Format chart elements

You can format individual chart elements, such as the chart area, plot area, data series, axes, titles, data labels, or legend .

1. In a chart, click the chart element that you want to format, or do the following to select the chart element from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click the chart.

      This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

   2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then select the chart element that you want to format.

      

2. On the Format tab, do any of the following:
   • To format any selected chart element, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection, and then select the formatting options that you want.
   • To format the shape of a selected chart element, in the Shape Styles group, click the style that you want, or click Shape Fill, Shape Outline, or Shape Effects, and then select the formatting options that you want.
   • To format the text in a selected chart element by using WordArt, in the WordArt Styles group, click the style that you want, or click Text Fill, Text Outline, or Text Effects, and then select the formatting options that you want.

     Tip To use regular text formatting to format the text in chart elements, you can right-click or select the text, and then click the formatting options that you want on the Mini toolbar. You can also use the formatting buttons on the Ribbon (Home tab, Font group).

See also:

• Change the display of chart axes
• Create a chart