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The FillFormat object provides access to fill properties for shapes and other objects. It supports solid fills, gradient fills, pattern fills, picture fills, and background (no fill).

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Usage

from pptx import Presentation
from pptx.util import Inches
from pptx.dml.color import RGBColor
from pptx.enum.dml import MSO_THEME_COLOR

prs = Presentation()
slide = prs.slides.add_slide(prs.slide_layouts[6])
shape = slide.shapes.add_shape(MSO_SHAPE.RECTANGLE, Inches(1), Inches(1), Inches(2), Inches(1))

# Solid fill
shape.fill.solid()
shape.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(255, 127, 0)

# Gradient fill
shape.fill.gradient()
shape.fill.gradient_angle = 90.0  # Bottom to top
shape.fill.gradient_stops[0].color.theme_color = MSO_THEME_COLOR.ACCENT_1
shape.fill.gradient_stops[1].color.rgb = RGBColor(255, 255, 255)

# No fill (transparent)
shape.fill.background()

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Properties

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type
MSO_FILL_TYPE
Read-only. The type of this fill.Values from MSO_FILL enumeration:
  • MSO_FILL.SOLID - Solid color fill
  • MSO_FILL.GRADIENT - Gradient fill
  • MSO_FILL.PATTERNED - Pattern fill
  • MSO_FILL.PICTURE - Picture (image) fill
  • MSO_FILL.BACKGROUND - No fill (transparent)
  • MSO_FILL.GROUP - Inherited from group
  • None - No fill defined
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fore_color
ColorFormat
ColorFormat instance representing the foreground color of this fill.For solid fills, this is the fill color. For gradient and pattern fills, this is the primary color.Raises TypeError if fill type does not support foreground color. Call .solid() or .patterned() first.
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back_color
ColorFormat
ColorFormat instance representing the background color.This property is only applicable to pattern fills.Raises TypeError if fill type is not patterned. Call .patterned() first.
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gradient_angle
float
Read/write. Angle in degrees of a linear gradient.
  • 0.0 = left-to-right gradient
  • 90.0 = bottom-to-top gradient
  • 180.0 = right-to-left gradient
  • 270.0 = top-to-bottom gradient
May be None, indicating the angle is inherited from the style hierarchy.Raises TypeError if fill type is not MSO_FILL.GRADIENT. Call .gradient() first.Raises ValueError for non-linear gradients (e.g., radial gradients).
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gradient_stops
GradientStops
Read-only. GradientStops collection providing access to the gradient color stops.Each stop represents a color between which the gradient smoothly transitions. Gradients must have at least two stops.Raises TypeError if fill type is not MSO_FILL.GRADIENT. Call .gradient() first.
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pattern
MSO_PATTERN_TYPE
Read/write. Member of MSO_PATTERN_TYPE enumeration indicating the fill pattern.Returns None if no pattern has been set. PowerPoint may display the default PERCENT_5 pattern in this case.Assigning None removes any explicit pattern setting.Raises TypeError if fill type is not patterned. Call .patterned() first.

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Methods

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solid()

Sets the fill type to solid color. 
shape.fill.solid()
shape.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(255, 127, 0)
Note: Calling this method does not set a color. It only enables subsequent assignments to fore_color.

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gradient()

Sets the fill type to gradient. 
shape.fill.gradient()
shape.fill.gradient_angle = 90.0
If the fill is not already a gradient, a default gradient is added matching PowerPoint’s built-in “White” template. The default is a linear gradient at 90 degrees (upward) with two stops using Accent-1 theme color.

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patterned()

Sets the fill type to pattern. 
from pptx.enum.dml import MSO_PATTERN_TYPE

shape.fill.patterned()
shape.fill.pattern = MSO_PATTERN_TYPE.WAVE
shape.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(255, 0, 0)
shape.fill.back_color.rgb = RGBColor(255, 255, 255)
Note: Calling this method does not set a pattern or colors. It enables subsequent assignments to pattern, fore_color, and back_color.

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background()

Sets the fill type to no fill (transparent). 
shape.fill.background()
This is equivalent to MSO_FILL.BACKGROUND and makes the shape transparent.

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GradientStops

A sequence of gradient stops defining the colors in a gradient fill. Access via fill.gradient_stops. 
shape.fill.gradient()
stops = shape.fill.gradient_stops

# Access individual stops
stops[0].color.theme_color = MSO_THEME_COLOR.ACCENT_1
stops[0].position = 0.0  # Start of gradient

stops[1].color.rgb = RGBColor(255, 255, 255)
stops[1].position = 1.0  # End of gradient

# Iterate through stops
for stop in stops:
    print(f"Position: {stop.position}, Color: {stop.color.rgb}")

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GradientStop Properties

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color
ColorFormat
ColorFormat instance controlling the color of this gradient stop.
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position
float
Read/write. Location of the stop in the gradient path as a float between 0.0 and 1.0.
  • 0.0 (0%) = start of the gradient path
  • 1.0 (100%) = end of the gradient path
For linear gradients, these represent opposing extents of the filled area.

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Examples

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Solid Fill

from pptx.dml.color import RGBColor

shape.fill.solid()
shape.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(255, 127, 0)  # Orange

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Gradient Fill with Custom Colors

shape.fill.gradient()
shape.fill.gradient_angle = 45.0  # Diagonal

# First stop: blue
shape.fill.gradient_stops[0].color.rgb = RGBColor(0, 112, 192)
shape.fill.gradient_stops[0].position = 0.0

# Second stop: light blue
shape.fill.gradient_stops[1].color.rgb = RGBColor(155, 194, 230)
shape.fill.gradient_stops[1].position = 1.0

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Pattern Fill

from pptx.enum.dml import MSO_PATTERN_TYPE

shape.fill.patterned()
shape.fill.pattern = MSO_PATTERN_TYPE.DIAGONAL_BRICK
shape.fill.fore_color.rgb = RGBColor(255, 0, 0)  # Red foreground
shape.fill.back_color.rgb = RGBColor(255, 255, 255)  # White background

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Theme Color with Brightness

from pptx.enum.dml import MSO_THEME_COLOR

shape.fill.solid()
shape.fill.fore_color.theme_color = MSO_THEME_COLOR.ACCENT_1
shape.fill.fore_color.brightness = -0.25  # 25% darker

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Transparent Fill

shape.fill.background()

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