Formatting and Transparencies

[tstevens]

I'm trying to format the plot area of a chart and I want to use a gradient where one of the colors is transparent. Is this possible? Everything I can find seems to point to no with XP and yes with MAC. If this is true why does it give you the transparency option in the fill effects window?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Damon Ostrander]

Hi tstevens,

Even though Excel supports gradient fills where one (or both) of the colors is transparent in general (e.g., for shapes), it does not for the plot area. However, to get the same effect you should be able to make the plot area totally transparent and place an appropriately sized and filled rectangle behind it.

Damon

 

[tstevens]

I tried this too but I can't move the shape behind the plot area.

 

[Damon Ostrander]

Hi again tstevens,

You can't put the shape between the Plot Area and the Chart Area, but you can put it behind both by using Send to Back (Draw > Order > Send to Back on the Drawing toolbar). To see the shape through the chart you must then also set the fill color of the Chart area to None.

Unfortunately, when I tried this in Excel 2002, the screen redraw often goes into an infinite loop. But when it does I seem to be able to stop it by resizing the shape. You might want to give it a try and see if it works for you.

Damon

 

[tstevens]

Thanks,
This helps