Adding a text box in Adobe XD is a fundamental step for including any textual content in your designs, from headings and paragraphs to simulating input fields. You use the dedicated Text tool to achieve this.
The process is straightforward and quick, allowing you to immediately start adding and formatting text. Once added, Adobe XD offers different ways to control how your text box resizes based on its content, a feature highlighted in resources like the Adobe XD Text Tool tutorial.
Steps to Add a Text Box
Here's how to add a text box to your artboard in Adobe XD:
- Select the Text Tool: You can find the Text tool (represented by the letter 'T') in the left-hand toolbar. Alternatively, you can quickly select it by pressing the keyboard shortcut
T. - Draw or Click on the Artboard:
- Click and Drag: Click and drag on your artboard to define the dimensions of your text box. This creates a Fixed Size text box by default (though Adobe XD's default for single clicks is auto-width, dragging sets a fixed area initially). The text will wrap within these boundaries.
- Click: Simply click once on the artboard. This creates a text box that starts as Auto Width, meaning it expands horizontally as you type on a single line.
Once you perform either of these actions, a text box is added, and you can begin typing your desired text.
Understanding Adobe XD Text Box Types
As mentioned in Adobe XD text tool resources, Adobe XD offers different text box types that determine how the box resizes as you add or edit text. By default, clicking creates an Auto Width text box. However, you can easily change the type in the Properties panel on the right side when the text box is selected.
Here are the three main types of text boxes in Adobe XD:
- Auto Width: (Default for single click) The width of the text box automatically adjusts horizontally to fit the text on a single line. The height remains fixed unless you add a line break (
Enter). - Auto Height: (Option in Properties Panel) The width of the text box is fixed (based on how you drew it or a value you set), but the height automatically expands vertically as you add more lines of text, ensuring no text is hidden. Text will wrap within the fixed width.
- Fixed Size: (Option in Properties Panel, often results from drag-drawing) Both the width and height of the text box are fixed. If the text exceeds the boundaries, it will be hidden or truncated. You have to manually resize the box to reveal all the text.
These options give you control over how your text elements behave within your layout, crucial for responsive design and maintaining consistent spacing.
