Inserting Text, Word Art and Links

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About this lesson

How to insert text, word art, and images within Google Drawings.

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Inserting Text, Word Art and Links
Link Inserting Text, Word Art and Links Solution
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Quick reference

Inserting Text, Word Art and Links

There are several types of objects that can be added to a Google drawing.

When to use

When you need to add anything to your Google drawing.

Instructions

Insert options

  • Text box - Add a box which you can write and edit text in
  • Image - Insert an image
    • Upload: Drag and drop an image from your computer, or click “Choose an image to upload” and select the image on your computer.
    • Take a snapshot: Take a picture using your webcam. You might have to click “allow” to give the Google Apps permission to use your webcam.
    • By URL: Paste the URL of an image from the internet.
    • Your albums: Add an image from your Google+ images.
    • Google Drive: Add an image from your Google Drive.
    • Search: To search for stock images.
  • Chart
    • Add a chart
    • Click “Open in Sheets” to edit the chart
    • After editing, click “Update” to apply changes to the chart
  • Link
    • Select an object and click “Link”
    • Paste a URL
    • Click “Apply”
    • Clicking on the object  will now open the URL
  • Word art - Turn text into a shape. You can then change the visual appearance of the shape
  • Line
    • Line: Straight line
    • Arrow: Straight line with an arrow on one end
    • Elbow Connector: a line with two right angle turns
    • Curved Connector: a line that curves twice
    • Curve:
      • each click adds a curve to the line
      • double click to finish
      • connect the ends to create a shape
    • Polyline
      • each click adds a straight line to the end
      • double click to finish
      • connect the ends to create a shape
    • Scribble:Draw with the mouse
  • Shape - Add a shape from several pages of options
  • Table - Add a table with the number of cells you choose
  • Comment - Add a note to the drawing or a message to any collaborators
  • Special characters - Add special characters to a text box

NOTE: Text box, Image, Shape, and Line can all be added from the toolbar as well as the Insert menu.

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  • 00:04 Let's make sure we're familiar with all the different ways that we can insert new
  • 00:09 images or new objects within our drawing.
  • 00:13 Here we've already added an existing image from our Drive account
  • 00:17 along with some shapes that we've added right here from the toolbar.
  • 00:21 To get your full list of options, we'll want to go up to the menu and
  • 00:24 select Insert.
  • 00:26 We can start by inserting a text box,
  • 00:29 very much like we saw previously when it came to Google Slides.
  • 00:33 Here I can add some text, and I can manipulate it by changing the size,
  • 00:40 changing the positioning, and even changing the color.
  • 00:45 Perhaps I want to add this particular image to my website, so
  • 00:49 I'm gonna put a Click Here notification right on my arrow.
  • 00:54 But in fact, there may even be simpler way to achieve this effect.
  • 00:58 Let me move that text box off to the side for just a moment.
  • 01:02 Any shape within Google Drawings can actually have text added directly to it.
  • 01:08 In this case, all you need to do is double-click on the object and
  • 01:12 you see a cursor now appears.
  • 01:15 So I can add my text here and make the same transitions,
  • 01:19 make the same edits that you just saw me do previously.
  • 01:22 Let's center it.
  • 01:23 Let's increase the size of it a little bit.
  • 01:27 And now I don't have to worry about having a separate text box to drag around and
  • 01:33 center.
  • 01:34 I've added my text directly to that object.
  • 01:37 Going back to insert, we can upload more images if we like.
  • 01:41 We can also input a chart.
  • 01:44 Now we can create a few different charts directly from Google Drawings, or
  • 01:48 if we already have a chart from a Sheet,
  • 01:51 we can upload it directly from that particular file.
  • 01:55 We can also add links to things, as well.
  • 01:57 Simply select the object that you would like to be linkable, and
  • 02:02 then here we can select Link and input the appropriate URL.
  • 02:07 Word art is a feature that can be helpful when you want to make
  • 02:11 a more pronounced effect within your image or within your drawing.
  • 02:15 You can make a few more sophisticated edits to word art in terms of the size and
  • 02:21 the font and the ability to display word art within your image.
  • 02:25 Some of the other things that we find here are the ability to add lines that
  • 02:29 can connect objects together, or just point to other things within your image.
  • 02:34 We can add a variety of shapes, and even add a table within our image.
  • 02:39 Now it should be noted that the comment icon that you see here is the same that
  • 02:44 you see here and it is not a text box, this comment is for adding
  • 02:49 notes to your Google drawing especially if you are collaborating with others.
  • 02:54 So you may want to experiment with the different types of objects,
  • 02:58 the different types of things that you can insert into your Google Drawing.

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