This tutorial will show you how to add text and change the font, size, color, and justification.
Text Tool
Access the Text Tool from the tool panel. The icon for the Text tool is an uppercase ‘T.’
![illustrator text tool in tool panel text tool in tool panel](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-text-tool-in-tool-panel.png)
Creating Floating Text
- Select the Text Tool.
- Single click where you’d like to add unbounded text.
- Type what you want your text to say.
NOTE: You can also copy text from somewhere else and paste it at this point instead of typing it in.
![illustrator click to create floating text click to create floating text](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-click-to-create-floating-text.png)
- When you’re finished entering your text content, hit esc on your keyboard.
![illustrator text selected text selected](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-text-selected.png)
Changing Text Settings
Settings for your text are found in the Properties panel.
![illustrator text options in properties panel text options in properties panel](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-text-options-in-properties-panel-424x1024.png)
Font and size are changed in the Character panel in the properties panel.
- Click the dropdown box where the current font is listed.
NOTE: Illustrator’s Default font is Myriad Pro. It’s good practice to pick something other than the default font.
- Single-click on the font you want to use.
![illustrator change font in character panel change font in character panel](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-change-font-in-character-panel-1024x761.png)
- Click the dropdown next to the current font size. The default size is “12 pt.”
![illustrator change text size in character panel change text size in character panel](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-change-text-size-in-character-panel.png)
- Click on the size you want your font to be.
![illustrator new text size new text size](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-new-text-size.png)
NOTE: You can also type the size you want into the size field, or use the up and down arrows to change it.
![illustrator incremental text size change incremental text size change](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-incremental-text-size-change.png)
Change Text Color
- Select the text you want to change using the Selection Tool.
![illustrator text adjusted size and font text adjusted size and font](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-text-adjusted-size-and-font.png)
The color settings are in the Appearance panel found in the Properties panel.
- Click on the color swatch for Fill.
![illustrator appearance panel appearance panel](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-appearance-panel.png)
The Swatches panel will open.
![illustrator click fill swatch to open swatches panel click fill swatch to open swatches panel](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-click-fill-swatch-to-open-swatches-panel.png)
- Click the color you want to use.
![illustrator new text color new text color](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-new-text-color.png)
Create Bounded Text
For larger areas of text, you may want to use bounded text instead of floating text. The bounding will allow you to enter large amounts of text and will wrap it to multiple lines automatically.
![illustrator document document](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-document-796x1024.png)
- Using the Text Tool, click-and-drag a boundary for your text.
NOTE: The text box can later be adjusted using the Selection Tool.
![illustrator click and drag to make bounded text click and drag to make bounded text](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-click-and-drag-to-make-bounded-text-789x1024.png)
The box will fill with “lorem ipsum” filler text.
- Type or paste in the text you need.
NOTE: The text settings will be Illustrator’s default settings if it’s the first text you’ve created. If you created other text already, it may use the settings from that text.
- Hit esc on the keyboard when you’re done editing the text.
- Use settings in Properties panel (character and appearance) to change font, size, and color.
![illustrator change font and size and add content change font and size and add content](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-change-font-and-size-and-add-content-796x1024.png)
You are also able to change the justification of your text (left, centered, etc.)
![illustrator add bounded text add bounded text](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-add-bounded-text-790x1024.png)
The justification options are in the Paragraph panel within in the Properties panel.
![illustrator justification options in paragraph panel in properties panel justification options in paragraph panel in properties panel](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-justification-options-in-paragraph-panel-in-properties-panel-1024x281.png)
Click on the option you want to make changes.
If the text box is selected it will apply to all text in the box. If you only want certain lines affected, you can highlight text with your cursor.
![illustrator change justification in paragraph panel change justification in paragraph panel](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-change-justifcation-in-paragraph-panel-1024x267.png)
Duplicate Text with Copy/Paste
If you want to duplicate an object you have already, you might try to just copy/paste to get a second one. While this will duplicate the object, the new object will paste in the center of your document, which would make it harder to align with the original one.
![illustrator copy paste goes in middle of document copy paste goes in middle of document](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-copy-paste-goes-in-middle-of-document-786x1024.png)
You may instead want to try “pasting in place” which you can do from the Edit menu.
This will put the new item directly on top of the old one and you can move it with the Selection Tool, or with your keyboard’s arrow keys.
![illustrator copy paste in place makes it easier to keep objects aligned copy paste in place makes it easier to keep objects aligned](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-copy-paste-in-place-makes-it-easier-to-keep-objects-aligned.png)
You may find once your design is complete that it’s not well balanced.
![illustrator finished letterhead finished letterhead](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-finished-letterhead-781x1024.png)
Use the Selection Tool and arrow keys to tweak your design.
![illustrator adjust elements for balance adjust elements for balance](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-adjust-elements-for-balance-784x1024.png)
Save Your Progress
Save your progress by selecting Save in the File menu.
![illustrator save from file menu save from file menu](https://mediacommons.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/illustrator-save-from-file-menu-3.png)