How do I add and format text on my slides?
The slides editor includes a rich text editor with full formatting controls — fonts, sizes, colours, lists, backgrounds, and borders.
Adding text
Double-click anywhere on a slide to create a new text box and start typing, or insert a text box from the Draw panel. The floating toolbar will change when text is selected to show formatting options.
Formatting text
When you select text or click into a text box, the floating toolbar shows the following options:
Font family
Click the font dropdown to choose from available fonts, including handwriting fonts tailored to your school's state curriculum.
Font size
Choose from preset sizes:
| Size | Pixels | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 14px | Fine print, captions |
| S | 24px | Body text, descriptions |
| M | 40px | Subheadings |
| L | 72px | Headings |
| XL | 108px | Large titles |
| XXL | 172px | Hero text, single words |
Text can also be scaled up and down to arbitrary sizes by dragging a corner handle.
Text styling
Use the toolbar buttons or keyboard shortcuts to style your text:
| Style | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl+B (Cmd+B) | Make text bold |
| Italic | Ctrl+I (Cmd+I) | Make text italic |
| Underline | Ctrl+U (Cmd+U) | Underline text |
Text colour
Click the colour picker in the toolbar to change the colour of your text.
Alignment
Align your text within the text box:
- Left (default)
- Centre
- Right
- Justify
Lists
Convert your text into a list:
- Bullet list: Unordered list with bullet points
- Numbered list: Ordered list with sequential numbers
- Checklist: List with a check box
Click the list button in the toolbar to toggle between list types, or remove list formatting.
Text box background and borders
You can add a background colour and border to any text box:
Background colour
Select a text box and use the background colour option in the floating toolbar to add a coloured background behind your text. When a background is set, padding is automatically added for readability.
Borders
Add a border to your text box with control over:
- Border colour: Choose any colour
- Border width: Adjust thickness
- Border style: Solid, dashed, or dotted
Tips
- Double-click on existing text to edit it
- Drag the edges of a text box to resize it
- Use Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z) to undo formatting changes
- Combine background colours and borders to create callout boxes, labels, or highlighted sections
- Handwriting fonts are great for modelling letter formation on slides displayed to students
- If you have a styled text box you use frequently, save it as a template for easy reuse across decks