The text in a graph appears jagged if you apply a custom animation to a Microsoft Graph chart object in PowerPoint 2003

The text in a graph may appear jagged and less defined if you apply a custom animation to a Microsoft Graph chart object in a Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 slide show. The affected text includes the axis text, the legend text, and other text labels.

This problem occurs because PowerPoint 2003 converts the various graph elements to screen-resolution bitmaps. Therefore, PowerPoint 2003 can independently animate the graph elements during a slide show. If the graph elements are converted without a background color applied to them, the text appears jagged.

To resolve this problem, use any one or more of the following methods to change the text from a font to a vector graphic. The vector graphic can then be turned into a smooth bitmapped graphic for animation.

Apply a background color to the chart area

This method makes the chart area opaque. Follow these steps:

• If you use PowerPoint 2007
  1. In one of the corners of the chart area, right-click the background, click Format Chart Area on the Fill tab, and then select Automatic. Or, select one of the following options:
     • Solid fill
     • Gradient fill
     • Picture or texture fill
       
       Note If you select one of these options, you can select the color or texture manually.
  2. Click Close.
• If you use PowerPoint 2003
  1. Right-click the graph, point to Chart Object, and then click Edit.
  2. In one of the corners of the chart area, right-click the background, and then click Format Chart Area.
  3. Under Area, either click Automatic or click one of the color swatches on the color palette.
  4. Click OK.

Apply a background color to the graph elements

This method makes the different graph element backgrounds opaque. Follow these steps:

• If you use PowerPoint 2007
  1. Right-click the middle of the plot area, click Format Plot Area on the Fill tab, and then select Automatic.Or, select one of the following options:
     • Solid fill
     • Gradient fill
     • Picture or texture fill
       
       Note If you select one of these options, you can select the color or texture manually.
  2. Click Close.
• If you use PowerPoint 2003
  1. Right-click the graph, point to Chart Object, and then click Edit.
  2. To format the background for the plot area, right-click in the middle of the plot area, and then click Format Plot Area.
  3. Under Area, either click Automatic or click one of the color swatches on the color palette.
  4. Click OK.
  5. For other graph elements, right-click the element, click Format element_name, and then repeat steps 3 and 4.
     
     Note The X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis do not have backgrounds. You must format the plot area or the chart area to affect the appearance of axis text. However, axis titles can have their background color changed.

Change the color of the graph font to white

This method requires the slide to have a dark background or a dark pattern. Follow these steps:

• If you use PowerPoint 2007
  1. Right-click the text for which you want to change the color, and then click Font.
  2. Select White from the Font color drop-down list.
  3. Click OK.
• If you use PowerPoint 2003
  1. Click Slide Design – Color Schemes on the task pane.
  2. For all slides in the presentation, click a color scheme that shows white as the color for bulleted text.
  3. For the slide that contains the graph, click the down arrow on the right side of the color scheme thumbnail image, and then click Apply to Selected Slides.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.