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Online Learning @ College of the Canyons
To Change Size, Style and Color of Font

This series of mini-tutorials suggests different ways that you may alter the text of your document.  You may perform these tasks before typing the text, or you may alter the text once it has been typed; you do not have to delete and re-enter material to perform the formatting suggested here.


To change the size of the font used:

1. Before starting the document, or to change the size in the middle of the document, locate the box on the Formatting toolbar, (usually the third box from the left). This is the Font Size Box.

2. Click on the down-arrow on the right side of the box. A drop-down menu will appear with the current font size highlighted.

3. Select another font size, click on it. The new font size will appear in the box. 

4. Click on the area of your document where you wish to type with the new font size. The new size will appear.

TIP: If you have already typed a selection and wish to change the size, select the text by clicking at the beginning of said text, and dragging the mouse to the end of the text that you wish to change. Return to the Font Size box and repeat steps 1-3 above. Your highlighted text will change in appearance.



To change the style of font:

1. At the point you wish to change the style of font, go to the Font box on the Formatting toolbar, (usually the second box from the left).

2. Click on the down-arrow on the right-hand side of the box. A drop-down menu of several font types will appear. Each font type is listed with a title printed in the style of the font.
       The "TT" next to a selection means that it is a "True Type" font, and should be recognizable when printed on other computers. (Note: Some fonts do not transfer well between computers. This is especially true on older computers, or when running older word processing programs).

3. Select the font type you wish to use.

4. Click on the area of the document you wish to use this font type.

TIP: If you have already typed a selection and want to change the style, select the text by clicking at the beginning of said text, and dragging the mouse to the end of the text you wish to change. Return to the Font Box and repeat steps 2 and 3 above. Your highlighted text will change in appearance.


To alter text for visual impact (Bold, Italic, and Underlining):

The steps for all three of these techniques are identical. Locate the toggle keys "B I U" on the Formatting toolbar. They appear as one space, but by moving the curser over each letter, a box will appear surrounding that letter.

1. Click on the letter of the formatting you wish to use (Bold, Italic, or Underline). When you start typing the text will appear with the chosen formatting.

2. To return to the original formatting, place your curser over the desired letter on the Formatting toolbar, and click.

TIP: If you have already typed a section and want to alter the formatting, highlight the selection as mentioned above, and then click the B, I, or U. The highlighted selection will change to the desired format.

NOTE: You may choose one or all of the above simultaneously, if you wish.


Applying color to or Changing color of the font:

1. To apply color to the font, go to the Font Color box, noted with an "A" toggle key on the formatting toolbar. Underneath the "A" is a color bar signifying the color of the current text.

2. Click on the down-arrow on the right-hand side of the "A."  A color menu will appear.

3. Select the color you wish, and click upon that color.  The color bar underneath the "A" will change, and the color of your text will change from this point, forward.

To return to black, re-open the color menu by clicking on the down-arrow key, and click on  "Automatic."


To change text color:

1. To change the color of text already created, select the text you wish to change, by clicking and dragging your mouse across the text.

2. Go to the Font Color box ("A") and click on the down-arrow.

3. Select a color, and click.  Selected text will change in color.  You do not have to change the selection back to "Automatic," afterwards, although the new color bar will remain under the "A" if you don't.