![](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E6150B6FF3556065071CF8/65E6150C60D78F13600351D8/en_GB/61e57fb81071150c7da08e52bb0d3db6.png)
Fill shapes and text boxes with colour or an image in Numbers on iPhone
You can fill shapes and text boxes with a solid colour, gradient (two or more colours that blend into one another) or image.
![Three star shapes with different fills. One is solid yellow, one has a pink-to-blue gradient and one has an image fill.](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E6150B6FF3556065071CF8/65E6150C60D78F13600351D8/en_GB/399147e3c00ef6b3970426c9d44f34c2.png)
Fill with a colour or gradient
The colour fill choices include a set of preset colours that are selected to complement the current template. You can also create your own custom colour fills by using the full colour wheel and other colour controls.
Tap a shape or text box to select it, or select multiple objects.
Tap
, tap Style, then tap Fill.
Choose one of the following:
A preset colour or gradient: Tap Preset, swipe left or right to see all choices, then tap a colour.
Any colour: Tap Colour, swipe up or down to see all choices, then tap a colour. To preview colours in the object, touch and hold a colour, then drag across the grid. A colour label appears for each previewed colour to help you reproduce an exact match. Release your finger to select a colour.
A two-colour gradient fill: Tap Gradient, tap Start Colour or End Colour, then tap a colour. To switch the gradient direction, tap Flip Colour. To change the gradient angle, drag the Angle slider.
A colour from elsewhere in the spreadsheet: Tap
, then tap any colour outside the selected object. To preview colours in the object, touch and hold a colour in the spreadsheet, then drag across other colours in the spreadsheet. Release your finger to select a colour.
Tap
to close the controls.
Fill with an image
Tap a shape or text box to select it, or select multiple objects.
Tap
, tap Style, then tap Fill.
Tap Image, tap Change Image, then do one of the following:
Tap a photo.
Tap Take Photo.
Tap “Insert from” to choose an image from iCloud Drive.
If the image doesn’t look the way you expected or you want to change how the image fills the object, tap an option:
Original Size: Places the image inside the object without altering the image’s original dimensions. To resize the image, drag the Scale slider.
Stretch: Resizes the image to fit the object’s dimensions, which might change the image’s proportions.
Tile: Repeats the image inside the object. To resize the image, drag the Scale slider.
Scale to Fill: Makes the image larger or smaller to leave no space in the object.
Scale to Fit: Resizes the image to fit the object’s dimensions, but maintains the image’s proportions.
To create a tinted image, turn on Colour Overlay and tap Fill to select a tint colour.
To make the tint more or less transparent, drag the Opacity slider.
Tap
to close the controls.
Remove a fill
Tap a shape or text box to select it, or select multiple objects.
Tap
, tap Style, then tap Fill.
Tap Preset, swipe left to the black and white options, then tap No Fill.
Tap
to close the controls.