Text can be added to any Layout Window. It can be used simply to add labels to colourways or other items on the page, or to list specifications, print data or production information for example.

The Text Tool is part of the Layout Tools Palette. The standard Tools Palette changes when you are in the Layout Window to reflect the tools you can use here. This is because no editing can be done in the Layout Window. You can only recolour and the selection of tools available reflect this.

1. Select the Text Tool from the Tools Palette.
2. Drag a box on the page at the position where you want to add the text.
3. Type the text needed, or if you are bringing it in from somewhere else, copy and paste it into the box.
   
4. Change the font style, size and colour by highlighting the text and then clicking the Fonts button in the toolbar.
   

Changing the fonts, style and size

Font styles and weights can be chosen from the Collections, Family and Typeface listings in the Fonts window. The size of the text can be changed by either choosing preset sizes in the Size list; using the slider bar to the right; or manually typing a point size in the Size field. 

Changes to font, style and size can be viewed in real time. If you wish to see the fonts and styles available before typing your text, a description with a visual preview can be displayed by dragging the small dot under the word Fonts in the Title bar of the Fonts window downwards, as shown below.

Changing the colour of the font

There are two ways to colour your text on the Layout Window. You can either colour from the system colour pickers, or you can colour from your existing colour files. It is important to note that when colouring from system colour pickers, AVA cannot guarantee a colour match. If you wish for your text to be colour matched, we would recommend using the latter option.

Colouring from the system pickers

Change the colour of your text by clicking on the action menu at the bottom right of the Fonts window and choose Colour. Alternatively, click on the colour wheel button at the top of the window.

There is a choice of various system colour pickers, which provide a whole spectrum of colours to choose from.

Colouring from a colour file

When text is added to the page, colours can be dragged to your text from a colour file, The Swatches Palette, or from the Layer Palette. Simply drag and drop the colour chips on to the text to recolour it.

Creating a drop shadow

Add a drop shadow to selected text using the Text Shadow function in the Fonts window. Three slider bars and a small turning disc allow the user to control the intensity, distance and angle of the shadow.

Click on the T button in the centre, at the top of the window to activate the feature. The drop shadow will appear on the selected text and can be controlled by the sliders to the right of the text shadow button. The left slider controls the intensity, the middle slider the blur and the right slider the distance from the actual text.

Editing and removing text

Existing text can be edited simply by clicking on it. The cursor will change to a pointing hand when you move over the text. A single click will highlight the text box and its nodes, so it can be moved or resized. A double click on the text will highlight the particular word your cursor was on when you double clicked.

If you wish to highlight part or all of the text in the box, simply double click anywhere in the box and the cursor will change to a standard text editing icon, allowing you to drag over the desired text to highlight it. Once highlighted, text can be edited as you wish.

Highlighted text within a text box, or indeed entire text boxes, can be copied and pasted in the usual way. Text boxes can also be duplicated in the Layout Window by clicking on them and choosing Colourway Menu > Duplicate, or clicking on the Duplicate button in the toolbar. Entire text boxes can be deleted from the page by clicking on them and pressing ⌫ (delete key) on the keyboard.

Aligning the text

You can align text within a text box to the left, right and centre as well as justified alignment.

1. Highlight the relevant text in a text box, using the Layout Text Tool.
2. Go to Edit Menu > Text and select the required alignment choice from the menu.

Users can also choose a different alignment for separate areas of the same text block. Simply highlight each individual section of the text block and choose an alignment option as outlined above.

Spell checking and grammar

You can activate Apple’s built in spelling and grammar tools in AVA. To do this, highlight a word or piece of text, hold down ^ (control key) on the keyboard while clicking on the text and select the desired options from the contextual menu that appears. To check spelling, go to Edit Menu > Spelling and Grammar > Check Spelling While Typing. To check grammar, go to Edit Menu > Spelling and Grammar > Check Grammar With Spelling.

Coming soon to AVA 5.9

1. Select the Text Tool from the Tools Palette.
   
2. Drag a box on the page at the position where you want to add the text.
3. Type the text needed, or if you are bringing it in from somewhere else, copy and paste it into the box
   
4. Change the font style, size and colour by highlighting the text and clicking on the new font panel at the top of the window 
   

Changing the colour of the font

There are two ways to colour your text on the Layout Window. 

• You can either colour from the system colour pickers by clicking the colour block in the text panel. (It is important to note that when colouring from system colour pickers, AVA cannot guarantee a colour match. If you wish for your text to be colour matched, we would recommend using the below option)
  
  
  
• You can colour from your existing colour files by dragging and dropping a colour onto the text.

Editing and removing text

Existing text can be edited simply by clicking on it. The cursor will change to a pointing hand when you move over the text. A single click will highlight the text box and its nodes, so it can be moved or resized. A double click on the text will highlight the particular word your cursor was on when you double clicked.

If you wish to highlight part or all of the text in the box, simply double click anywhere in the box and the cursor will change to a standard text editing icon, allowing you to drag over the desired text to highlight it. Once highlighted, text can be edited as you wish.

Highlighted text within a text box, or indeed entire text boxes, can be copied and pasted in the usual way. Text boxes can also be duplicated in the Layout Window by clicking on them and choosing Colourway Menu > Duplicate, or clicking on the Duplicate button in the toolbar. Entire text boxes can be deleted from the page by clicking on them and pressing ⌫ (delete key) on the keyboard.

Aligning the text

You can align text within a text box to the left, right and centre as well as justified alignment.

1. Highlight the relevant text in a text box, using the Layout Text Tool.
2. Go to the text panel and click on your chosen alignment option.
   

Users can also choose a different alignment for separate areas of the same text block. Simply highlight each individual section of the text block and choose an alignment option as outlined above.

Spell checking and grammar

You can activate Apple’s built in spelling and grammar tools in AVA. To do this, highlight a word or piece of text, hold down ^ (control key) on the keyboard while clicking on the text and select the desired options from the contextual menu that appears. To check spelling, go to Edit Menu > Spelling and Grammar > Check Spelling While Typing. To check grammar, go to Edit Menu > Spelling and Grammar > Check Grammar With Spelling.