a:solidFill (Solid Fill)

Description

a:solidFill (Solid Fill) is the fundamental color fill container in DrawingML. It is defined in ECMA-376 Part 1 §20.1.8.40 and applies a uniform, single-color fill to shapes, outlines, text, bullets, and other objects.

Purpose and Scope

Unlike gradient or pattern fills that vary across a surface, a:solidFill specifies one continuous color applied uniformly to the entire fill area. This makes it the most efficient and commonly used fill type for:

• Shape interiors — Solid background color
• Text formatting — Font color, background highlight
• Lines and outlines — Border, connector, and path colors
• Bullets and symbols — Bullet character color
• Callouts and annotations — Emphasis and highlighting

Color Definition Model

a:solidFill uses a color element child to define the actual color value:

a:solidFill (no attributes)
└─ One color element (required):
   ├─ a:srgbClr (RGB hex: #RRGGBB)
   ├─ a:schemeClr (theme reference: accent1, accent2, etc.)
   ├─ a:sysClr (system color: windowText, highlight, etc.)
   ├─ a:hslClr (HSL: hue, saturation, lightness)
   ├─ a:prstClr (preset: red, blue, green, etc.)
   └─ a:scrgbClr (scRGB: extended RGB range)

Each color element can include modifiers (a:lumMod, a:shade, a:tint, a:alpha, etc.) to adjust brightness, transparency, or tone.

Color Processing Workflow

1. Determine base color — Read child color element (RGB hex, scheme reference, etc.)
2. Apply modifiers — Adjust lightness, shade, tint, transparency in order
3. Resolve theme colors — If scheme color, look up in active theme
4. Render — Apply final computed color to shape/text/line

Attributes

Content Model

a:solidFill (required: exactly one child)
├─ a:srgbClr (RGB hex color)
├─ a:schemeClr (theme color reference)
├─ a:sysClr (system color)
├─ a:hslClr (HSL color)
├─ a:prstClr (preset color)
└─ a:scrgbClr (extended RGB)

Child Color Elements

Color Modifiers (Child Elements)

Color elements can contain modifiers to adjust the base color:

Examples

Simple Solid Fill with RGB Hex Color

<a:solidFill>
  <a:srgbClr val="00AAFF"/>
</a:solidFill>

var solidFill = new SolidFill(
  new RgbColorModelHex { Val = "00AAFF" }  // Bright cyan
);

Solid Fill with Theme Color Reference

<a:solidFill>
  <a:schemeClr val="accent1"/>
</a:solidFill>

var solidFill = new SolidFill(
  new SchemeColor { Val = SchemeColorValues.Accent1 }
);

// Color will automatically update if theme changes

Solid Fill with Theme Color + Lightening Modifier

<a:solidFill>
  <a:schemeClr val="accent1">
    <a:tint val="40000"/>
  </a:schemeClr>
</a:solidFill>

var schemeColor = new SchemeColor { Val = SchemeColorValues.Accent1 };
schemeColor.Append(new Tint { Val = 40000 });  // 40% white tint = lighter

var solidFill = new SolidFill(schemeColor);

Solid Fill with Shade (Darkening) Modifier

<a:solidFill>
  <a:srgbClr val="70AD47">
    <a:shade val="60000"/>
  </a:srgbClr>
</a:solidFill>

var rgbColor = new RgbColorModelHex { Val = "70AD47" };  // Green
rgbColor.Append(new Shade { Val = 60000 });  // 60% black mix = darker green

var solidFill = new SolidFill(rgbColor);

Solid Fill with Transparency (Alpha)

<a:solidFill>
  <a:srgbClr val="FF0000">
    <a:alpha val="50000"/>
  </a:srgbClr>
</a:solidFill>

var rgbColor = new RgbColorModelHex { Val = "FF0000" };  // Red
rgbColor.Append(new Alpha { Val = 50000 });  // 50% opaque = 50% transparent

var solidFill = new SolidFill(rgbColor);

Solid Fill in Shape (Background Color)

