Modify text color

In the Appearance pane of the Text Inspector or in the HUD, you can change the color of text using standard color controls.

Note: To adjust individual color channels, you must use the Appearance pane of the Text Inspector.

You can also apply a gradient to text, from the Appearance pane or from the Library.

Set text color in the Inspector

  1. Select text in the Layers list, Canvas, or Timeline.

  2. In the Appearance pane of the Text Inspector, make sure that the “Fill with” pop-up menu is set to Color.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • Click the color well, then use the Colors window to set the text color.

      Color well control in Inspector
    • Click the downward arrow to the right of the color well (or Control-click the color well), then click in the pop-up color palette to select a color. Drag in the lower palette to set the color to a grayscale color.

      Pop-up color palette showing original and new color swatches and grayscale color selection area
    • Click the eyedropper tool to the right of the Color well, then click a color in the Canvas.

    • In the Inspector, click the Color disclosure triangle to show the color channel parameters, then use the sliders or value sliders to adjust each color channel.

      Expanded Color controls in Inspector

Set text color in the HUD

  1. Select text in the Canvas, Layers list, or Timeline.

  2. In the HUD (if it’s not displayed, press F7 or D) click the color well, then choose a text color in the Colors window.

    Color picker in Mac OS X Colors window

    The text is dynamically updated as you select a color.

    Note: To select a color from the Canvas (or anything on the desktop), click the color picker in the Colors window, position the picker over the color you want to select, then click again.

Apply a text gradient

In the Inspector, you can apply a gradient fill to text, then customize or animate the gradient in the Gradient editor. For general information about working with gradients, see Gradient editor controls.

Canvas showing text with gradient applied

Like preset text styles from the Library, preset gradients can be applied to text. Gradient presets are located in the Gradients category of the Library. A custom gradient that you apply to text can also be saved in the Library for use in future projects.

  1. Select text in the Canvas, Layers list, or Timeline.

  2. In the Appearance pane of the Text Inspector, click the “Fill with” pop-up menu, then choose Gradient.

    In the Inspector, the Color controls are replaced with the Gradient editor. The default gradient is white and blue (Atlantic Blue).

    Text Inspector showing "Fill with" pop-up menu set to Gradient

    In the Canvas, the default gradient is applied to the text.

Apply a preset text gradient

  1. Select the text and make sure the “Fill with” pop-up menu is set to Gradient in the Appearance pane of the Text Inspector.

  2. Click the Gradient preset pop-up menu (on the right side of the Gradient row), then choose a preset gradient.

    Gradient preset pop-up menu that appears when "Fill with" pop-up menu is set to Gradient

    The selected gradient is applied to the text.

    Canvas showing text with gradient applied

Apply a preset gradient from the Library

  1. In the Library, click the Gradients category.

  2. In the stack, select a gradient.

    A preview of the selected gradient appears in the preview area.

    Library showing preview of selected gradient
  3. Do one of the following:

    • Drag the gradient to text in the Canvas, Layers list, or Timeline.

    • Make sure text is selected in the Canvas, Layers list, or Timeline, then click Apply in the preview area.

    The gradient is applied to the text.