Overview
Text styling can help make important information stand out and create a clearer visual hierarchy in your Mindmup map.
You can customize text across the entire map or apply different text settings to specific levels. Mindmup lets you change the font, size, text style, and alignment from Customize layout & style.
Open the text settings
To customize text across your map:
- Click the Customize layout & style icon in the top-left area of the editor.
- Open Text.
- Use the available settings under Global text.
You can also right-click an empty area of the canvas and select Customize layout & style, then open Text.
Change the font
Under Global text, use Font to change the font used across your map.
Choosing one font for the entire map can help keep the content visually consistent, especially for maps with many nodes.
Change the text size
Use Size to adjust the default text size across the map.
Mindmup provides several preset sizes:
- XS, S, M, L, XL, Custom
Choose Custom when you need a size outside the available presets.
Change the text style
You can use text styles to emphasize important information. Available options include:
- Bold
- Italic
- Underline
- Strikethrough
For example, bold text can make important nodes easier to notice, while strikethrough can help indicate information that is no longer relevant.
Change text alignment
Use Text align to control how text is positioned within nodes.
You can choose:
- Text align left
- Text align center
- Text align right
Choose an alignment that makes your map easy to scan and works well with the amount of text in your nodes.
Customize text by level
Use Level overrides when you want a particular level of the map to use different text settings from the rest of the map.
You can create overrides for specific levels instead of changing the global text settings. This is useful for creating a clearer hierarchy between the root node, major branches, and supporting information.
For example, you could make the root node larger and bold while keeping lower-level nodes smaller.
Customize individual nodes
You can also style individual nodes without changing the text settings for the entire map.
Select the node you want to change and open its styling options from the quick menu. You can adjust its font, size, text style, and alignment.
For faster access, select a node and press Shift + Space to open its styling options.
Individual styling is useful when a particular node needs emphasis without changing other nodes at the same level.
Example use cases
Text styling can help communicate the structure and purpose of your map.
- A student could make major concepts larger or bold to distinguish them from supporting details.
- A project manager could emphasize deadlines, priorities, or important milestones.
- A teacher could use different text sizes to separate lesson sections from supporting information.
- A team could use consistent text formatting to make a large planning map easier to scan.
Tips
- Keep font choices consistent across the map to maintain readability.
- Use larger text for information that should stand out in the hierarchy.
- Use bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough selectively so important information remains easy to identify.
- Use Level overrides when the same type of formatting should apply to an entire level.
- Style individual nodes when only specific information needs extra emphasis.
Keep text alignment consistent where possible, especially in maps with many nodes.
Common questions
What text size should I use for a large map?
Use a size that keeps labels readable without making nodes unnecessarily large. If the preset sizes do not work well for your content, choose Custom and adjust the size as needed.
Should I use several text styles in the same map?
You can, but using too many styles can make a map harder to scan. Use formatting consistently so that bold, italic, underline, or other styles have a clear purpose.
Does changing text formatting change the structure of my map?
No. Text formatting changes how the content looks. It does not change the relationships or hierarchy between nodes.
Related features
- How to Customize Map Colors
- How to Customize Map Layout
- How to Customize Shapes and Lines
- How to Reset Styling
- How to Select Nodes
Make your map easier to read
Use text size, style, and alignment to create a clear visual hierarchy. Keep formatting consistent, and use stronger styling when you need important information to stand out.