Learn all about text editing! Watch the following video tutorials or keep scrolling for written instructions on customizing the text on your Book, Poster, or Calendar projects.
GETTING STARTED
First, create a new project or open the project you'd like to edit.
If you're working on a book or calendar, click on the page you wish to edit to enter edit mode.
The "Edit" tab below the book pages will also take you to the editor.
Click here to learn more about the book editor tabs.
You'll have edit access immediately if you're working on a poster.
HOW TO ADD AND EDIT TEXT
Double-click the text placeholder you want to add or edit content. A blue box with a flashing cursor will appear around it, meaning you can edit the content. You can type new or paste in copied text from another source.
Tip: To add a new text box, click the Text tab on the left-hand side of the editor and choose the text style you want to use.
Once you've selected the style of a text box you'd like to use, the box will pop up in the middle of the page with the filler text and a flashing cursor. You can begin typing the filler text to replace it with your custom text. You can type new text or paste in copied text from another source. Then click off the text box to save your edits.
Once you're done editing the text, you can click on the box to resize, rotate, and move the text box as needed. You may also adjust font styles and sizes.
HOW TO EXPAND A TEXT BOX
Click on the text box you want to expand. A blue box will appear around it.
Position your cursor over the top of one of the white boxes until it becomes a double-sided arrow.
Hold the left-click button on your mouse and drag in or out to increase or decrease the width of the text box.
Click off the text box to save your edits.
HOW TO ROTATE A TEXT BOX
Click on the text box you want to rotate. A blue box will appear around it.
Position your cursor over the top of the rotation icon until it becomes a plus sign.
Hold the left-click button on your mouse and drag counterclockwise or clockwise to rotate.
HOW TO REPOSITION A TEXT BOX
To reposition or move a text box, click on the text you want to move.
While holding the left-click button on your mouse, drag the text box to move and reposition it. Blue dotted lines appear to help you align with other elements placed on your project. You can use these as a guide to making sure everything lines up.
If you'd prefer, you can also move a text box around by selecting it and then using your keyboard's arrow keys. This is great for smaller movements.
Tip: You can use the grid to align objects further within your project. You can turn the grid on by selecting the "Show Grid" button in the top white toolbar.
HOW TO DUPLICATE A TEXT BOX
Duplicating a text box is great if you want to copy a style and change the information. To duplicate, begin by selecting the text you want to copy. Then select the "Duplicate Elements" icon on the top white toolbar.
Once you've selected the duplicate elements button, you will see that a copy of your text box has been created. You may resize, edit, and move the text box as needed.
To position a text box on top or beneath a photo or embellishment, use the Position tool in the top white toolbar to change the layering. Selecting "To forward" will position your text box on top of any other photo or text element on the page.
HOW TO CHANGE THE TRANSPARENCY OF AN ELEMENT
Click on the photo, text, or embellishment you want to edit.
Click the "Transparency" icon in the upper right side of the white toolbar.
Use the sliding scale to increase or decrease the element's transparency.
Click here for a step-by-step guide on customizing text, photos, and embellishments with brightness, sepia, grayscale, corner radius (rounding), and shadow with the poster, book, and calendar editor.
HOW TO DELETE A TEXT BOX
Click on the text you want to remove. You'll see a blue box around the text you'll be deleting.
Click the trash can icon in the top white toolbar or hit the delete button on your keyboard.
Tip: If you accidentally delete something, you may use the Undo button in the top white toolbar immediately after deleting it. The undo feature will bring the element back to your project. Please be sure to undo it instantly, as once you've moved on to something else - you won't be able to undo it anymore.
The tools in the top white toolbar allow you to change the font type and size, change its color, and align the text.
Tip: To apply these options, click the text box you want to edit.
To Bold, Italicize, or BoldItalic text, select a font type that ends with - Bold, - Italic, - SemiBold, - BoldItalic, or - SemiBoldItalic. There is no bold or italic button like you would find in a word processing program.
Click the font icons to increase or decrease the font size.
To change the font color, click the 'A' icon and select a color from the pre-determined choices. Or use your mouse to click and move the color faders to customize a color from the color menu.
Click the alignment icon to align the text left, center, or right.
PAGE MARGINS
When editing your Family History Book, you'll see a pink border around each page. This is the page's margins/bleed zone. If you hover your mouse over the border, you'll see the message, "Items in the shaded area may be cut off."
You can add text, photos, and embellishments to the edges of the page, but please note that anything in the shaded area may get cut off in production or fall into the bookbinding. We print ordered projects as you've created them, so please check for typos, correctness, and layout.
Here's more information on the bleed zone.
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