Creating a background fill in a text box

[Bluesky6686]

Hi there,

I am using CS4 and want to make text boxes with backgroud (e.g., white). I know I can add a white box but is there a easier way?

Thanks!

[rcraighead · Accepted solution]

Yes. Make sure you're using Area Type, then select the Area type bounding box and assign a fill color. Use the Direct Selection tool so you select only the type box, not the type itself.

You can also create a background color with Point Type by adding another fill attribute to the type, in the Appearance palette, then using "Effect>Convert to Shape" to convert it to a rectangle or oval. You can then move it behind the "Character" level in the Appearance panel and  assign it a color. This method allows the flexibility of defining margins around the text.

[Bluesky6686]

Thank you, rcraighead. Your post is very helpful.

For the second method, I can not assign a color for the border line, right?

[Larry G. Schneider]

Sure you can, like this

[Bluesky6686]

I got it. Thank you!

[Barclay_M]

Okay. I've made sure I'm in area type. I've selected the Area type bounding box but NOTHING is changing. I can't even drag and drop swatches in like I used to be able to do. Anybody else having this issue?

[Barclay_M]

In the appearance window. I pressed "Clear Appearance" and everything worked from there. If anyone else faces this issue, PRESS CLEAR APPEARANCE or the above answer won't work for some reason.

[Barclay_M]

ANOTHER UNEXPECTED ROADBLOCK: Make sure to click on the CORNER anchor point of the textbox in order to change the attributes of the box. I clicked straight on the edge and strain on an empty text box area and NO response. Very frustrating. 

[Monika Gause]

This is a 10 year old thread.

There might have been changes in the software and there might have been mysterious bugs back then or in the version you use now.

So please create a new thread for your issue and tell us your system and version.

And then show screenshots.

And tell us step by step what exactly you are doing.