Use the Eyedropper tool in PowerPoint 2013

 Dec 19, 2014

In PowerPoint 2013, there is a handy feature called the Eyedropper that makes matching colour easy. Not only can you match colours within your presentation but also between other formats, such as a website. It reminds me of the Format Painter tool, but it works a bit differently. The format painter needs to be clicked in or sitting in the source of the formatting you want to duplicate and then requires clicking the paintbrush then dragging it over what you want to “paint” with the formatting you want to match. In the case of the eyedropper, you need to do the opposite of that, which is to select what you want to change the colour of first, usually text and then in the drop-down colour gallery, click on the Eyedropper and then hover over the desired colour. Click the shade you want and it matches it. You can use it for anything that you want to match colours of such as fill, outline, glow, and text colour. Using Eyedropper to match colours To match the fill colour of a shape to a specific colour from a picture:
  1. On your PowerPoint slide, select a shape that you want to colour match.
  2. On the Ribbon, click Drawing Tools.
  3. Click Format, then click the Shape Fill colour gallery drop-down.
  4. Click Eyedropper, then move the mouse over the picture and watch the colour in the preview window beside the Eyedropper cursor.
  5. Click when you see the desired colour in the preview window to apply it to the shape fill colour.

The Eyedropper is included on any dropdown menu that you use to pick a colour. Use the Eyedropper tool in PowerPoint 2013Matching the colours of objects on your slide is really useful, but what if you need to match a colour on your slide with something in a format external to PowerPoint? Perhaps the colour of a logo on your company’s website or the colour of a picture in Word?

Before you start, you should make the PowerPoint window smaller so that you can move easily outside that window to where the desired colour is in a document or website immediately behind your PowerPoint. Once you've set this up, follow the steps below:
  1. In PowerPoint, select the object or text you want to colour match, then click the drop-down menu for the colour you wish to set (e.g. fill colour, outline, glow, text colour). Choose the Eyedropper.
  2. Left-click within the slide and drag your mouse and you will be able to move the Eyedropper cursor outside of the PowerPoint window, allowing you access to any colour you see on screen.
  3. Release the mouse when you have found your desired colour to apply that colour.

In just a few clicks, you can now ensure that all of your content uses a consistent colour scheme. Use the Eyedropper tool in PowerPoint 2013

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About the Author:

Liz French  

With over 7 years of experience as a trainer, and an extensive skill set that spans across the entire Microsoft Office suite of applications, Liz brings an incredible amount of knowledge, expertise and care to each course she delivers. Having worked as a tutor in the education sector for many years prior to her career at New Horizons, Liz has gained an extensive amount of experience in providing training to individuals and groups of varying skill levels. As a certified Microsoft Office Master, Liz is a highly capable trainer who possesses the ability to connect with students of all levels and backgrounds in order to help improve their skills across a wide range of common Desktop Applications.

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