Using the Text Tool

Use the Text tool to create new text objects, type text into a document, and edit text.

When you create text objects with the Text tool, you can choose whether or not to set the column width before typing.

• If you set the column width before typing, text wraps to the next line when it reaches the right boundary of the text object.
• If you don’t set the column width before typing, the right margin expands indefinitely to accommodate the amount of text you type. This is called a “caption” text object.

Whether you should set the column width before or after typing depends on the amount of text you want to type. For short labels and callouts, you might find it easier to simply type and let Canvas X Draw adjust the right margin. However, for paragraphs or newsletter columns, it is probably easier to set the column width before typing.

You can change the size of the text object by selecting it and dragging a selection handle.

Attributes of New Text

When you type text, Canvas X Draw applies the current attributes and the current type format settings to the characters you type. For more information about changing ink and stroke attributes, see Text Inks and Strokes.

• Type formatting: Canvas X Draw applies the current settings for the font, style, type size, justification (alignment), leading, and kerning to the characters you type. These settings are selected from the Text menu, the Properties bar, or with the controls in the Type palette. (See Applying Text Formats.)
• Fill inks: Canvas X Draw applies the current fill ink, if it’s a solid color fill ink, to the text characters.

If the current fill ink is a gradient, hatch, symbol, or texture, Canvas X Draw applies 100% black to the text characters.

• Pen inks: The pen ink for text you type is always 100% black, and is not visible until you apply a pen stroke to the text.
• Strokes: Canvas X Draw applies no stroke to text characters you type. This means that no outline appears on the characters, and the pen ink applied to the text is not visible because the pen ink appears only when an object or text has a visible stroke.

Using the Text Format Brush

Use the Text Format Brush to copy text attributes, such as font, font style, fill ink, pen ink, as well as pen stroke, so that you can apply them to other text. This tool does not copy frame ink, frame stroke, or background ink. To apply these items to text, see To Apply a Background Ink, To Apply a Frame Stroke, and To Apply a Frame Ink.

To Copy and Apply Text Attributes:

1. Select the Text Format Brush tool. 

   The cursor changes to an eyedropper.

2. Click on a text object to copy the text attributes.
3. Then, click on the text object to which you want to apply the text attributes.

If you want to apply the text attributes to a single character or group of characters, drag across the character or characters until they are all selected. When you release the mouse, the text attributes will be applied.

See also:

• Applying Text Formats
• Text Inks and Strokes