The short answer
Select the text or shape, open the color menu (Font Color, Shape Fill or Shape Outline) and choose More Colors. Type your hex code (such as #535C33) or your RGB numbers, then click OK. Word keeps the color under Recent Colors so you can reuse it on every label.
Brand colors usually come as a hex code (six characters after a #, used on websites) or as RGB numbers (three values from 0 to 255). Word accepts both. Here's where to type them.
On a Mac
- Select the text, text box or shape you want to color.
- For text, open the arrow next to Font Color on the Home tab. For a shape or label background, use Shape Fill on the Shape Format tab.
- Choose More Colors (or More Fill Colors). The Mac color window opens.
- Click the sliders tab (the second icon along the top) and choose RGB Sliders from the menu.
- Type your hex code in the Hex Color # box, or type the three RGB numbers into the Red, Green and Blue boxes.
- Click OK.
On Windows
- Select the text, text box or shape.
- Open Font Color, Shape Fill or Shape Outline and choose More Colors.
- Click the Custom tab and make sure the color model says RGB.
- Type your hex code in the Hex box, or type the Red, Green and Blue numbers.
- Click OK.
If your version of Word has no Hex box, use the RGB numbers instead. Any color picker website will convert a hex code to RGB.
Match a color you can see
To copy a color from your logo or a photo on the page, use the eyedropper:
- Windows: Shape Fill > Eyedropper (or Font Color > Eyedropper), then click the color.
- Mac: in the color window, click the eyedropper beside the color square, then click the color anywhere on screen.
Tips for printing your colors
- Screens glow and paper doesn't, so printed colors look a little darker and less bright than on screen. Print a test page before you commit to a full sheet.
- Very light colors (under about 10% tint) can disappear on white or clear labels.
- On waterproof vinyl, dark solid backgrounds use a lot of ink. Let the sheet dry for 10-15 minutes before you peel the labels.
Example: one color, both ways
Tuscan red is #562525 as a hex code and 86, 37, 37 as RGB numbers. Type either one in the boxes above and you get the same color.
Next step: add text boxes and images to your label, then print it so it lines up.
Still stuck? Email customerservice@dashleigh.com with your template number and a screenshot, and we will help.
