How to Format a Chart Fill in Excel

1. Start Microsoft Excel 2007 and open a workbook from your files that contains a chart to which you would like to format one of the fills. You can alternatively create a new chart from data in an existing workbook.
2. Select the item in the chart you would like to apply a fill to by clicking on it. When the item is selected, it will be surrounded by white round sizing handles.
3. Right-click on the selected item, and click on 'Format (Item Selected).' The name in parenthesis will be of the item you selected to fill.
4. Choose 'Fill' from the list of format categories on the left side of the 'Format' dialog box. The settings for the fill attribute will be displayed on the right side of the dialog box.
5. Click on a radio button to add a 'Solid fill,' 'Gradient fill' or 'Picture or texture fill,' depending on what type of fill you would like to add to the selected object. Once you have made your choice, more settings will be displayed at the bottom of the 'Format' dialog box.
6. Set the settings that you want to apply to your fill using the options that have appeared. The solid fill will ask you to specify the color and transparency of fill. The gradient fill will want to know the type of gradient, angle, stop positions and transparency. If you have chosen a picture or texture fill you will specify the type of texture or picture, stretch options and transparency.
7. Use the 'Close' button when you are finished setting your options. The 'Format' dialog box will close and you will return to your chart with your newly filled item.