This tutorial introduces you to some of the basics of using text in CorelDRAW. In this tutorial you learn how to add both Artistic and Paragraph text, add a drop cap, fit text to paths and frames and link frames, in various ways.

Select a topic:

Artistic text

Paragraph text

Use Artistic text to add single lines of text, such as titles. You can also fit Artistic text to a path, such as the outline of an object, to give your text interesting shapes.

Select an option:

Adding Artistic text

Fitting Artistic text to a path

Changing the orientation of text fitted to a path

You can use Artistic text for titles, or for creating small blocks of text.

1. Click the Text tool.
2. Choose 48 in the Font Size list box.
3. Click on the Drawing Page.
4. Type "Artistic text creates great titles."

You can fit text to paths, such as lines and outlines of objects, with precision using the Fit Text To Path feature. Once you create a text/path group, you can manipulate its appearance by adjusting the text.

Select an option:

Fitting new text to a path or object

Fitting existing text to a path or object

You can easily fit new text to a path.

1. Click the Ellipse tool.
2. Click in the Drawing Window and drag. Size the ellipse to about one half the size of the Drawing Page.
3. Click the Text tool.
4. Move the cursor toward the object's outline.
5. Click in the Drawing Window when the cursor changes to the insertion point.
6. Type "Fitting text to the outline of an object."

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You can easily fit existing text to a path.

Click here to open a sample file.

1. Using the Pick tool right-click the Artistic text and drag over the curve object. (When the text is on the path the cursor changes to circle with cross hairs)
2. Release the mouse button and click Fit Text To Path.

Tip

You can also click Text, Fit Text To Path, place the arrow cursor over the path, then click the mouse button to fit the text to the path.

To create the illusion that a shape's outline is made up of text, right-click the No Color button in the Color Palette to make the outline invisible.

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Changing the placement of Artistic text vertically changes the amount of space between the text and the path. Changing the placement horizontally changes the position of text along the path. In objects with closed paths, you can place the text on any quadrant of the object or specify the distance you want to move the text along the path.

Click here to open a sample file.

1. Select the text/path group with the Pick tool. Make sure both the text and path are selected.
2. To place the text inside the object, click the Place Text On Other Side button.
3. Choose an option from the Vertical Placement list box to change the vertical placement of the text.
4. Choose an option from the Text Placement box on the Property Bar to place the text in a different quadrant of the object.
5. Type a value in the Distance From Path box on the Property Bar, to change the distance between the text and path, then press ENTER.
6. Type a value for the distance in the Horizontal Offset box on the Property Bar, to move the text horizontally along the path, then press ENTER.

Use Paragraph text to add large blocks of text for advertisements, brochures, and other text-intensive projects.

You can link Paragraph text frames, add drop caps, and make bulleted lists.

Select an option:

Adding Paragraph text

Drop caps

Linking frames

Use Paragraph text for things like brochures which contain a lot of text.

1. Click the Text tool.
2. Choose 48 in the Font Size list box.
3. Click top-left corner of Drawing Page and drag the outline toward the bottom right corner.
4. Type "Paragraph text creates great lists."

Drop caps mark the beginning of chapters and sections while adding pizzazz and polish to professional documents such as newsletters, brochures, and books.

You can add drop caps to Paragraph text as easily as you can change the font of text.

Select an option:

Creating drop caps

Formatting drop caps

Drop caps can only be created using Paragraph text. When a paragraph has a drop cap, the initial letter of the paragraph is displayed inset into the body of the text.

Click here to open a sample file.

1. Click the Paragraph text frame containing with text with the Text tool.
2. Click the Show/Hide Drop Cap button on the Property Bar.

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You can customize the look of a drop cap to enhance its effect.

Click here to open a sample file.

1. Select the Paragraph text frame with the Pick tool.
2. Click Text menu, Format Text.
3. Enter 3 in the Dropped Lines box in the Format Text dialog box.
4. Enter 0.3 in the Distance From Text box and click OK.
5. Click the Text tool.
6. Marquee select the "D" in "Drop caps".
7. Choose a font from the Font List list box on the Property Bar.

Note

If you can't see the drop cap after modifying it, try expanding the paragraph text frame by dragging the bottom right corner down.

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Linking Paragraph text frames together allows text to flow from one frame to another. This let's you easily create documents with large amounts of text, such as newsletters and brochures.

You can link frames contained on one page or link a frame to one that's on a different page. You can also link a Paragraph text frame to text on a path. Once you have created a link, you can edit or delete it.

Select an option:

Linking two frames on the same page

Inserting a frame inside an object

Fitting text to a frame

Changing text flow

Linking lets you link two frames located on any page in your drawing. This procedure shows you how to link two frames on one page.

Click here to open a sample file.

1. Select the paragraph frame containing the text with the Pick tool.
2. Click the Text Flow tab at the bottom of the frame.
3. Position the cursor on the outline of the paragraph frame to which you want to link (the cursor changes first to a page then to a black arrow.)
4. Click the frame. The link appears as a blue line that identifies the direction of the text flow.

Note

The two frames are now linked so that if you shrink or enlarge one frame or change the size of the text, the amount of text in the next frame adjusts automatically.

Tip

You can also use this procedure to link paragraph text frames to objects and paths.

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You can add text directly inside objects in your drawing. The object's outline acts as a border, wrapping text automatically when you reach the edges of an object, allowing you to apply formatting features without having to create a text frame.

Click here to open a sample file.

1. Select the ellipse with the Pick tool.
2. Click the Text tool, hold down SHIFT, then click edge of the object.
3. Type "The text takes on the shape of the object."

Note

When fitting text inside an object, the text cursor changes shape from to as you move over the object.

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You can make Paragraph text shrink or expand to fit inside the size of a frame.

Click here to open a sample file.

1. Select the frame with the Pick tool.
2. Click Text menu, Fit Text To Frame.

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If you modify the design of your page, you can redirect the flow of text to suit your needs.

Click here to open a sample file.

1. Using the Pick tool, click the paragraph frame then click the Text Flow tab at the bottom of the frame where the link starts.
2. After the cursor changes to an arrow, select the new frame, into which you want to continue text flow, with the Pick tool. The link appears as a blue line that identifies the direction of text flow.

Notes

If the linked frame is on a different page, the page number appears in a blue box next to the paragraph frame on the originating page.

The two frames are now linked. If you shrink or enlarge one frame or change the size of the text, the amount of text in the next frame adjusts automatically.

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