SmartDraw Flowchart Tutorial

HOW TO DRAW FLOWCHARTS (cont'd)

Changing the Appearance of Your Shapes
By default, flowchart shapes will appear to be a light blue. This is probably sufficient for most presentations and reports, but you can also change this color by using the commands available on the Home Tab.

Using Themes
It's never been easier to look like a graphic genius with SmartDraw. SmartDraw 2008 comes with professionally-designed themes that help you avoid embarrassing color combinations. Simply pick a theme and your drawing gets a one-click makeover. You can also continue to modify your drawing using the theme's harmonizing palette of colors and styles. Just think of these themes as your quick and easy recipes for graphical success.

You can change your theme by clicking on any of the themes available in the Themes group on the Home Tab.

Changing Quick Styles
A theme is more than just a single color. Even the default theme has more than just a light blue color available to choose from. Without changing the theme, you can modify a shape's individual style, using the Quick Style command on the Shape Style group.

Changing a Shape's Fill Color
If you don't like any of the styles or themes available, you can also change the fill color of a shape to anything you want, unrestricted by themes. Simply select it, click on the Fill command under the Shape Style group, and choose a color from the drop down list that appears.

You can choose a color from SmartDraw's default palette, set your fill to be transparent, or click on More Colors to choose from any of the 16 million colors supported by Windows.

You can also choose a gradient as your fill color by clicking on Gradient Fill. You'll be able to choose from hundreds of professionally designed color combinations or you can create your own gradient.

Once a color is set, it will become the default fill color of any new shape added to the drawing afterward.

Shading and Textures
To fill your shape with a pattern, go back to the Fill command under the Shape Style group. You can even choose from a variety of photographic texture patterns as your fill.

Continue reading to learn about changing the appearance of your flowchart shapes