Format Text Effects (3-D Format pane) - PowerPoint

Use these options to customize WordArt and text in your Microsoft Office system document.

Notes:

When you change options in this dialog box, the changes are immediately applied to your WordArt or text, making it easy to see the effects of the changes in your WordArt or text without closing the dialog box. However, since the changes are instantly applied, it is not possible to click Cancel in this dialog box. To remove the changes, you must click Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar for each change that you want to remove.
You can simultaneously undo multiple changes that you made to one dialog box option, as long as you did not make changes to another dialog box option in between.
You may want to move the dialog box so that you can see both the WordArt or text and the dialog box at the same time.

Bevel

A bevel is a three-dimensional edge effect that is applied to the top or bottom border of a WordArt or text. This gives the appearance that the edge is raised and highlights the edges of the WordArt.

Top To apply a raised edge to the top of a WordArt, click Top ,and then click the option that you want. When you choose a Top or Bottom edge type, the corresponding width and height numbers will automatically change unless you customize them.Width To specify the width of the top edge, enter a number in the box. Height To specify the height of the top edge, enter a number in the box.

Bottom To apply a raised edge to the bottom of a WordArt, click Bottom , and then click the option that you want. When you choose a Top or Bottom edge type, the corresponding width and height numbers will automatically change too unless you customize them.Width To specify the width of the bottom edge, enter a number in the box. Height To specify the height of the bottom edge, enter a number in the box.

Depth

The distance of text or a WordArt from its surface.

Color To choose a color for the depth, click Color , and then click the color that you want. To change to a color that isn't in the theme colors, click More Colors, and then either click the color that you want on the Standard tab, or mix your own color on the Custom tab. Custom colors and colors on the Standard tab are not updated if you later change the document theme .

Depth To specify the depth, enter a number in the box.

Contours

A contour is a raised border applied to a WordArt or text.

Color To choose a color for the contour, click Color , and then click the color that you want. To change to a color that isn't in the theme colors, click More Colors, and then either click the color that you want on the Standard tab, or mix your own color on the Custom tab. Custom colors and colors on the Standard tab are not updated if you later change the document theme .

Size To specify the width of the contour, enter a number in the box.

Surface

Use the Material choices to change the appearance of a WordArt by changing the specular highlight. Specular highlights make objects look more shiny or less shiny.

Material Material can be used to make objects look dull, plastic, metallic, or translucent. To describe the way light interacts with the object's surface, click this button, and then select the option that you want.

Below is a brief description of the available Material choices:

Standard

Matte No specular highlights, which results in a fairly "flat" look. Warm Matte Some specular highlight, which gives the surface of the WordArt a softer look than plastic. Plastic Crisp, white specular highlights that give a shiny, plastic appearance to the surface of the WordArt. Metal Specular highlights match some of the material's base color so that the look of the WordArt is shiny and highly reflective.

Special Effect

Dark Edge Similar to plastic because white specular highlights give a shiny appearance to the surface appearance of the WordArt, but with dark edges that more crisply define the WordArt against a light background. Soft Edge White specular highlights with edges that become slightly transparent, making the WordArt look very integrated into a scene or group of objects. When this look is applied to the surface of a WordArt, the edges of the WordArt appear to reflect some of the background color. Flat Solid color with white specular highlights compose this look. Shading based on the light direction or intensity is not done, so the specular highlights define the WordArt. This option is designed specifically to work well with the Flat Lighting option. Wireframe No highlights or fill effects. Only the wireframe or outline of the WordArt is shown.

Translucent

Powder Large specular highlights that give a very soft pastel look to the surface of a WordArt. Translucent Powder Similar to Powder, but this surface look is transparent with soft or gradually fading edges. Clear Transparent with crisp, white highlights and dark edges that result in a hard, shiny appearance, similar to glass.

Lighting Each Lighting type defines a rig of one or more lights that are used to illuminate a 3-D scene. This is also known as scene coherent 3-D . Each light in a rig has a position, intensity, and color. Most Lighting types also have an ambient light, which is directionless illumination evenly applied to all WordArt surfaces. All objects in a 3-D scene share the same lighting rig, so when you change the Lighting type, you are changing the lighting for the entire 3-D scene (not just for the selected WordArt).

To pick a Lighting type, click Lighting, and then select the option that you want.

Below is a brief description of the available Lighting choices:

Neutral

Three Point The classic key, fill, and back light trio of lights. This is a good general purpose choice, unless you know that you need something different. Point lights have a color and position within a scene, but no single direction. They give off light equally in all directions. Balance A version of the Three Point light rig, but with less contrast. Soft A simple light rig with only a single light. Harsh A two light rig that creates stronger highlights and light and dark regions. Flood A three light rig that puts very bright light onto the edges of the objects. Contrasting A light rig that eliminates all of the shading across the surface and provides a couple of specular highlights. It makes any material appear to be Flat.

Warm

Morning, Sunrise, Sunset A trio of warm colored light rigs that give a warm, orange tint to whatever they light. The intensity of the coloration increases as you move from the Morning option to the Sunset option.

Cool

Chilly, Freezing Two light rig choices that provide a cold, bluish light and are on the other side of the spectrum from the Morning, Sunrise, or Sunset options.

Special

Flat Designed specifically to work well with the Flat Material option, this is a three point light rig that creates nice specular highlights to define the WordArt. Two Point This is a good general purpose rig with two lights. Typically, the lights are positioned so that the WordArt is lit from two different directions, emphasizing the borders or contour of the WordArt. Glow A light rig that fully illuminates the front of the WordArt and deliberately over-brightens the sides of the WordArt to give the illusion that the WordArt is glowing. Bright Room A light rig that provides an even more extreme version of the Glow light rig.

Angle Rotates all of the lights for the current Lighting types around the front face of a WordArt. If your Lighting types have a strong primary or key light, this allows you to control which side of a 3-D scene receives the brightest illumination.

To specify an angle for the lighting, enter a number in the list.

Reset To remove 3-D formatting and restore the default settings, click this button.