Adding text is likely to be a required skill for anyone using Blender. It's not difficult but not completely intuitive, either.

• Adding text to a project begins with adding plain, flat text.
• You add text like any other object by using SHIFT-A (add - the add menu is visible in the image below). You do this in OBJECT mode (green rectangle).
• Select that text (it's selected when it's added in OBJECT mode) and switch to EDIT mode by using the TAB key. The text will have a white cursor at the end of it. Backspace or use CTRL-A to clear it and type what you need. When using text, to make a line return, you must use the ENTER key that's grouped with the alphanumeric keys, not the one on the number pad. Otherwise, text editing is much like in any other simple software, at this point.
• When you get the text as you want it, go back to OBJECT mode (TAB). Switch to the DEFAULT screen (orange rectangle) if you're not there already. On the far right, you will see the OUTLINE panel at the top and the properties panel below it. In the image below, two properties panels are shown side-by-side. This was done for this page to reduce the number of images needed.
• There is a row of icons that you will need to find. If you don't see it, click on a vacant area on the PROPERTIES panel and repeatedly click CTRL-TAB. It will step through the icons and draw your eye to the icons. Most of what you need is under the F (text) tab. Either click it or step to it with CTRL-TAB. The various characteristics of the text can be set here.
  • There are a couple of items you'll want to take note of.
  • At the green diamond, you will be able to enter the value for BEVEL. The number will typically be small. Also realize that this value will bloat the letters. Use something like 0.01 for a start.
  • To the left of that text field at the yellow diamond, you will be able to enter the OFFSET value. Typically, this will be a negative number. The text will start to 'fall apart' if you go too low. If you use 0.01 for the bevel, Start with -0.01 for the offset (0.05 may be as low as you can go for some text). These are just starting points. Use various values to see how they affect the look of the text.
  • Finally, at the red diamond, you can extrude the text. Again, you will likely use low values here. 0.5 would be excessive for most applications.

  When you have Blender open (you should have it open when reading this material), scroll down the PROPERTIES panel to see the rest of the options.

• You will likely also want to color the text and determine how it reacts to light. That is controlled by the MATERIALS tab. It's the tab just to the right of the TEXT tab (shown in its own panel here).
• In the MATERIALS section, there are no stock materials. To start, click NEW but before you do, loom between the word new and the ball(?) at the left. There are two tiny up/down arrows. You will use those arrows to open the list of materials if you need to adjust or use them. Bear in mind. The material is linked to all objects that use it. Changing the material could have unintended consequences. Not the end of the world but maybe time consuming to fix. If you already have materials, the new option may not be there. You can use the +icon to add a new one.
• Remember that these can be resized like in Windows or browsers by positioning your cursor over the division between windows (you may have to hunt for them a bit). When you're in the correct location, the cursor will turn into an arrow, indicating the direction in which the border can be moved.

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