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Create a classroom heading with editable words, a favorite font, and lettering effects. Start with a readable title, then add a curve, a patterned or gradient fill, and an outline to suit your board.
About 8 minutesBeginner friendlyTitles and lettering effects
1. Choose the right kind of text
The Text panel has two options. Choose the type before selecting a font:
Option | Use it for |
|---|---|
Decorative text | Short headings, display titles, and labels with lettering effects. Supports curves, pattern and gradient fills, outlines, and shadows. |
Regular text | Paragraphs, lists, and text that wraps within a text box. Use this for longer classroom instructions or body copy. |
This guide covers Decorative text. It uses font-based letters whose wording you can edit. For illustrated or themed character artwork, open Letters in the left tool rail and follow Create Classroom Titles with Letter Sets and Word Builder.
Switching the option in the left panel chooses what you add next; it does not convert an existing element. You can use decorative titles and regular body text together on the same board.
2. Add a decorative text element
Open Text. Select the Text tab in the left tools panel. Show the tools panel from the top toolbar if it is hidden.
Choose Decorative. It appears beside Regular above the font library.
Find a font. Browse the previews or enter its name in Search fonts. Results update as you type. Use Filters to narrow the category or access level. The library includes sections such as My Fonts, Recently Used, Featured, and All Fonts as available.
Select a font preview. BoardCraft adds and selects a new element near the center of the board with the sample wording DECORATE ME!.
Choose Edit Text. The selection toolbar above the canvas opens the Decorative text controls in Properties on the right. If the toolbar is compact, look in More selection actions.
The examples use Heavy Hug. Choose any font available to your account; premium fonts may show an access message if they are not included in your plan. Wait for the chosen font to load before judging the result.
3. Replace the wording and add intentional line breaks
With your heading selected, choose Edit Text and type into Text content. For the example, enter READ TOGETHER. Changes appear on the board as you edit.
Press Enter in Text content to start another line. Decorative text keeps your explicit line breaks rather than automatically wrapping a paragraph to fit a narrow box. For a two-line heading, type “WELCOME TO,” press Enter, then type “OUR CLASS.”
Edit directly on the canvas
You can also double-click the text on the board to edit it inline. The editing field focuses on the words; use Properties to judge or change the decorative styling.
Finish: click outside the editing field, or press Ctrl + Enter on Windows / Cmd + Enter on Mac.
Add a line: press Enter without the modifier key.
Cancel the inline edit: press Esc to return to the wording from before that inline session.
Use Undo in the top toolbar if you need to reverse a completed change.
4. Change the font, spacing, and alignment
Select your heading and choose Edit Text. Click the current Font preview in Properties to open Choose a font. Browse or search, then select a preview to apply it to the selected text. Close the picker without choosing if you want to keep the current font.
Control | What to adjust |
|---|---|
Size | Make the lettering larger or smaller. Check its physical dimensions separately in Basics when preparing a printed display. |
Letter spacing | Increase the gaps between characters or use a smaller value to bring them closer. Avoid crowding letters and outlines. |
Line height | Adjust the vertical spacing in headings with explicit line breaks. |
Bold / Italic |
5. Give a short title a curve
Set your wording, font, and spacing first. These affect the shape and readability of the curved title.
Open Edit Text and find Curve. Scroll inside Properties if the controls are below the visible area.
Choose a preset. The buttons are Straight, Arch up, Arch down, Wave, and Flag. Hover over an icon to read its name.
Adjust Intensity. It appears for curved presets and changes how strongly the lettering bends. Wave and Flag also accept negative values to reverse the effect's direction.
Review the whole heading. Leave room for its new height and width. Choose Reset or Straight to return to an uncurved layout.
Curves work best for short titles. If you later change the words or font, check the spacing and curve again before printing.
6. Choose a color, gradient, or pattern fill
The fill buttons in the selection toolbar open Appearance in Properties and select a fill mode. Hover over them for Use solid fill, Use gradient fill, and Use pattern fill. You can also switch between Color, Pattern, and Gradient in Appearance. On a narrow canvas, check More selection actions for hidden controls.