<a:spPr>
  <a:xfrm>
    <a:off x="914400" y="914400"/>
    <a:ext cx="2286000" cy="1143000"/>
  </a:xfrm>
  <a:prstGeom prst="rect"><a:avLst/></a:prstGeom>
  <a:solidFill>
    <a:schemeClr val="accent2"/>
  </a:solidFill>
  <a:ln w="25400">
    <a:solidFill><a:srgbClr val="2F5233"/></a:solidFill>
  </a:ln>
</a:spPr>

var spPr = new ShapeProperties();

var xfrm = new Transform2D();
xfrm.Append(new Offset { X = 914400, Y = 914400 });
xfrm.Append(new Extents { Cx = 2286000, Cy = 1143000 });
spPr.Append(xfrm);

spPr.Append(new PresetGeometry { Preset = ShapeTypeValues.Rectangle }
  .Append(new AdjustValueList()));

// Shape fill (background)
spPr.Append(new SolidFill(
  new SchemeColor { Val = SchemeColorValues.Accent2 }));

// Line fill (border)
var line = new Outline { Width = 25400 };
line.Append(new SolidFill(
  new RgbColorModelHex { Val = "2F5233" }));
spPr.Append(line);

Solid Fill with Multiple Modifiers (Tint + Shade + Saturation)

<a:solidFill>
  <a:schemeClr val="accent1">
    <a:tint val="30000"/>
    <a:satMod val="80000"/>
    <a:lumMod val="90000"/>
  </a:schemeClr>
</a:solidFill>

var schemeColor = new SchemeColor { Val = SchemeColorValues.Accent1 };
schemeColor.Append(new Tint { Val = 30000 });           // 30% lighter
schemeColor.Append(new SaturationModulation { Val = 80000 }); // 80% saturation
schemeColor.Append(new LuminanceModulation { Val = 90000 });  // 90% brightness

var solidFill = new SolidFill(schemeColor);

Common RGB Color Reference

Scheme Color Reference (Theme Colors)

Color Modifier Combinations

Notes

Element Relationships

• Parents (nine container elements):
  • a:ln (line/outline): Stroke color for shape outlines, connectors, borders.
  • a:fill (fill reference): Shorthand fill reference in effect styles.
  • a:effectStyle (effect style): Fill for effect elements.
  • a:buClr (bullet color): Color for paragraph bullets and numbering.
  • Lines (a:lnL, a:lnR, a:lnT, a:lnB): Individual borders on table cells (left, right, top, bottom).
• Children (color definition):
  • One of: a:srgbClr (RGB hex color), a:schemeClr (theme color reference), a:sysClr (system color), a:hslClr (HSL color), a:prstClr (preset color), a:scrgbClr (scRGB color)
  • Optional modifiers: a:alphaModFix, a:alphaMod, a:shade, a:tint, a:lumMod, a:lumOff (for theme/system colors)

General Notes

• Single Color Element Required: a:solidFill must contain exactly one child color element; no color element means no fill is applied.
• Single Color Source: Exactly one color definition must be present (RGB, theme, HSL, system, scRGB, or preset). Multiple color elements are invalid.
• Theme Color Integration: Using a:schemeClr enables automatic color scheme switching across the document. Recommended for consistency.
• Color Modifiers: Theme and system colors support modifiers (alpha, shade, tint, lumMod, lumOff, etc.) for fine-tuning shades and opacity.
• Modifier Order: Multiple modifiers are applied in document order (left-to-right). For predictable results, follow standard order: tint/shade, then lumMod/lumOff, then alpha.
• Transparency Handling: alpha="100000" = fully opaque; alpha="0" = fully transparent. Use for watermarks or subtle overlays.
• Performance: Solid fills are most efficient; avoid excessive transparency or complex modifier stacks in large documents.
• Rendering Precedence: Direct RGB colors override scheme colors if both are present; first child element encountered is used.
• Compatibility: Solid fill structure is consistent across PresentationML (shapes), DrawingML, and SpreadsheetML (cell fills).