If you have the requirement to distinguish between datasets on a black and white printer, it’s actually something that’s possible to do this using a Pattern Fill param.

Using this param allows you to set one of the many built-in patterns such as front or back slash, diagonal lines and much more. The screenshot above uses the following param:

BarFillPattern = (GRID, white,black),(BSLASH, white,black),(VERTICAL, white,black);

In other situations you may need to display a color gradient that not only starts as one color and fades into another, but also starts at the top and goes to the bottom or center out horizontal as demonstrated in the screen shot above. Here the gradient gives the illusion of the bars being cylindrical.

In the example above the following Pattern Fill was used:

BarFillPattern = (GRADIENTCENTERHORIZONTAL, xCEFFFF,x639C9C),
(GRADIENTCENTERHORIZONTAL, xCEFFCE,x639C63),
(GRADIENTCENTERHORIZONTAL, xFFCEFF,x9C639C);

Another great way to use gradients is by adding them to the background for a nice color fading effect. In this screen shot, the following param was added.

BackgroundFillPattern = (GRADIENTVERTICAL, white, xD8D8C0);

The same fill pattern options are also available for each chart type with slight variations depending the chart type. Similarly they also allow setting the pattern fill type as well as color fading.