Solid color
Choose Color, then select a swatch, use the color picker, or enter a hex color. A solid fill is a good starting point for checking how well your title contrasts with the background.
Gradient
Choose Gradient, select Linear or Radial, then set the Start and End colors. Adjust Angle for a linear gradient or Center for a radial gradient. Use Scale to adjust how far the blend spreads.
Pattern
Choose Pattern. Click the pattern preview or Open Library to open Choose a repeat pattern.
Find an asset. Browse Patterns, Clipart, Name Tags, or My Uploads. Search where available. Choose an asset available to your account.
Select a preview to apply it. The picker closes and the repeat-pattern controls appear in Properties.
Color individual letters with Parts
Select an unlocked decorative title. Choose Edit artwork parts in the selection toolbar, or open Appearance → Parts.
Click a letter on the canvas or use Select previous letter and Select next letter.
Set Letter color. That letter gets its own solid color while the title stays editable.
Use Reset selected letter or Reset all letter colors to restore the underlying fill. Finish the wording and case first: changing the wording or applying a different case clears individual letter colors.
7. Add outlines and shadows
In Appearance, scroll below the fill settings. Each effect has two separate controls: its On/Off switch enables or disables it, and its heading or chevron expands or collapses its settings. Collapsing a section leaves the effect applied.
Stroke and Second Stroke
Stroke means an outline around the letters. Turn it on, expand its settings, and choose Stroke color and Stroke width. Start with a thin contrasting edge and increase the width only as needed.
Turn on Second Stroke for another outline layer, then set Second stroke color and Second stroke width. The example combines a black edge with a white outer outline. Use different colors so both layers remain visible.
Outer Shadow and Inner Shadow
Under Effects, turn on Outer Shadow for a shadow outside the letters, or Inner Shadow for shading inside them. Expand the chosen section to adjust Color, Opacity, Angle, Distance, and Glow size.
8. Size and arrange the title on your board
Choose Back to properties from Appearance, then scroll down to Basics. Drag the text to move it, use its resize handles to change its size, or drag the handle above it to rotate it.
Use Width and Height when the title must fit a measured display space. Keep Keep ratio enabled for proportional sizing.
Use X, Y, and Rotate (°) for precise placement. Recheck the whole title after resizing a curve or changing effects.
Use the board snap icons above Basics to move the element to a board edge, horizontal center, or vertical middle. These differ from text alignment inside the frame.
Use Layers to select text behind other items, rename its layer, or manage its visibility. The selection toolbar also provides Duplicate, Lock selected, Hide selected, and Delete.
For longer copy that should wrap when you change the box width, add Regular text. For more about alignment, stacking, groups, and locking, follow Select, Arrange, and Manage Elements.
9. Save and check the title before printing
Select Save if the board has unsaved changes and wait for Saved before leaving. See Save Your Board and Resolve Editing Conflicts if saving needs attention.
Choose Export → Export for Printing when you want classroom pieces to cut out and assemble. Choose Save as Image (PNG) or Save as Document (PDF) for the complete board layout. Follow the export comparison and Print Pack guide for export and assembly details.
If the result is not what you expected
What you see | What to check |
|---|---|
A second text item appeared when you chose a font. | You used the left add-text library. Undo the addition, select the original heading, then use Edit Text → Font in Properties. |
You cannot find curves or decorative fills. | Check the selected layer's type. Regular text has a different editor. Add a new element through Text → Decorative text for the effects in this guide. |
The title extends beyond the board instead of wrapping. | Reduce its size, add explicit line breaks, or use Regular text for a wrapping paragraph. |
An outline or shadow is missing. | Check its On/Off switch and settings. Use a visible color and a nonzero width or opacity, as appropriate. |
The pattern is hard to recognize. | Adjust Scale and offsets, wait for the artwork to load, and check whether the pattern colors contrast with each other. |
The controls are unavailable. | Select one decorative text element. If it is locked, unlock it through Layers before editing. |
