Text

Adding text

Press ⌘T and click anywhere on the Canvas to add a text layer. Alternatively, click on the Insert menu in the toolbar and select the text option.

You can also click, then drag to create a fixed size text box where text will wrap to a new line instead of expanding the size of the text box.

Adding rich text

Rich text preserves your formatting, like bold or italic styles, when you insert text in Sketch. Press ⇧⌥⌘V to paste as rich text or press S to launch the Command Bar and type Rich text.

Adding text to a vector path

To add text to a vector path, you’ll need both a text layer and a shape layer below it in the Layer List. Select the text layer and then select Text > Text on Path . Finally, drag your text layer towards your shape layer and let it snap into place.

To remove text from the path, select Text > Text on Path again.

Formatting text

You’ll find many ways to change how your text looks in the Inspector, along with a few more advanced options in the Text menu in the Menu Bar.

Formatting text in the Inspector

Select a text layer on your Canvas to see most formatting options and properties in the Inspector.

1. Use the Width and Height selectors to control how text layers resize. You can choose from Fit, Fixed, or Relative: – Fit adjusts the layer to match the size of its content. – Fixed keeps the layer at a set size, wrapping the text within it. – Relative resizes the layer based on its parent.
2. Apply Text Stylesusing the pop-up menu located below the Appearance section in the Inspector.
3. Use the Data button to populate text layers with a data source.
4. Use the font family and font weight dropdowns to set your text layer’s typeface and weight.
5. Click the color well to apply a solid color, or use the icon to apply a Color Variable.
6. Enter values for size, character spacing, line height, and paragraph spacing.
7. Use the alignment controls to adjust horizontal and vertical text alignment.
8. Use the Decoration options to underline or strikethrough .
9. Use Text transform to set text to uppercase or lowercase . These options are non-destructive, so you can switch formats without losing the original formatting.

Note: The Mac app measures all layers (including Text) using the macOS coordinate system’s points — where one point equals one pixel on the Canvas. Read more about measurements in the Mac app.

Formatting text using the Text menu

Open the Text menu in the Menu Bar to find additional text formatting options, including:

• Bold, Italics and Underline
• Bigger or Smaller text
• Transformations, including uppercase and lowercase
• Lists, including unordered and ordered lists
• Kern, Ligature and Baseline options.

Editing multiple text layers

To edit more than one text layer at the same time, hold ⇧ and select every text layer that you want to edit — either on the Canvas, or from the Layer List. Use the Text menu in the Inspector to change the styling of your text.

Customizing lists

To create a list, select a text layer with line items separated by returns, then go to Text > List Type and choose either Numbered or Bullet.

You can customize your list’s appearance, starting number (for numbered lists), prefixes, suffixes, and bullet or number type by highlighting your list and choosing Text > List Type > List Options.

OpenType features

If you’re using a font that supports OpenType features, select your text and choose Text > OpenType Features from the Menu Bar, then select and enable the OpenType features you want to use.

Changing text color

You can apply different colors to different parts of your text using the Color Picker in the Inspector’s Text panel.

Alternatively, you can apply a fill from the Fills panel in the Inspector — as well as apply different types of gradients. Keep in mind that fills will override any text color you’ve previously set with the Color Picker.

Adjusting line height

When you create a new text layer, its line height will automatically adjust to match its font size.

If you manually adjust the line height, typeface or font size of a text layer, the text will reposition itself so that the first baseline will always stay in place. Similarly, if you change the typeface or font weight in a paragraph, the line height will stay consistent.

Converting text to outlines

Select a text layer and choose Layer > Convert to Outlines from the Menu Bar. Alternatively, use the Command Bar or press ⌥⌘O. Each character in the text is converted into a vector shape and grouped together.

If you apply a Boolean operation to a text layer, it will have the same effect as converting it to outlines, except you can still edit the text.