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Scribus => Beginner Talk => Topic started by: Jackie Treehorn on February 10, 2026, 07:42:47 PM

Title: Color background
Post by: Jackie Treehorn on February 10, 2026, 07:42:47 PM
I am using Scribus for the first time. I created a 40X30 inch document that I added 15 png images into. I want to fill the background with a color I created in gradient but I don't see how to apply that color into the background?
Title: Re: Color background
Post by: utnik on February 10, 2026, 07:56:08 PM
hi jackie

you can't apply your gradient to the empty canvas. you need to create a full sized square and apply the gradient to this object.

utnik
Title: Re: Color background
Post by: Jackie Treehorn on February 10, 2026, 09:39:28 PM
So I need to create a new document and start with that color and then move all my graphics over to the new document?
Title: Re: Color background
Post by: utnik on February 10, 2026, 10:40:03 PM
no! – you can place your 'gradient rectangle' in the background of your present document. (...or even on a master page, if it's needed on every page or on a number of pages...)

utnik
Title: Re: Color background
Post by: Jackie Treehorn on February 10, 2026, 10:52:08 PM
So I created a rectangle the same size as my document and gave it the gradient color, but it covers up the images I had imported into the document.
Title: Re: Color background
Post by: Lynn on February 10, 2026, 11:19:47 PM
So that's because Scribus has a stacking order for objects and it always puts new objects at the top of the stack. It's easy to move it to the back:

- If you don't already have the Properties palette open, right click on the box to open the "context menu". Then click on "Properties" at the bottom
- The Properties palette will have a section labeled "level" on the right, underneath geometry. Click on the down button with the horizontal line under it. That will move the box to the back of the stack

(instructions above are for scribus 1.5x-1.6x. If you're in Scribus 1.7x, move-to-back is the rightmost button above the level label)