Change the look of bars, wedges, and more in Numbers on Mac
A data series is a set of related values in a chart—for example, all the bars of the same color in a bar chart, or a single line in a line chart.
You can emphasize trends in your chart by changing the appearance, position, or spacing of one or more of the data series.
Change colors and shadows in chart elements
You can change the look of a chart by adding colors, textures, shadows, and more. You can change the look of the entire chart, or change individual data series in the chart to differentiate them from other series. For bar charts, for example, you can fill the bars in each series with a different color or a color gradient, apply a different outline (stroke) style, and more. For scatter charts, you can change the symbol that represents each point and add connection lines between the points.
Note: You can’t change the look of a single data point in a series (a single bar in a bar chart, for example). All changes you make apply to every data point in the series.
Click the chart.
In the Format
sidebar, click the Chart tab, then do one of the following:Apply a coordinated color palette to all the data series in the chart: Click a thumbnail at the top of the Chart tab. All the colors in the chart change at once.
Apply colors, images, or textures to all the data series in the chart: Click
, click Colors, Images, or Textures, then click a set of colors to apply it. To preview the colors in your chart, hold the pointer over a color combination.
To change the look of one data series, click one element in a data series (for example, one bar or column, pie wedge, or scatter point), then in the Format
sidebar, click the Style tab. Use the controls in the sidebar to make changes.The changes affect only the selected element or data series. To change another series, click one of its elements, then make changes.
To select multiple series, click a series element, then Command-click an element in another series. To select all series, click a series element, then press Command-A.
Change the spacing in bar and column charts
You can set the amount of space between the columns or bars in a column, stacked column, bar, or stacked bar chart.
Click the chart, then in the Format
sidebar, click the Chart tab.Click the disclosure arrow next to Gaps, then set the amount of space.
Add rounded corners to bar, column, mixed, and two-axis charts
Click the chart to select it, then click Chart in the Format
sidebar.Click the disclosure arrow next to Rounded Corners, then drag the slider or type a specific value.
To round only the two outside corners of each bar or column (those farthest from the axis), select the Outside Corners Only checkbox.
Change the depth of a 3D chart and the shape of series elements
You can change the chart depth, lighting style, bar shape, bevels, and rotation of 3D charts.
Click the 3D chart to select it, then in the Format
sidebar, click the Chart tab.Click the disclosure arrow next to 3D Scene, then use the controls to make adjustments.
Bevel the edges between series or wedges in 3D stacked and pie charts
Change the position of pie chart wedges and donut chart segments
Select the pie or donut chart.
Do one of the following:
Move only certain wedges or segments: Double-click the wedge or segment, or Command-click multiple items, then drag.
Move all wedges in a pie chart: In the Format
sidebar, click the Wedges tab. Click the disclosure arrow next to Wedge Position, then drag the Distance from Center slider to separate the wedges.
You can also move the Rotation Angle control to change the orientation of pie wedges or donut segments. See Rotate a 3D, radar, pie, or donut chart.
Resize the center hole of a donut chart
Click the donut chart to select it.
In the Format
sidebar, click the Segments tab.In the Inner Radius section of the sidebar, drag the slider or type a specific value.
Add or change data symbols in line, scatter, and radar charts
You can change the symbols used to represent data in line, scatter, and radar charts.
Click the chart to select it.
In the Format
sidebar, click the Series tab.Click the pop-up menu below Data Symbols and choose a symbol, or choose None to remove symbols from the chart.
You can also adjust the size of the symbols using the Size field, or leave it blank for automatic sizing.
To change the look of data symbols for only one data series, click one element in a data series (for example, one line or scatter point), click the Style tab in the Format
sidebar, then do any of the following:Change the shape of data symbols: Click the pop-up menu below Data Symbols and choose a symbol, or choose None to remove symbols for this data series.
Change the color of data symbols: Click the pop-up menu below Fill and choose an option. Choose Use Series Stroke Color to revert to presets.
Change the outline of the data symbols: Click the pop-up menus below Stroke, and change the style, color, and weight.
Add a line connecting data symbols: Click the pop-up menu next to Connection Line and choose Straight or Curved. Use the pop-up menus below to change the style, color, and weight of the connecting line.
Add a shadow: Select the Shadow checkbox to add a shadow and adjust its blur distance, offset, opacity, angle, and color.
Change the grid style of radar charts
You can change the shape of the grid on a radar chart and choose whether the series have a fill or stroke.
Click the chart to select it.
In the Format
sidebar, click the Chart tab.Below Radar Chart, do any of the following:
Change the grid shape: Use the options next to Grid Shape to choose whether you want the grid to be straight or curved.
Change the fill and stroke: Use the options next to Style to choose whether you want all series to have a color fill, a stroke along the edge, or both.