Preview 5.x: Add text or a text bubble

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Add text or a text bubble to an image or PDF document with Preview

You can add text that appears right on a PDF page or an image. That text can appear by itself or in a cartoon balloon.

If you add text to an image, you can’t edit, move, or delete the text after you save the image. If you think you’ll need to change the text, convert the image to a PDF document, and then add text to the PDF document.

Add text

  1. Click Show Edit Toolbar and click Text in the toolbar.
  2. Click where you want the text to appear and enter your text.
  3. To change the text’s format, select the text and do either of the following:
    • To change the color of the text, select the text, and then use the Colors pop-up menu in the Edit toolbar.

    • To change the text’s font and size, select the text, click Show Fonts, and then choose a font and size.

Add a speech bubble or thought bubble

  1. Click Show Edit Toolbar and click Speech Bubble or Thought bubble in the toolbar.
  2. Drag over the region where you want the bubble to appear.
  3. Enter your text.
  4. To change the bubble’s appearance, do any of the following:
    • To change the color of the text and bubble, use the Colors pop-up menu.

    • To change the line thickness of the bubble, use the Line Attributes pop-up menu.

    • To change the text’s font and size, select the text, click Show Fonts, and then choose a font and size.

Change the appearance of text or a text bubble

  1. Click the text or text bubble so resize handles appear.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • To change the text’s font and size, click the Show Font button in the toolbar.

    • To change the color of the text, use the Colors pop-up menu. If you selected a text bubble, this also changes the color of the bubble.

    • To change the line thickness of a bubble, use the Line Attributes pop-up menu.

Edit the text

  1. Double-click the text to select it.
  2. Type your changes.

Delete the text or text bubble

  1. Click the text or text bubble so resize handles appear.
  2. Press Delete.
Last Modified: Sep 3, 2015
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