CrystalMaker Help > Guide > Embellishments

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Text Boxes and Annotation

The Edit Annotation window (Window > Palettes > Annotation) lets you edit text and choose a font, size, text style and colour. Text boxes can have a transparent or opaque background, and you can have a solid frame in the foreground (text) colour. You can attach a line to the text box: either "from" an anchor point, or centred on the textbox, with or without arrows.

You can also use the Edit Annotation window to create lines and arrows, independently of text boxes. Simply leave the window's text field blank, and check the "Show Line" option.

The positions of text boxes and associated lines/arrows are defined in a relative sense to the rest of the graphics window. This means that text boxes maintain their correct relative positions when the graphics window is resized or when you copy or print graphics at high resolution.

To create a new text box:

  1. Choose the Annotation Tool ("A" icon) from the Tools palette

  2. Click at the position in the graphics window where you wish your text box to appear.

  3. The Edit Annotation window appears letting you enter text, define a text style and add an arrow or line. Click the window's Apply button to confirm your new settings.

To edit an existing text box, do one of the following:

  • If the Edit Annotation window is already open, simply select the text box (e.g., by clicking on it with the Arrow Tool).

  • If the Edit Annotation window is not open, you can make it appear by clicking on the text box with the Annotation Tool, or double-clicking with the Arrow tool.

To move a text box or arrow:

  • Click and drag the text box(es) with the Arrow tool.

  • To change the position of the line or arrow associated with a text box, click the end of the line, or the arrow tip so that a square control handle appears; then drag the handle to a new position.

To duplicate an existing text box, line or arrow:

  1. Choose the Arrow tool from the Tools palette.

  2. Select the text boxes, lines or arrows you wish to duplicate.

  3. Option/Alt-click and drag one of the selected objects.

To delete a text box, line or arrow:

  1. Select the text boxes, lines or arrows you wish to delete (e.g., by shift-clicking on them with the Arrow tool).

  2. Press the Delete (backspace) key on your keyboard.