Add Custom Color in LibreOffice: Easy Steps

To add a custom color in LibreOffice, go to Tools > Options > Colors (or LibreOffice > Preferences > Colors on macOS), pick a free slot, enter the RGB or HEX values, and click Add. This makes the color available in all LibreOffice components (Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw) for fonts, fills, and borders.

Why Custom Colors Matter

LibreOffice ships with a default palette of about 100 colors, but real-world projects almost always need brand-specific shades, corporate identity colors, or a particular pastel that isn’t in the list. Instead of re-entering the same RGB values every time you format a document, you can save it once and reuse it forever. Custom colors also help keep consistency across a multi-page report or a presentation with many slides.

How to Add a Custom Color

The exact steps are the same across Writer, Calc, Impress, and Draw because the color settings are global. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open any LibreOffice application (e.g., Writer).
2. Go to Tools > Options (on Windows/Linux) or LibreOffice > Preferences (on macOS).
3. In the left sidebar, expand LibreOffice (or just look for Colors under the Application section). Click Colors.
4. In the Color list, scroll to find an unused slot (they are named Color 1, Color 2, etc., or simply empty).
5. Type a name for your color in the Name field (e.g., “Brand Blue�).
6. Enter the RGB values (0–255 each) in the Red, Green, and Blue fields. Alternatively, you can type a HEX code (like #2E75B6) in the Hex field, and LibreOffice will convert it.
7. Click Add. The color now appears in the list with your chosen name.
8. Click OK to close the dialog.

If you want to modify an existing custom color, select it, change the values, and click Modify. To remove one, select it and click Delete.

Using Your Custom Color

Once added, the color appears in every color picker in LibreOffice. For example, in Writer, select some text, go to Format > Character (or use the toolbar), click the font color dropdown, and you’ll see your custom color under Custom or in the main palette. In Calc, you can use it for cell backgrounds or font colors. In Impress, it works for shape fills, text, and slide backgrounds.

You can also use the color in drawings and borders. The custom color is stored in your user profile, so it’s available in all documents you open on that computer. If you share a document with someone else, they won’t see your custom color unless they also add it to their LibreOffice profile—but the document will still render correctly if the color is defined in the file (LibreOffice embeds the color definition in the document).

Choosing Colors: RGB vs. HEX

LibreOffice accepts both RGB (0–255 per channel) and HEX (six-digit hexadecimal) values. If you’re copying a color from a website or a design tool, you’ll likely have a HEX code like #FF5733. Just paste it into the Hex field. If you have RGB values from an image editor, type them into the three fields.

When choosing a custom color, keep in mind that screen colors are additive (Red+Green+Blue). To get a light pastel, use high values for all three (e.g., 255, 200, 200). For a dark color, use low values (e.g., 30, 30, 30). For grays, keep all three equal.

Common Problems and Fixes

• Color doesn’t appear in the palette: Make sure you clicked Add after entering the values. If you just closed the dialog without adding, the color isn’t saved.
• Can’t find a free slot: The list has a limited number of predefined slots (usually around 100). Scroll to the bottom—there are empty slots labeled Color 1, Color 2, etc. You can overwrite any unused slot.
• Color appears different when printing: Screen colors are RGB; printers use CMYK. A very bright screen color may look duller on paper. This is normal and not a LibreOffice bug.
• Custom color not available in another document: If you open the document on a different computer, the custom color may not be in the palette, but the document will still show the correct color because the color is stored in the file.
• Accidentally deleted a default color: You can restore the default palette by clicking Reset in the Colors dialog (or by resetting your user profile).

Comparison with Other Office Suites

Microsoft Word also lets you define custom colors, but the process is slightly different: you go to Design > Colors > Customize Colors (for theme colors) or use the More Colors dialog in a color picker. LibreOffice’s approach is more centralized—one global color list for all applications. Google Docs does not allow you to save custom colors permanently; you have to re-enter the HEX code each time. So LibreOffice is more flexible for power users who need a consistent brand palette.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import a color from an image or a website?

Yes. Use an eyedropper tool (like the one in GIMP or a browser extension) to pick a color from an image or webpage. It will give you a HEX code, which you can paste into LibreOffice’s Hex field.

Will my custom color be available in all LibreOffice apps?

Yes, because the color list is stored globally in your user profile. Once you add a color, it appears in Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, and Math.

Can I share my custom colors with a colleague?

Yes. You can copy the color definitions from the registrymodifications.xcu file (in your LibreOffice user profile) or simply tell them the RGB/HEX values. There is no built-in export button, but the values are easy to share.

What’s the difference between “Add� and “Modify�?

“Add� creates a new custom color in the next free slot. “Modify� overwrites an existing custom color (but not the default colors—you must first select a custom color). Use “Modify� when you want to change a color you previously added.

Why does my color look different on another screen?

Monitors vary in calibration, brightness, and color gamut. A color that looks perfect on your screen may appear slightly different on a colleague’s laptop. This is a hardware issue, not a LibreOffice problem.

Can I use a custom color in a formula or macro?

Yes, but it requires programming. In Basic, you can set a cell background using oCell.CellBackColor = RGB(255, 87, 51). The custom color you add via the GUI is not directly accessible by name in macros; you have to use the RGB function.

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