Adding arrows to your Google Slides presentations can help direct your audience’s attention and illustrate relationships between elements. While Google Slides provides default arrow colors based on your presentation’s theme, you may want to customize them to match your brand, emphasize key points, or just make them stand out more.
Changing arrow colors in Google Slides only takes a few simple steps. This guide will walk you through the process of altering arrow colors using both preset and custom options. We’ll also cover tips for copying color formats to maintain consistency and using arrow colors effectively.
Select the Arrow(s) to Change
The first step is choosing the arrow(s) whose color you want to modify:
- Click directly on the arrow shape to select an individual arrow. A border will appear around the selected shape.
- To choose multiple arrows, hold down the Ctrl key (Cmd on Mac) and click each one.
- You can also click and drag to select multiple arrows at once.
Once you’ve made your selection, you’re ready to pick a new arrow color.
Choose a Preset or Custom Color
With the arrows selected, click the “Fill Color” icon in the toolbar to open the color options:
- Preset colors: Select one of the theme colors in the grid to quickly match your presentation’s style.
- Custom colors: Click the “+” to open a color picker and choose any hue. You can also enter specific RGB or hex codes.
The selected arrows will update to display the chosen color.
Copy Color Formats Easily
Maintaining consistent arrow colors across your presentation is easy with Google Slides. After formatting an arrow:
- Click it to select it.
- Press Ctrl+C (Cmd+C on Mac) to copy the color format.
- Select another arrow and press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac) to paste the fill color.
This will instantly match the color without having to reopen the color picker.
Use Arrow Colors Strategically
Arrow colors can highlight relationships, guide your audience through steps, and draw attention to key elements. Here are some tips for using them effectively:
Match colors to themes
Selecting a complementary preset color from the theme palette creates cohesion.
Use bright colors to emphasize
Vibrant fills make particular arrows stand out from the rest.
Color code arrow types
Use different hues to differentiate arrow groups by function or category.
Maintain consistency
Keep colors uniform for arrows that serve the same purpose across slides.
With the ability to easily alter colors, you can leverage arrows in Google Slides as both functional and visual elements. This flexibility helps you produce presentations that engage audiences and clearly communicate key ideas.
So whether you’re changing a single arrow or updating all arrows across an entire presentation, the color modification process is quick and intuitive. Use these steps to customize Google Slides arrows to suit your brand, highlight important details, and make your message memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change the color of an arrow in Google Slides?
Select the arrow(s) and click the “Fill Color” icon in the toolbar. Choose one of the preset theme colors or create a custom color using the color picker.
Can I save a custom arrow color to reuse later?
Yes! After creating a custom color, click the small star icon next to the color preview to save it to your custom palette. You can then quickly access saved custom colors when formatting arrows.
How do I change both the fill and outline colors?
The “Fill Color” icon adjusts the interior arrow color and “Line Color” changes the outline. Follow the selection and color picking steps for both options.
Why aren’t my color changes showing up?
Make sure you have the arrows selected before opening the color formatting options. If the arrows are not actively selected, your color changes will not apply.
