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Set fonts and format characters

Last updated: October 5, 2026 · 4 min read

Change the font, size, color, and character formatting of your text.

Choose whether you want to change an entire text block or emphasize a few words before applying formatting.

Follow these steps

  1. 1

    Choose the scope

    EditorCanvas

    To change the font, size, or color of the whole block, finish editing and select the block. To change only some words, double-click inside and drag across them. Then use Properties.

    Mix means the selection contains different values. Choosing a value makes that setting consistent across the selection.

  2. 2

    Choose a font and weight

    PropertiesTypography

    Click the font field and type part of the name into Search fonts at the top of the list. Recently used comes first, then the Brand group with the fonts in your brand kit; other families are grouped as Sans-serif, Serif, Display, Handwriting and Monospace. Each row is shown in its own typeface. The weight list only offers the weights the family actually has, such as Regular, Medium and Bold.

  3. 3

    Set the size

    PropertiesTypography

    Pick a value from the size list, or type a value into the field and press Enter; the field accepts arithmetic too (24+4). Sizes are shown in pixels by default. If you set type in points for print, change Type size unit to Points (pt) under Rulers & Guides in the Canvas panel; 16 px corresponds to 12 pt. For readable text aim for 16 px or more in the editor, and see the note in the accessible text lesson.

  4. 4

    Set text and background colors

    PropertiesStyle

    Use the text color field to color characters. The background field changes the text box background, rather than highlighting just the selected words. Check the result against the actual background.

    In the colour picker, the Document row shows the colours used most in this catalog, Recent shows the ones you picked last, and Brand shows the colours in your brand kit.

  5. 5

    Emphasize characters

    PropertiesStyle

    While editing, select text and use the bold, italic, underline, or strikethrough icon. Command/Ctrl+B, I, and U also toggle bold, italic, and underline. For m², select only the 2 and choose Superscript; for H₂O, select the 2 and choose Subscript.

    These controls require text editing mode. To change the whole block’s weight without entering it, use the weight list in Typography.

  6. 6

    Adjust spacing and letter case

    PropertiesStyle

    Use Letter spacing to bring characters closer or spread them out; zero restores normal spacing. Aa uses normal case, AA uppercase, aa lowercase, and Ab capitalized initials. Do not insert spaces between letters to create tracking.

  7. 7

    Select similar text blocks

    PropertiesSelect similar

    Choose font, size, color, or paragraph style as matching criteria. Enabling a criterion immediately selects matching blocks on the current page. When using several criteria, a block must match all of them. Check the selection before editing several blocks together.

  8. 8

    Clear formatting when needed

    PropertiesStyle

    While editing, select a text range and choose Clear Formatting. This removes formatting and links in that range. Without a selected text range, the action affects the whole block and resets its base text settings as well.

    Clear Formatting is different from Reset overrides on a paragraph style. Use the style control to return to the linked style’s settings.

Result

Your text is formatted at the intended scope. Leave editing mode to review the result.

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