To Add and Edit Text
To add text to your drawing, choose the Text Box tool then click on your drawing canvas to place the text box. As needed, double-click with the Select [s] tool to make the text active for editing. Start typing to add text. Click outside of the text box to end editing. To resize the text box, click and drag the object handles.
Alternatively, when placing a text box you can click-and-drag to place the text box at a larger size.
Double-click the text box with the Select [s] tool to edit existing text. Click outside of the text box to end editing.
HINT: If you prefer to have the Return-key end editing, you can enable that in the Artboard Preferences; while enabled, click the SHIFT-Return-key to go to next line while editing text.
To Change Fonts or Style of Text
Text is styled directly through the Fonts panel and Text commands in the main menu. With one or more text objects selected, open the Fonts panel. As desired, choose the font and associated style elements, such as size, color, and shadow. Alternatively, colors can be dropped on text objects directly from the Colors panel.
Several text formatting options are available through the main menu. Choose Text > to choose from styles, alignment, case, kerning, and more. The Fonts panel offers font selection and custom effects, including outline, shadow, and mask. Align, kern, change case and baseline are available menu options. Font effects and options can be applied to blocks of text, individual words, and and even individual glyphs! For full creative control, including applying styles and distortion, you can convert text to shapes, shape groups, and paths.
To Expand the Text Box When Some Text is Hidden
When text extends beyond the confines of the text box an indicator “+” is shown in the lower right-hand corner of the text box prompting you to enlarge it.
CLOSER LOOK! Text in a box will not be visible if the font size is larger than the text box. Use the sizing handles on the text box to make it bigger, or right-click the text box and choose “Fit To Text.”
To Add Text On a Path
Artboard makes curved text beautiful and easy. A bit of practice is all it takes to give your curved text an expert look. Text On Path uses curves with the same controls as the Bezier Path tool.
Choose the Text On Path tool. Click on your drawing canvas to place the starting point for your text on a path. If desired, hold the left mouse button down and drag the curve handle outward. Release the mouse button and continue placing points along the curve. Double click (or hit ESC on the keyboard) to end. Use the curve handles to adjust the curves. Double-click the text with the Select [s] tool to edit (make sure you click onto a letter when double-clicking).
It is a good practice to keep your text curves simple. With only two points you can create smooth c-shaped and s-shaped curves simply by adjusting the points themselves (the orange dots) and the curve handles (the blue squares). The longer the curve handles, the steeper your curve. Experiment by moving the curve handles around and altering the shape of the curve.
To Edit Text on a Path
Double-click the text with the Select [s] tool to edit (make sure you click onto a letter when double-clicking for Artboard to recognize the selection). When selected, the text to be edited will float above the path and be highlighted. Type to edit text. Change the alignment as desired. Note, the "Justify" text alignment will provide an even spread across the path. Open the Font panel to change the font and appearance of text.
To Change Text Alignment Along the Path
Text On Path has "Justified" alignment by default, giving it a stretched appearance across the entire length of the path. Choose Text > Align > Left / Right / Justified / Center to change text along a path to your desired alignment.
To Fit Text to a Shape (for example a circle)
In addition to drawing a Bezier curve with the Text On Path tool, you can fit text to any shape. Use the Text On Path tool to place your text on your drawing canvas. Double-click the text with the Select [s] tool to edit it. Next, draw your shape. Copy the shape, then select the text and choose Edit > Paste Path On Object from the main menu. The text will now follow the path of the object.
HINT: To wrap text only partially around a circle, use the Arc tool to draw an arc to the desired length and paste it onto your text using the above method.
To Use Spreading (or Tracking) on Text
Text can be spread out across and area (called “tracking”) by holding the OPTION-CONTROL keys on the keyboard and repeatedly pressing the right Arrow (end) key, or by choosing Text > Kern > Loosen from the main menu. Repeat as necessary to get a wide spread. Pressing the left Arrow (home) key tightens tracking.
Note that Text > Kern > Loosen is also used to add space (or "kerning") between letter pairs.
To Make Text Bigger, Smaller, Bold, Italic, and Underline
Modify text properties in the Fonts palette, or by choosing various Text > options in the main menu. Use shortcut keys to quickly modify text properties. For example, COMMAND"–" and COMMAND-SHIFT"+" quickly make text smaller or bigger.
Need multi-styled text? Text boxes can use multiple fonts, sizes, colors, and more in a single text box.
To Set Outlined and Masked Text in the Fonts Panel
Use the Fonts palette to add advanced styling, including text outline and text mask. Text outline and masking are particularly useful for making text stand out on top of dark, colored, or complex backgrounds. Masking can be any color as well as semi-transparent, and the size of the mask is fully adjustable.
To Make Shape Objects from Text and True Type Fonts
Text and True Type Fonts (TTF) can be converted into individual editable shape objects. These new shape objects can be further styled, grouped, and saved as clip art as desired.
1. Place text in the drawing area using the Text Box tool. Choose the font you want to use, or choose Edit > Special Characters from the main menu to open the Special Characters window.
2. After typing one or more glyphs, select the text box and choose Graphic > Convert To > Shape or Graphic > Convert To > Shape Group from the main menu (or right click and choose Convert to > from the contextual menu). When converted to shape, the entire block of text is one shape. When converted to shape group, you can Ungroup to obtain each glyph as a separate object.
3. To further explode and modify multi-layered objects, choose Graphic > Combine > Break Apart from the main menu and modify the shape or re-color individual components.
