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac
