Static Text Fields

To create a static text field, begin by selecting the Text tool from the Tools panel. This icon has the letter A on it and is labeled in Figure 1.4.

After clicking the Text tool, click somewhere on the stage. Now type some text into the box that has just appeared. You can resize the text field by dragging the lower-right corner. You can also reposition the text field by putting your mouse over the edge of the box so that the mouse pointer turns into the little four-way arrow that indicates a draggable object. Then drag your new text field anywhere on the stage you like.

After you are content with the text in your static text field and its position, select the Arrow tool from the Tools panel. That causes you to leave Text Entry mode on the text field and go back to being able to select different stage elements.

We should now talk about another important tool so that we can use it to change the way our text field looks. You manipulate things like text size or font type through the Properties panel.