Text flow guide

Help

Short answers to what goes wrong most often.

My text runs off the bottom

The canvas does not scroll, and lines past the bottom of the frame are not shown or saved. Lower Size or Line height, raise Max width, or use Multi-column with more Columns.

Multi-column fills one column to the bottom before it starts the next, so only the last column can run off the frame.

In Circular, text that does not fit the circle is not set. Lower Size or Line height, or use a shorter text.

The text runs close to a shape, or far from it

Obstacle gap sets how far the text keeps from every shape. Raise it for more air, lower it to set the text tight against the edge.

A shape outside the text leaves it alone.

Lines next to a shape are empty

When a shape leaves less than 50 pixels on both of its sides, or less room than the next word needs, the tool skips those lines and the text goes on below the shape. Move the shape toward one side, lower Obstacle gap, or use fewer, wider columns.

The text uses only one side of a shape

Each line goes on the side of a shape with more room, and leaves the other side empty. Drag the shape toward an edge to give one side all the room.

Which alignment suits a shaped mode?

Any of them. Each line is lined up inside its own room, so a circle stays round and a perspective stays straight-sided. Center makes both edges follow the shape; Justify makes them smooth.

The Wave mode, an effect or the shapes will not stop

Wave mode, Wave amp and Stagger move whenever they are on: pick another mode or set the slider to 0 to stop them. Stagger plays again and again; move its slider to start it over. Animate moves the shapes; turn it off and they stop where they are. Reset stops everything.

The font looks different from the picture here

System sans is your device's own font, so it differs between computers and phones. Where Georgia is missing, as on many Android phones, Serif uses another serif font. JetBrains Mono comes from the lab and is the same everywhere; its bolder weights are made by the browser.

Does it work on a phone or tablet?

Yes. Drag a shape with a finger; the canvas does not scroll the page while you do. Phones set the same layouts as computers; the frame is smaller, so the lines break sooner.

Copy did nothing

Some browsers do not let a page put a picture on the clipboard, and the tool says Copy failed. Use Save PNG instead.

Is my text uploaded?

No. The text is measured and drawn on your device and never leaves it.

Are there keyboard shortcuts?

The tool has none of its own. Anywhere in the lab, Ctrl K, or Cmd K on a Mac, opens the list of all tools.