XL: RGB Function May Map to Incorrect Color

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c

SUMMARY

When you use the RGB function in a Visual Basic for Applications, the color value of the RGB color of the index may be mapped to a color other than the color you expected.

For example, RGB(65,0,0) is mapped to Dark Red, but RGB(64,0,0) is mapped to Black.

The color property accepts an RGB triple and maps it to the nearest color index. When the property retrieves the color value, it returns the RGB color of the index, which may be different from the value you typed. In the example, RGB(65,0,0) is mapped to Dark Red (RGB(128,0,0)), but RGB(64,0,0) is mapped to Black (RGB(0,0,0)).

MORE INFORMATION

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When you use an application method or property that accepts a color specification value, use a number that represents an RGB color value. An RGB color value specifies the relative intensity of the red, green, and blue colors that cause a specific color to be displayed.

The following steps assume that you created a Visual Basic module that contains the following code

   Sub ChangeRGB()

       ActiveSheet.Rectangles(1).Select
       With Selection.Interior
           .Pattern = xlSolid
           .Color = RGB([B1].Value, [B2].Value, [B3].Value)
       End With

   End Sub

   A1: Red     B1:       C1:       D1:
   A2: Green   B2:       C2:       D2:
   A3: Blue    B3:       C3:       D3:
   A4:         B4:       C4:       D4:
   A5:         B5:       C5:       D5:

1. On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Drawing.

2. Click the Rectangle tool on the Drawing toolbar. Click cell C1 and drag the pointer from cell C1 to cell D5 to draw a rectangle.

3. On the Tools menu, click Options. Then, click the Color tab.

4. In the Standard colors group, click the first color in the second row (the red color).

5. Click Modify. Then, click the Custom tab. In the Red box, change the value to 65. Click OK.

   Notice that the color is dark red.

6. Click Modify. Then, click the Custom tab. Change the value of the Red box to 64. Click OK.

   Notice that the color is a little darker or duller than before.

7. Click Reset. Then, close the Options dialog box by clicking OK.

8. On Sheet1, enter the value 65 in cell B1.

9. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros. Click ChangeRGB, and then click Run.

   Note that the color of the rectangle is dark red.

10. Change the value in cell B1 to 64.

11. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros. Click ChangeRGB, and then click Run.

    Note that the color of the rectangle is black.

REFERENCES

For more information about the ShapeRange Object collection, click the Index tab in Microsoft Visual Basic Help, type the following text

  ShapeRange