You can fill shapes, tables, table cells, chart elements, or slide backgrounds with colors that blend into each other, called color gradients.

To create color gradients in an object fill, use the options the Graphic inspector. The basic Gradient Fill options provide the easiest way to blend two colors in a straight line. The Advanced Gradient Fill options allow you to blend multiple colors in your gradient and to create a circular (radial) gradient.

To open the Graphic inspector:

Click Inspector in the toolbar, and then click the Graphic Inspector button.

To fill an object with a linear, two-color gradient:

  1. In the Graphic inspector, choose Gradient Fill from the Fill pop-up menu.

  2. Click each color well and choose the colors you want to blend together in the Colors window.

    To learn more about using the Colors window, see The Colors Window.

  3. To set a direction for the gradient, use the Angle wheel or field.

  4. To flip it horizontally or vertically, click the Angle arrow buttons.

  5. To invert the gradient, click the double-headed arrow next to the color wells.

To fill an object with a multi-color gradient:

  1. In the Graphic inspector, choose Advanced Gradient Fill from the Fill pop-up menu.

  2. To add another color to the gradient, hold the pointer at the point just below the gradient strip in the inspector where you want the new color to begin. When a plus (+) sign appears, click to add a new color control. Add a new color control for each color you want to appear in your gradient.

  3. To change a color in the gradient, click a color control (just under the gradient strip), and then select a color from the Colors window. Do this for each of the colors you want to appear in your gradient.

  4. If you want to remove a color control, drag it downward and away from the inspector. It vanishes.

    You can’t have fewer than two color controls under the gradient strip.

  5. To change how sharply or subtly the colors blend along the gradient, drag the blend point controls (on top of the gradient strip in the inspector).

  6. To change the direction of a linear gradient, use the Angle wheel or field.

  7. To invert the gradient, click the double-headed arrow next to the color wells.

To create a radial gradient:

  1. Set up the colors of your gradient, as described in the directions for creating a multicolor gradient, above.

  2. Click the radial gradient button at the bottom of the Inspector window.

  3. Adjust the look of a radial gradient by doing any of the following:

    • To recenter the gradient in the object, drag the small, blue, circular blend point control (in the center of the gradient within your object), to where you want the center to be.

    • To change how sharply or subtly the colors blend along the gradient, drag the circular blend point control, outside of your object, closer or farther from the gradient’s center.

      Experiment with the circular blend point controls attached to your object and the blend point controls above the gradient strip in the Graphic inspector, dragging them until you create the look you want.

  4. To invert the gradient, click the double-headed arrow next to the color wells.

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