Visual Formatting

Formatting is not decoration — it is communication. The same data presented with inconsistent colours, unlabelled axes, crowded data labels, and default fonts produces a report that looks like a draft. The same data with a deliberate colour system, clear hierarchy, well-placed labels, and consistent spacing produces a report that feels authoritative and is trusted. This lesson covers every Format pane section, the professional settings that separate polished reports from rough ones, and the formatting decisions that affect whether the data is correctly perceived.

The Format Pane Structure

The Format pane is split into two tabs: Visual (settings specific to that chart type — axes, data labels, legend) and General (settings that apply to any visual — title, background, border, shadow, size, position). Every visual has both tabs. A consistent workflow is to configure Visual settings first, then General settings last.

Themes — Consistent Colour Across the Whole Report

A theme is a JSON file that sets the default colours, fonts, and visual formatting for every chart in the report. Instead of setting colours individually on each visual, define them once in a theme. When the brand changes, update the theme file and every visual updates simultaneously.

// Power BI theme JSON structure — save as yourtheme.json
// Import via: View tab → Themes → Browse for themes
{
  "name": "Dataplexa Corporate",
  "dataColors": [
    "#0369a1",   // Primary blue
    "#7c3aed",   // Purple
    "#16a34a",   // Green
    "#ea580c",   // Orange
    "#dc2626",   // Red
    "#0891b2",   // Teal
    "#92400e",   // Brown
    "#475569"    // Slate
  ],
  "background":       "#ffffff",
  "foreground":       "#0f172a",
  "tableAccent":      "#0369a1",
  "visualStyles": {
    "*": {               // applies to ALL visual types
      "*": {
        "fontFamily":   [{ "value": "Segoe UI" }],
        "fontSize":     [{ "value": 12 }],
        "labelColor":   [{ "value": { "solid": { "color": "#475569" } } }]
      }
    },
    "barChart": {
      "*": {
        "dataPoint":  [{ "fill": { "solid": { "color": "#0369a1" } } }]
      }
    }
  }
}

Axes — The Most Commonly Mis-configured Element

Axis configuration has the single biggest impact on whether a chart is read correctly or misread. The most dangerous mistake is truncating the Y axis — starting it at a value other than zero makes small differences look large. This is the most common source of misleading charts.

Data Labels — When and How

Data labels add precision but also add clutter. The rule is: if the audience needs the exact value, add a label. If they only need to see the relative size or trend, leave them off. Never add labels to a chart that already has a tooltip — the tooltip gives precision on hover without cluttering the visual.

Titles — The Most Underused Formatting Element

Every visual should have a title that describes the insight, not just the data. "Revenue by Region" tells you what is on the chart. "North Leads Revenue Despite Flat Q2" tells you what to look for. Insight-driven titles transform visuals from data displays into communication. Use the dynamic title pattern (a DAX measure in the title field) to make titles respond to slicer selections.

// Dynamic chart title measure — updates when slicer changes
Chart Title =
VAR SelectedYear  = SELECTEDVALUE(Calendar[Year], "All Years")
VAR SelectedRegion = SELECTEDVALUE(Orders[Region], "All Regions")
RETURN
    "Revenue: " & SelectedYear & " · " & SelectedRegion

// In Report View: select the visual → Format pane → General →
// Title → Title text → click the fx button → select the measure
// The title now reads:
// "Revenue: 2024 · North"  when slicer = 2024 and North
// "Revenue: All Years · All Regions"  when no slicer selected

Colours — The Four Rules

The Professional Formatting Checklist

Practice

Lesson Quiz

Next up — Lesson 43 covers Slicers and Filters in depth, including every slicer type, the difference between slicer and filter panel filters, sync slicers across pages, and the interaction settings that control how visuals respond to each other.