MS Paint Text Tool
Words turn a picture into a message. Posters need titles, diagrams need labels, and photos need captions. The Text tool places typed words on the canvas, and the formatting options make them clear and attractive.
Add Text to a Picture
- Click the Text tool, which shows the letter A in the Tools section.
- Drag a rectangle on the canvas where the words should go.
- Type your message inside the box.
- Click outside the box to place the text.
The text box can grow. Drag its handles to widen it so long lines fit.
The Formatting Bar
A formatting bar appears whenever a text box is active. It works much like the bar in a word processor.
Font and Size
Choose a font from the list and set a size. Large sizes suit titles. Medium sizes suit labels. Pick a plain font for long sentences.
Bold, Italic, and Underline
Select words and click B, I, or U. Bold adds weight. Italic adds a slanted style. Underline draws a line beneath the letters.
Text Color
The text uses the active color. Pick a color before you start typing, or select the words and change the color afterward.
Background Choices
Opaque mode paints a solid box behind the words. Transparent mode lets the picture show through. Use transparent mode for captions placed on photos, and make sure the letters stay readable.
Edit Text Before You Finish
Text stays editable while the box is active. Click inside the box to fix spelling mistakes or change the size. Moving the pointer over the border turns it into a cross, and dragging moves the box. After you click outside, the words become part of the picture, and further changes need the Eraser or the Undo command. Some newer versions let you click the words again, so test your version.
Make Text Easy to Read
- Pick strong contrast between letters and background.
- Avoid more than two fonts in one picture.
- Keep sentences short on posters.
- Leave empty space around the words.
- Choose bold styles for titles viewed from far away.
Place Text Exactly
Turn on the gridlines and rulers to align text with other objects. Place the text box first, type the words, and nudge the box with the mouse until it sits right. Zoom in for fine placement.
Add a Shadow Effect
Type the words in a dark color and place the box. Add the same words in a bright color on a second text box. Move the bright box a few pixels up and left of the dark one. The overlap creates a simple shadow, which makes the words pop.
Common Problems
The Text Looks Jagged
Small sizes on a small canvas show square edges. Increase the canvas size or the font size.
The Box Covers the Picture
Switch the background to transparent mode in the formatting bar.
The Letters Look Blurry After Resizing
Resizing stretches pixels. Add text at the final picture size whenever possible.
Practice Exercise
Create a birthday card. Type a large title in a bold font, add a name in a script-style font, and finish with a small message at the bottom. Save the card as a PNG file. The project covers font, size, color, and placement in one session.