How to Change Text Box Fill Color in Acrobat XI Standard
Question details
The user needs to change the background fill color of a text box in Acrobat XI Standard, but the standard text annotation tool does not provide this option.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat XI Standard
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Adding text annotations or form fields to a PDF document where the text box requires a specific background color to stand out or cover underlying text.
- Observed behavior
- The regular Add Text comment tool lacks fill-color formatting options, requiring the user to use form field properties instead.
Ensure your PDF document is not restricted from editing or form creation, as you will need access to the form editing tools to modify field properties.
Change Fill Color Using Form Edit Mode
Switch to Form Edit mode to access advanced appearance properties for text fields, allowing you to change both background fill and text colors.
Adobe Acrobat XI Standard differentiates between ordinary text annotations and interactive form fields. Regular text comments do not support background fill modifications. To achieve a colored text box, you must use a form field instead.
Launch Adobe Acrobat XI Standard, open your PDF document, and click on 'Tools' > 'Forms' > 'Edit' to enter Form Edit mode.
Click to select the specific text field whose background color you want to change. If you haven't created one yet, use the 'Add New Field' option to draw a text box.
Right-click the selected text field and choose 'Properties' from the context menu to open the Text Field Properties dialog box.
Navigate to the 'Appearance' tab within the Properties window. Locate the 'Fill Color' section, click the color box, and select your desired background color.
Click 'Close' to apply the new color settings. You can click 'Preview' to see how the colored text box will look in standard viewing mode.
Change Text Box Fill Colors Easily with WPS PDF
Avoid the hassle of switching between complex form editing modes. WPS PDF allows you to insert standard text boxes and immediately customize their fill color, borders, and fonts from a single, intuitive interface.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document using the WPS PDF editor.
- 2. Insert a Text Box: Navigate to the 'Insert' or 'Comment' tab on the top ribbon and click 'Text Box', then drag to draw it on your document.
- 3. Access the Appearance Panel: Click on the newly created text box to display the floating toolbar or the right-side properties panel.
- 4. Change the Fill Color: Click the 'Fill Color' (paint bucket) icon and select your desired background color from the palette.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I change the background color of my standard text comment in Acrobat XI?
Standard 'Add Text' comments in Acrobat XI are intended for simple inline edits and do not include advanced background formatting. To add a background fill, you must create a form text field instead.
How do I remove the fill color from a text field to make it transparent?
Right-click the text field in Form Edit mode, go to Properties > Appearance, and change the Fill Color to 'No Color'. This will make the background transparent.
Where is Form Edit mode located in Acrobat XI Standard?
You can find Form Edit mode by clicking on 'Tools' in the upper-right corner of the window, expanding the 'Forms' panel, and selecting 'Edit'.
Can I change the text color inside a regular text comment?
Yes, while you cannot change the background fill of a regular text comment, you can highlight the text within the comment and use the text formatting toolbar (Ctrl+E or Cmd+E) to change the font color.
