Axis Sections
Learn about the configurable sections for axes.
Sections are expandable sub-panels that contain additional settings. Click a section header to open it and reveal its controls. Sections that don't apply to the current picta type are hidden.
Name Style
Controls the appearance of the axis name — the title or label that describes what the axis represents (e.g., "Revenue" or "Year"). Contains five direct settings and six sub-sections.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Line Height | The vertical space allocated for each line of text in pixels. For single-line axis names this controls the overall height of the text box; for multi-line names it controls the spacing between lines |
| Padding | The space around the axis name text in pixels, measured outward from the text bounding box |
| Width | The width of the axis name text area in pixels. Use this to control how much horizontal space the axis name occupies |
| Height | The height of the axis name text area in pixels. Use this to control how much vertical space the axis name occupies |
| Background Color | Click the color picker to choose a color from the dialog, or paste a hex value directly (e.g., #FF0000). Adds a background fill behind the axis name text |
| Font | Opens the Font section to customize font properties — size, color, family, weight, style |
| Alignment | Opens the Alignment section to control horizontal and vertical text alignment |
| Border | Opens the Border section to style the outline around the axis name background |
| Shadow | Opens the Shadow section to add a drop shadow behind the axis name background |
| Text Border | Opens the Text Border section to style the outline around the axis name text |
| Text Shadow | Opens the Shadow section to add a drop shadow to the axis name text |
Use these settings to make the axis name stand out, match your chart's design, or prevent it from being clipped on smaller charts.
Label Style
Controls the appearance of text labels along the axis. Contains two checkboxes, a Compose Text button, four number inputs, and three sub-sections.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Show Min Label | Toggle on to show a label for the lowest axis value (default: on) |
| Show Max Label | Toggle on to show a label for the highest axis value (default: on) |
| Compose Text | Opens the Compose Text dialog to build custom labels with dynamic data placeholders |
| Rotate | The rotation angle of the labels in degrees. Use the arrows to adjust in steps of 45, or type a precise value directly |
| Margin | The space between the labels and the axis in pixels |
| Font Size | The font size of the labels in pixels |
| Interval | Skips labels at a regular interval. For example, an interval of 2 shows one label, skips the next two, then shows the next label |
| Font | Opens the Font section to customize font properties |
| Text Border | Opens the Text Border section to style the outline around label text |
| Text Shadow | Opens the Text Shadow section to add a drop shadow to label text |
Use these settings to make axis labels readable, reduce clutter on crowded axes, and customize their appearance to match your chart's style.
Line
Controls the axis line itself. The On Zero checkbox determines the line's position, the Shape section controls the decorative shape at each endpoint, and the Line Style section controls overall visual appearance.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| On Zero | When enabled, the axis line is positioned at zero. When disabled, it moves to the lowest data value. Works only for value and log axes that include zero (default: on) |
| Shape | Opens the Shape section to choose a decorative marker that appears at both ends of the axis line. Use different shapes to give the axis a polished, custom look — for example, arrow-like symbols to emphasize direction |
| Line Style | Opens the Line Style section to customize the axis line's width, color, opacity, and dash pattern |
Use these settings to control where the axis line sits in the chart area and how it looks.
Ticks
Controls the tick marks along the axis. Contains two checkboxes, two number inputs, and the Line Style section.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Align with Label | When enabled, tick marks align with the center of category labels. For example, in a bar chart, ticks appear centered underneath each bar instead of between bars (default: off) |
| Inside | When enabled, tick marks are drawn on the inside of the chart area — toward the data — rather than on the outside toward the labels. Labels remain in their default position underneath the axis (default: off) |
| Length | The length of the tick marks in pixels. Longer ticks are more visible; shorter ticks create a subtler appearance |
| Interval | The gap between consecutive tick marks. For example, an interval of 2 shows one tick, skips the next two, then shows the next tick. Leave empty for automatic spacing |
| Line Style | Opens the Line Style section to customize the tick mark's width, color, opacity, and dash pattern |
Use these settings to control tick mark placement and appearance. Align with Label is particularly useful for category axes when you want ticks centered under categories. Inside helps keep the chart area clean by hiding tick marks outside the plot area.
Minor Ticks
Controls the minor tick marks along the axis — subdividing the gap between main ticks for finer visual reference. Contains one number input and the Line Style section. Unlike regular Ticks, Minor Ticks have no align-with-label or inside positioning options.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Length | The length of the minor tick marks in pixels. Longer ticks are more visible; shorter ticks create a subtler appearance |
| Interval | The gap between consecutive minor tick marks. For example, an interval of 2 shows one minor tick, skips the next two, then shows the next minor tick. Leave empty for automatic spacing |
| Line Style | Opens the Line Style section to customize the minor tick mark's width, color, opacity, and dash pattern |
Use these settings to add finer granularity between main tick marks. Minor ticks are especially useful on value or time axes where you want subtle reference marks without cluttering the axis with additional labels.
Grid Line
Controls the grid lines that extend across the chart area from each tick mark. Contains two checkboxes, one number input, and the Line Style section.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Show Min Line | Toggle on to show the grid line at the minimum axis value (the first grid line). When disabled, the first grid line is hidden. Enabled by default |
| Show Max Line | Toggle on to show the grid line at the maximum axis value (the last grid line). When disabled, the last grid line is hidden. Enabled by default |
| Interval | The gap between consecutive grid lines. For example, an interval of 2 shows one grid line, skips the next two, then shows the next grid line. Leave empty for automatic spacing |
| Line Style | Opens the Line Style section to customize the grid line's width, color, opacity, and dash pattern |
Use these settings to reduce visual clutter on the chart by hiding the first and last grid lines, or to adjust the spacing between grid lines with the interval control.
Minor Grid Line
Controls the minor grid lines that subdivide the gaps between main grid lines for finer visual reference. Contains the Line Style section only.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Line Style | Opens the Line Style section to customize the minor grid line's width, color, opacity, and dash pattern |
Use these settings to add subtle reference lines between the main grid lines for more precise visual alignment.
Grid Bands
Controls the alternating background bands that span across the chart area between grid lines. These bands create a striped effect that makes it easier to read data values across the chart.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Interval | The gap between consecutive bands. For example, an interval of 2 draws one band, skips the next two gaps, then draws the next band. Leave empty for automatic spacing |
| Color 1 | Click the color picker to choose a color from the dialog, or paste a hex value directly (e.g., #FF0000). This color is applied to the odd-numbered bands (first, third, fifth, etc.) |
| Color 2 | Click the color picker to choose a color from the dialog, or paste a hex value directly (e.g., #FF0000). This color is applied to the even-numbered bands (second, fourth, sixth, etc.) |
| Shadow | Opens the Shadow section to add a drop shadow to the bands |
Use these settings to create alternating stripes that make it easier to read data values across the chart. Choose two contrasting colors for Color 1 and Color 2 to make the bands clearly distinguishable. Add a shadow for visual depth.