This installment of the Resource Guide covers the Format Ribbon and various ways you can format the elements on your pages. Most of the buttons on this ribbon are frequently accessed from different areas of the software. For instance, most of the time you will use the Content Panel to fill your elements with paper instead of the ribbon since it is easier to access and switch content from the Content Panel. The offerings featured in the Resource Guide below show you how to use these tools, even if the offerings you choose the access the tool from somewhere other than the ribbon.
There is no clear line between the fundamentals and creative know-how, so unlike other sections of the Resource Guide, we will not be dividing the offerings related to this ribbon into Fundamentals and Creative Know-How (Applications). Instead, fundamental and creative offerings will be combined in their relevant sections. All these offerings specifically focus on the formatting options of elements (ie. strokes, text boxes, shapes)that have already been added to your page. This section does not give an overview of creating and/or adding the elements to your pages.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FUNDAMENTALS: Core Training | Technical use of tools and functions in the software.
APPLICATIONS: Creative Know How | Creative Design and Practical Applications
Click any subject in this table of contents below to go directly to that section.
Element Section
Fill Section
Effects Section
Shadows Section
Sampling Section
User Frequently Asked Questions
Properties
This button allows you to specify the position of an element on your page as well as manually set the width and height of the selected features. Most often, manually setting the position and size of an element is done using the Quick Access Toolbar. This button also allows you to set the text wrapping around an element.
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Text Wrap
- Artisan Tip: QAT (The Quick Access Tool)
- Artisan Tip: Text Wrapping
- Artisan Tip: Using Properties to Resize Elements
Text
This button simply allows you to format the Font, Font Style, Font Alignment, etc., of a selected text box. These features are most often accessed by clicking the text box to open the format options in the operations panel, or by using the Quick Access Toolbar. This button is helpful if you have a hard time opening or selecting your text box from your page. Simply select the text box in the elements panel and use this button.
Note: We have lots of text related resources. Click the image in the gallery to go to the Text section of the Resource Guide.
- Tutorial: Adding Text (PUBLIC)
- Video: Text Formatting (PUBLIC)
- Artisan Tip: Quick Access Toolbar
COMPLETE RESOURCE GUIDE SECTION FOCUSED ON TEXT (PUBLIC)
- Resource Guide section is public for viewing, however, most of the content it links to is member only.
Shapes
This button allows you to apply shapes to elements on your pages and edit shapes. Most often, You will use the content panel to apply shapes.
- Video Tidbit: Formatting Options – Shapes
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Applying Shapes
- Video Tidbit: Custom Shapes in Artisan 5
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Fill The Frame
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Diamonds Are Forever
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Sprayed Border
- Video Tidbit: Ray of Sunshine
- Start2Finish Video: Jackson Square
- Video Tidbit: Photos And Text in Harmony
- Video Tidbit: Split Words
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Photo-Filled Cut Out
Strokes
This button allows you to select, apply, and format strokes. Most often, the Quick Access Toolbar is used to select and apply strokes.
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Basic Strokes
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Patterned Strokes
- Pixie Power Minut evideo: Compound Frames
- Artisan Tip: Customizing Patterned Strokes
- Pixie Power Minute Video: The Dotted Line
- Video Tidbit: Text Scatters
- Video Tidbit: Freehand Strokes
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Sew Cool
- Challenge 295: Stroke Title Page
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Scalloped Borders
- Artisan Tip: QAT (The Quick Access Toolbar)
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Strokes and Embedded Images (Spacing)
Calendar
This button allows you to format an existing calendar on your page. We have a comprehensive Workshop that reviews all aspects of creating and editing a calendar.
- Video and Tutorial: Format Calendar (PUBLIC)
COMPLETE CALENDAR WORKSHOP (PUBLIC)
Color Gradient
This button allow you to fill an element with a color or a color gradient. Most often, the Quick Access Toolbar is used to fill an element with color or a color gradient.
Paper
This button allows you to fill an element with one of the various papers in your digital content collection. It is recommended that you use the Content Panel to fill an element with paper as you have the flexibility to scroll through your papers and switch your paper fill easily without having to repeatedly re-open the paper menu by clicking this button.
Select
This button allows you to select built-in effects that are pre-defined in the software.

These cut-outs are mask-like effects that can be applied to any element on your page.

These pre-built frame effects can be applied to any element on your page and then edited to suit your needs.
Custom
This button allows you to build and customize effects to be applied to elements on your pages. There is an entire Resource Guide section (Filters and Effects) that covers the Effects available. Click the image in the gallery below to view that section of the Resource Guide.
- Video Tidbit: Building Mats in Artisan 5, Part 1 – Basic and Shaped Layers
- Artisan 5 Tip: Blend Effect – Normal Mode
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Greyscale to Rainbows – Blend Layers
- Video Tidbit: Blend Mode Vignettes
- Video Tidbit: Mask Effects Unleashed
- Video Tidbit: Blend Layers – Darken Mode
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Debossed Titles
COMPLETE RESOURCE GUIDE SECTION ON FILTERS AND EFFECTS
- Resource Guide section is public for viewing, however, most of the content it links to is member only.
Light, Heavy and Custom Shadows
These buttons allow you to apply various pre-defined shadows to elements on your pages, as well as fully customized shadows to elements on your pages providing much-needed dimension to your digital pages.
- Tutorial: Shadows (PUBLIC)
- Pixie Power Minute Video: Shadows
- Artisan Tip: Custom Shadows
- Artisan Tools Tip: Custom Shadows
Glow
A glow is the same as a shadow with the exception that you do not have the ability to change the direction of a glow. A glow simply expands uniformly around an element.
Sample and Apply
The Sample and Apply buttons are incredible time savers. You can copy the Text style, Stroke style, Calendar style, Shadows, and/or Effects from one element and apply them to other elements throughout your project with just a few clicks.
User Frequently Asked Questions
Over the upcoming weeks, we will be watching our social media pages and emails for your frequently asked questions as they relate to text. We will then add those questions here along with a link to the corresponding answer.