Rich Text: Bold, Code, Colours, Fonts, Links, and the Format Brush
Node text is a real rich-text editor. Double-click to edit, select some text, and the toolbar appears above the node. This page walks through its buttons one by one and ends with the format brush, which copies a node's whole look onto other nodes.
Key takeaways
- The toolbar only shows when text is selected — select first, then format.
- Colour, size, and font apply to the selection, so a node can mix them.
- The format brush copies node styling (fill, border, size, shape) and stays armed for several nodes.
Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough
Double-click to edit, double-click a word to select it, then click B, I, U, and S in turn. All four can stack on the same text.
The styling stays with the node after committing and shows in exported images too.
Inline code and code block
Select a word and click "</>" to make it inline code — good for API names, commands, and variables.
"Code block" turns the whole paragraph into a monospace block; it is a paragraph-level command and replaces inline marks.
Text colour and background colour
Select text and click "A" for the text-colour palette, pick a preset, then click the background-colour button beside it to add a highlight.
Both palettes offer "More colours…" and a one-click clear.
Font size and font family
With text selected, pick a larger size from the font-size dropdown, then switch the font dropdown to serif.
Only the selection changes, so one node can use different sizes.
Link selected text
Select text, click "Link" in the toolbar, enter the URL and click Apply; the text becomes a clickable link.
Unlike a node-level external link, a text link is attached to those words only, and a node can hold several.
Format brush
Select a node whose look you like, right-click and click the brush quick action, then click the target node: fill, border, font size, and shape are copied over.
The brush stays armed after one node so you can paint several; press Esc to finish.
- Shortcut: Esc exits the format brush
Related resources
Todos, notes, comments, tags, icons, links, cloze, formulas, and images.
Themes, layouts, rainbow edges, outline, zen, and read-only.
FAQ
Why is there no toolbar after I double-click into a node?
The toolbar only appears when text is selected. Double-click a word or press ⌘ A and it shows above the node.
Does the format brush copy bold text and colours inside the text?
No. It copies node-level styling — fill, border, font size, weight, shape — not the rich-text marks inside the text.