User Guide

Canvas 12 User Guide
Applying text formats
Canvas provides three ways to format text: the Properties bar, Text menu, and Type palette. The
Type palette is also used when you create and save paragraph and character styles (see "Working
with type styles" on page 605). The Type palette can be used to apply the paragraph and character
styles.
You must apply or save the new settings before clicking the pointer anywhere outside the
Type palette. If you don’t, the settings will be lost.
When you use menu commands or the Properties bar to apply formatting, the settings you choose
affect the document immediately. However, with the Type palette, the settings take effect when you
click Apply. You do not have to click Apply before switching to another tab within the Type palette;
Canvas remembers all changes and applies them simultaneously with one click.
To apply character formatting to existing text:
Select the characters you want to change. Choose the formatting you want to apply.
To apply paragraph formatting to existing text:
Select text in the paragraph you want to change, or place the insertion point anywhere in the
paragraph. Choose the formatting you want to apply.
To establish formatting for new text objects:
When you create a new text object, Canvas applies a preset format to text you type. You can define
the preset format for new text objects. To establish or modify the preset, follow these steps:
1. Be sure you have not selected any text or text objects, and no text objects are in edit mode.
To deselect all objects, press Esc twice.
2. Use one of the methods to choose formatting options. If you use the Type palette, be sure to
click the Apply button after making changes.
Canvas uses the specified settings to format new text objects that you create.
To change formatting before typing new text:
Set the format for text you are about to type without changing the preset format for new text objects.
1. Place the text object in edit mode (see "To select text within a text object:" on page 578). The
pointer should appear as an I-beam and an insertion point (a flashing vertical line) should
appear in the text.
580