Applying Advanced 3D Effects to a Chart
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Three-dimensional (3D) effects can be used to provide depth and add visual impact to your chart. For example, if you want to emphasize a particular slice of an exploded pie chart, you can rotate and change the perspective of the chart so that your report readers notice that slice first.
Three-dimensional effects can be displayed on individual chart areas, and it is possible to display both two-dimensional and three-dimensional chart areas on the same chart.
For all chart types, you can add three-dimensional effects to a chart area in the 3D Effects dialog box by setting Depth to a number between 1 and 1000.
Another way to add visual impact to charts is by adding bevel, emboss and texture styles in bar, column, pie and doughnut chart subtypes. For more information, see How to: Add Bevel, Emboss, and Texture Styles to a Chart.
Coordinate-Based Three-Dimensional Charts
When working with coordinate-based chart types (Column, Bar, Area, Point, Line and Range), three-dimensional effects display the chart with a third axis, known as the "z-axis". The introduction of this third axis allows you to apply a variety of visual enhancements to your chart.
Changing the White Space in a 3D Chart
When you display a chart area in three-dimensional mode, each series is shown in a separate row along the z-axis of the chart. To change the amount of space between each series, modify the chart's point gap depth by changing the Point Gap Depth property in the 3D Effects dialog box. For more information, see Chart Area Properties Dialog Box, 3D Options.
Changing the Projection of a 3D Chart
There are two types of 3D projections: oblique and perspective. An oblique projection to the chart adds a depth dimension to a two-dimensional chart. The z-axis is drawn at equal angles from the horizontal and vertical axes, which remain perpendicular to each other just as in a two-dimensional chart.
Perspective projection transforms the chart by estimating a view plane and re-drawing the chart as if it were being viewed from that point. The perspective value defines the percentage of distortion that will be used when displaying the projection. This type of projection maintains the proportions of your chart, but the chart's appearance becomes distorted, so it is most effective to use a lower degree of perspective.
Note
The oblique and perspective projections are separate types of projections, so they cannot be used together on the same chart area.
Clustering Data
In 2D charts, multiple series of data appear side-by-side. Clustering shows individual series in separate rows on a 3D chart. For example, if you have a chart that contains three series of data points, clustering will display each of the three series on a separate row along the z-axis. By default, all chart types shown in 3D are clustered.
Clustering can be disabled for bar and column charts. When clustering is disabled, multiple bar and column series are displayed side-by-side in one row.
Shape-Based Three-Dimensional Charts
Shape-based chart types (Pie, Doughnut, Funnel, Pyramid) have fewer three-dimensional effects available. When working with shape-based chart types, increase the depth to increase the thickness of your chart.
Rotations
Charts can be rotated horizontally and vertically from -90 to 90 degrees. A positive horizontal angle will rotate the chart counter-clockwise around the x-axis, while a positive vertical angle will rotate the chart clockwise around the y-axis.
Highlighting 3D Effects
You can add lighting styles to a 3D chart. A simple lighting style always applies the same hue to the chart area elements. A realistic style changes the hues of the chart area elements depending on a specified lighting angle. For more information, see Chart Area Properties Dialog Box, 3D Options. When 3D effects are applied to your chart, all gradient colors and hatching styles are disabled.
See Also
Other Resources
Chart Properties Dialog Box, General
Chart Properties Dialog Box, 3D Effect Tab (Report Designer)
Working with Chart Axes