To add text in Paint 3D, click the Text icon in the top toolbar, choose between 2D text or 3D text, then click on the canvas where you want the text to appear. Type your content in the text box that opens, and use the formatting options in the right panel to set font, size, color, bold, italic, and underline properties.
Paint 3D offers two distinct text modes. 2D text sits flat on the canvas surface like traditional image text, suitable for captions, watermarks, and annotations. 3D text creates extruded letterforms that exist as 3D objects in the scene, castable in any direction with full depth and rotation controls. Each mode serves different design purposes, and both support the full Windows font library installed on your system. Microsoft discontinued Paint 3D in November 2024, but this guide applies to existing installations.
Step-by-Step: Add 2D Text to an Image
- Open your image or project. Click Menu > Open > Browse files to load an existing image, or start with a blank canvas.
- Select the Text tool. Click the Text icon (T) in the top toolbar. Two options appear in the right panel: a 2D text button and a 3D text button.
- Choose 2D text. Click the 2D text option in the right panel. This creates flat text that becomes part of the canvas pixel data once deselected.
- Click on the canvas. Click where you want the text to appear. A text input box opens with a blinking cursor.
- Type your text. Enter your text content. The text appears inside a bounding box with drag handles on all sides and corners.
- Set the font. In the right panel, click the font dropdown and select from any installed Windows font. The preview updates in real time as you switch fonts.
- Adjust size. Use the size slider or type a specific point value in the size field. Larger values create bigger text. The bounding box expands automatically to fit.
- Choose a color. Click the color swatch in the right panel to open the color picker. Select a preset color, enter a hex code, or use the eyedropper to sample a color from the canvas. For text over photos, pick a color that contrasts with the background.
- Apply formatting. Click Bold (B), Italic (I), or Underline (U) buttons as needed. These options are in the right panel below the font selector.
- Position the text. Drag the text bounding box to move it anywhere on the canvas. Drag corner handles to resize the box. Use the rotation handle (circular arrow above the box) to angle the text.
- Finalize the text. Click anywhere outside the text box to commit it to the canvas. After committing, 2D text becomes part of the canvas pixel data and cannot be re-edited as text. Use Ctrl+Z to undo if you need to make changes.
Adding 3D Text
3D text creates extruded letterforms with depth, shadows, and full rotational freedom. Unlike 2D text, 3D text remains an editable object in the scene until you flatten the project.
- Select the Text tool and click 3D text in the right panel.
- Click on the canvas and type your text. The letters appear with visible depth and a 3D bounding box.
- Set font, size, and color using the same right-panel controls as 2D text.
- Rotate in 3D space. Use the rotation handles around the 3D bounding box to tilt text along the X, Y, and Z axes. This creates perspective effects not possible with flat 2D text.
- Adjust depth position. Drag the object forward or backward in the 3D workspace, or use the Z-axis position slider in the object properties. This controls how the text layers relative to other 3D objects in the scene.
For detailed 3D typography techniques including material application and lighting, see our dedicated 3D text guide.
2D Text vs. 3D Text Comparison
| Feature | 2D Text | 3D Text |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Flat, single-plane | Extruded with depth |
| Editable after placing | No (becomes pixels once deselected) | Yes (remains a 3D object) |
| Rotation | 2D rotation only (spin on canvas) | Full X/Y/Z axis rotation |
| Best for | Captions, labels, watermarks | Titles, logos, 3D compositions |
| Export considerations | Included in 2D image export | Included in both 2D and 3D exports |
Tips for Better Text Results
Contrast matters. White text on a light photo is unreadable. Choose text colors that contrast strongly with the background area. For photos with mixed light and dark areas, add a semi-transparent shape behind the text as a backdrop, or use the brushes and tools to paint a dark strip behind light-colored text.
Font pairing. Stick to one or two fonts per composition. Mixing more than two typefaces creates visual clutter. Use a bold sans-serif font for headings and a regular-weight serif or sans-serif for body text.
Size for readability. Text that looks readable at 100% zoom on your monitor may be too small when the image is shared or printed. Test at the final output size before committing. For social media graphics, body text should be at least 24 points at 1080px canvas width.
Browse more Paint 3D techniques in our tutorials collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit 2D text after clicking away from it?
No. Once you click outside the 2D text bounding box, the text is rasterized into the canvas pixels. It becomes part of the image data and can no longer be edited as a text object. If you need to change wording, size, or font, press Ctrl+Z immediately to undo and retype. For text that stays editable, use 3D text instead, which remains a separate object in the scene.
How do I add curved or circular text in Paint 3D?
Paint 3D does not include a curved text or text-on-path feature. Both 2D and 3D text tools only produce straight-line text. For curved text effects, you would need to rotate individual letters manually using 3D text mode, or use a different tool such as Canva, GIMP with the text-along-path plugin, or Adobe Illustrator, which supports native curved text paths.
What fonts are available in Paint 3D?
Paint 3D uses every font installed on your Windows system. The default Windows 10 and 11 font library includes Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Consolas, Georgia, Segoe UI, Times New Roman, Verdana, and approximately 200 others. You can install additional fonts by downloading .ttf or .otf files and right-clicking them to select Install. Newly installed fonts appear in Paint 3D’s font dropdown after restarting the application.
Can I add text with a transparent background for use as a watermark?
Yes. Start with a transparent canvas (click Canvas, toggle Transparent canvas to On), add your text in the desired font, size, and color, then save as PNG. The result is text with a transparent background that can be layered over other images in any editor. For a semi-transparent watermark effect, use a light gray or white text color and keep the font size large.