Minitutorial #4 in our series focuses on the text tool – the essential tool for anotating your objects, explaining things with words or making notes. Check out this tutorial to find out all the ways for creating text in Excalidraw!

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⬇ CHAPTERS & INSTRUCTIONS ⬇

0:03 | Creating separate text (with text tool)
Select the Text tool in the toolbar at the top of the editor (or press the 8 key on your keyboard). Click on the canvas where you want the text to be and start typing.

0:10 | Creating separate text (with double click)
Just doubleclick anywhere on the canvas and start typing.

0:19 | Creating text within objects
This is also very easy. First you need to create an object (rectangle, diamond, circle or arrow) to place the text inside. So select the shape tool of your preference, create that shape on the canvas and create the text using:
Enter (0:20, 0:42): press the Enter key while you have the shape selected, and start typing,
Doubleclick (0:27, 0:50): doubleclick on the shape you have created and start typing,
Text tool (0:35, 0:59): select the text tool and click anywhere on the created object.

1:07 | Advanced text functionality
1:10 Any text you write can easily be wrapped in the container (1:13). Just create the text using the text tool or double click. When the text is complete, rightclick on it and select Wrap text in a container. And voila, a rectangle will appear around the text (you can change its appearance in the preference pane on the left).
1:24 You get a similar result if you create the text and the rectangle separately. So create the text either using the text tool or via a doubleclick. And create the shape of your choice. Select both text and shape, right click on the selection and choose Bind text to container. Once the text is bound to the shape, it can be unbound again (just rightclick on the shape and select Unbind text).

1:45 | Customizing text
Customize the text you have created using the preferences panel on the left side of the editor (note that the text you want to customize must be selected first). You can set:
* Color (stroke) note that this video was made before we've released a newer version of color picker (with more colors and shades), but the idea is still the same
* Font size (S / M / L / XL)
* Font family (Handdrawn / Normal / Code)
* Text align (Left / Center / Right)

Note that if the text is bound to the shape, changing the stroke and opacity will change the stroke+opacity of the shape too. If you want to have a different color+opacity of the text, you first need to unbind the text (= have the shape and text separate).

2:10 | Bonus
An example of how all these techniques, tips and tricks can be used to create a simple and funny diagram!

TIP: Combine text with lines, arrows, basic shapes and layering (also available in the leftsided preference bar at the bottom) to create diagrams, wireframes, mind maps or graphic designs in a unique handwritten style!

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