How to Find RGB Colors and Change Page Color in Word 365
Question details
The user wants to find specific RGB color values and change the page background color in a document.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Applying precise brand colors or custom backgrounds to a Word document using exact color codes.
- Observed behavior
- Word 365 does not have a built-in eyedropper tool, requiring users to manually input RGB or Hex values to change the default white page background to a custom color.
Ensure you have the exact RGB or Hexadecimal color codes ready before starting, as Microsoft Word does not feature a built-in eyedropper tool for text and backgrounds.
Change Page Color Using Custom RGB Values
Use the Design tab to apply a custom background color to your document by manually entering precise RGB or Hex codes.
Although Microsoft Word lacks an eyedropper tool, it allows users to specify precise colors using the Custom Colors dialog box. This is particularly useful for applying accurate brand guidelines or specific visual styles to your document.
Open your document in Microsoft Word 365 and click on the 'Design' tab located on the top ribbon.
Look for the 'Page Background' group on the far right of the ribbon and click on 'Page Color'.
From the drop-down menu, select 'More Colors...' to open the Colors dialog box.
Switch to the 'Custom' tab. Ensure the Color model is set to 'RGB', then type in your specific Red, Green, and Blue values (or paste a Hex code at the bottom).
Click 'OK' to instantly apply the new custom background color to your entire document.
Use PowerPoint's Eyedropper to Identify RGB Colors
Since Word lacks a native eyedropper tool, you can use Microsoft PowerPoint as a quick workaround to sample colors from an image and find their exact RGB values.
Customize Page Colors Easily with WPS Writer
WPS Office offers a fully compatible, lightweight, and intuitive interface for customizing document layouts. You can easily apply precise RGB background colors, use built-in design features, and achieve professional formatting for free.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to edit.
- 2. Go to Page Layout: Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab on the top ribbon menu.
- 3. Select Page Color: Click on the 'Page Color' icon and choose 'More Colors...' from the drop-down menu.
- 4. Input Custom RGB: Switch to the 'Custom' tab in the dialog box, enter your specific RGB or Hex values, and click 'OK' to apply the background color.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't Microsoft Word have an eyedropper tool?
Microsoft Word focuses primarily on text processing and currently does not include an eyedropper tool for sampling colors directly from images. As a workaround, users often use the built-in eyedropper in PowerPoint to find RGB or Hex values and manually enter them into Word.
Is the default Word page background color the same as No Fill?
No. The default plain page background in Word is white, represented by RGB 255, 255, 255 or the hex code #FFFFFF. 'No Fill' makes an element completely transparent. While both look identical on a blank page, the difference becomes obvious when layering objects, text boxes, or shapes over an image.
Will my custom page background color print by default?
No. By default, Microsoft Word prevents background colors from printing to save printer ink. If you want the custom page color to appear on printed documents, you must enable it by navigating to File > Options > Display, and checking the box for 'Print background colors and images'.
