Text frames let you place typed content directly on an asset. Use them to describe a component, explain a setting, or add a brief instruction alongside a callout or arrow, anything that requires more context than a numbered marker alone can provide.
This article continues with the toaster example. A text frame will be added beside the control panel to describe the browning dial.
Note
Annotation text is currently out of content management and localization scope. If annotations require localization, the asset must be redrawn with annotations in each target language document.
Warning
The annotated asset is shared across the source document and all target language documents. Editing an annotation in any one document applies that change everywhere the asset is used.
Before you begin
Open the Asset Annotation Editor with your asset loaded. If you are continuing from a previous session with existing callouts or arrows on the canvas, the text frame you add in this article will layer on top of those annotations.
Info
Text frames are drawn by click-dragging, not by clicking a single point. Plan the approximate size and position of the frame before you draw it. You can resize and reposition it afterward using the Select tool.
Step 1: Select the Text tool
Click the Text tab in the left panel, or press T.
The Text panel showing font family, font size, text style, alignment, line height, and vertical alignment controls.
The Text panel displays the following typography controls:
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Font family | The typeface for the text frame. Noto Sans is the default. Additional fonts — Inter, Roboto, Barlow Condensed, Open Sans, Lato, Montserrat, and Source Sans Pro — are loaded on demand. |
| Font size | Text size in pt. Drag the slider or click the value to type a number. |
| Text style | Bold, Italic, and Underline toggles. |
| Text alignment | Left, centre, right, or justify. |
| Line height | Line spacing multiplier. Defaults to 1.4. |
| Vertical align | Positions text at the top, centre, or bottom of the frame. |
Note
Typography settings you configure before drawing apply to the next text frame you create. To change the typography of an existing frame, select it first, then adjust the settings in the left panel.
Note
Font: Choose from the built-in font library or any custom font uploaded by your Knowledge Engineering team. Custom fonts appear in the font dropdown alongside default options once uploaded.
Custom font uploads are managed by Knowledge Engineering. If a font you expect to use isn't available in the dropdown, contact your Knowledge Engineering team.
Step 2: Set typography before drawing
Configure the font and size before you draw the frame so the text renders correctly as soon as you start typing.
For the toaster control panel description:
- Set Font family to Noto Sans.
- Set Font size to 10 pt.
- Set Text alignment to Left.
- Leave Line height at the default 1.4.
Step 3: Draw the text frame
Click and drag on the canvas to define the boundaries of the text frame.
- Position your cursor at the top-left corner of where you want the text frame to appear, for example below the toaster asset, aligned with the control panel.
- Drag to the bottom-right corner to set the frame width and height.
- Release to commit the frame.
A text frame drawn below the toaster asset, ready to receive content.
Note
A text frame must be at least 30 pixels wide and 30 pixels tall to commit. If you release too soon, the frame is discarded.
Step 4: Enter text
After drawing the frame, double-click it to open the text editor.
- Press V or Esc to switch to the Select tool if you are not already on it.
- Double-click the text frame on the canvas. A text editing overlay appears over the frame.
- Type your content. For the toaster example, type:
Browning dial: turn clockwise to increase browning level. Range: 1 (lightest) to 6 (darkest). - Click outside the frame or press Esc to commit the text and close the editor.
Text frame added below the toaster asset describing the browning dial, with callouts, arrow, and shape from previous steps in place.
Tip
The text editor supports multi-line content. Press Enter to add a new line within the frame. The frame auto-expands vertically while typing.
Note
Pressing Esc in the text editor commits any text already entered and closes the editor. It does not discard your content. To revert to the previous text, press Ctrl/Cmd Z immediately after closing the editor.
Step 5: Resize and reposition the frame
Reposition
- Press V or Esc to switch to the Select tool.
- Click the text frame to select it. A dashed selection border appears around the frame.
- Drag the frame to the new position.
To constrain movement to horizontal or vertical, hold Shift while dragging.
Resize
- Select the text frame using the Select tool.
- Drag any of the corner or edge handles to resize the frame.
Info
Resizing a text frame does not reflow or rescale the text inside it. If the frame becomes too narrow or too short to display all content, the text is clipped at the frame boundary. Resize the frame until all content is visible.
Step 6: Style the text frame
Select a text frame to reveal its full set of appearance properties in the left panel. In addition to the typography controls, you can set the following:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Text color | The font color. Choose from eight presets or enter a custom hex value. |
| Background fill | The frame interior color. Select the diagonal slash swatch / to remove the fill and produce a transparent background. |
| Border style | Solid, dotted, dashed, dash-dot, dash-dot-dot, or none. |
| Border color | The stroke color around the frame perimeter. |
| Stroke weight | Border thickness: 1, 2, 4,...pixels. |
| Opacity | Frame transparency from 0–100%. Affects the frame and its content together. |
| Letter spacing | Additional spacing between characters in pixels. Defaults to 0. |
Tip
For a clean label style, set Background fill to #ffffff, Border style to None, and reduce Opacity to around 90% so the asset shows faintly through the frame. This keeps the annotation readable without fully obscuring the asset beneath it.
Step 7: Delete a text frame
- Press V or Esc to switch to the Select tool.
- Click the text frame to select it.
- Press Delete or Backspace.
Warning
Deleting a text frame removes the frame and all its content. Press Ctrl/Cmd Z immediately to undo if you delete a frame by mistake.
Save your work
Click Save in the left panel when you have finished adding and styling text frames. Your annotations are saved to the asset and reflected in your document.
Warning
Do not close the editor or navigate away before clicking Save. Unsaved annotations cannot be recovered.
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