How Do I Change Text Direction in Canva?

October 4, 2023 canva

Whether you're a graphic designer or a social media enthusiast, Canva is an amazing tool that allows you to create stunning visuals. One of the key features of Canva is its ability to manipulate text in various ways. In this tutorial, we'll explore how to change text direction in Canva using simple HTML styling elements.

Step 1: Accessing the Text Element

To change the text direction in Canva, you first need to select the text element you want to modify. In Canva, you can easily add and edit text by clicking on the "Text" tab located on the left-hand side toolbar. Once you've selected a text element, you're ready to proceed with changing its direction.

Step 2: Changing Text Direction

To change the text direction, we can use the dir attribute available in HTML tags. This attribute specifies the base directionality of text and overrides any global settings or inherited values.

LTR (Left-to-Right) Text Direction

If your intended language reads from left to right like English or French, you don't need to make any changes. By default, Canva assumes that your text is in LTR directionality.

RTL (Right-to-Left) Text Direction

If your intended language reads from right to left like Arabic or Hebrew, you can use the dir="rtl" attribute within your HTML tag. This will ensure that your text flows correctly for languages with RTL directionality.

Bidi (Bi-Directional) Text Direction

In some cases, you may have a combination of both LTR and RTL languages within a single paragraph or line of text. To handle this scenario, you can use the dir="auto" attribute within your HTML tag. This allows the browser to automatically determine the correct directionality based on the content of your text.

Step 3: Applying Text Direction in Canva

Now that you're familiar with the HTML attributes for text direction, let's see how we can apply them in Canva:

Select the text element you want to modify by clicking on it.
In the "Text" tab on the left-hand side toolbar, click on the "Advanced" option.
Under the "Text Direction" section, choose either LTR, RTL, or Auto from the dropdown menu.

Once you've made your selection, Canva will automatically update the text direction according to your choice. You can now create visually appealing designs with text flowing in any direction!

Conclusion

Changing text direction in Canva is a breeze with a little help from HTML styling elements. By using attributes such as dir="rtl", dir="ltr", or dir="auto", you can ensure that your text flows correctly for different language directions. Experiment with different styles and designs to create captivating visuals that cater to a global audience.

Note: It's important to keep in mind that not all Canva templates may support certain text directions. Some templates may have fixed orientations or designs that don't allow for extensive customization. However, with Canva's wide range of options and flexibility, you'll find plenty of creative possibilities for changing text direction.