Create the Matrix

• 1). Open Excel and navigate to the "Insert" menu.
  
  
• 2). Select "Illustrations" and then scroll through the options to select "SmartArt." Open the "SmartArt" option.
  
  
• 3). Click on "Matrix" from the "SmartArt" gallery. Choose the layout option that best fits your needs. Options include the "Basic Matrix," a "Grid Matrix" and "Titled Matrix". The Titled Matrix allows you to emphasize the relationship between groups and the whole, while a Grid Matrix emphasizes the differences between groups. A Basic Matrix does not contain a grid or title.
  
  
• 4). Add text to your matrix by clicking on "[Text]" and writing in your text or pasting it from another source.
  
  

Customize Your Matrix

• 1). Navigate to "Design" and select "SmartArt Tools."
  
  
• 2). Select "Change Colors" under "SmartArt Styles."
  
  
• 3). Scroll through the color list and choose the color that you'd like. To change the colors of the borders or background, right-click on the area that you want to change and select "Format Shape" from the menu. Choose either "Line Color" or "Fill" depending on if you are changing the border or background, then select the color from the menu.
  
  
• 4). Change the look of your matrix by changing the SmartArt style. Navigate through "SmartArt Tools" and then "SmartArt styles," where you can scroll through various style options to change the appearance of your matrix.