The instructions and videos below show how-to place text in OpenRoads SignCAD.

OpenRoads SignCAD 2025

We’ve completely rebuilt the text editor based on user feedback and internal performance reviews:

• Faster, more responsive editing.
• In-place editing—no more pop-up windows.

Text tab

a. Activate the Text tab by selecting the Drawing > Text > Place Text tool.

b. The Text tab includes the following ribbon groups:

Clipboard - Common tools such as Paste, Cut, Copy and Delete.

Font - Font Style, Insert Symbol and Text Color tools.

Font Style - Any True Type font installed in the C:\Windows\Fonts folder on the computer can be selected from the font menu.
The FHWA approved Highway fonts are included. The standard text sizes are available from the size drop-down. Additional
sizes can be used by typing in the size field and pressing <enter>. There are also Bold and Italic options that can be applied.

Symbol - The Insert Symbol dialog shows the symbols available for the selected font. The stacked fractions are located here.

Text Color - The standard sign colors can be selected from the pick menu at the top of the dialog. Also, other custom colors can
be selected from the color selector or by color formulas.

Text Spacing - The Kerning Method can be used to adjust the spacing between letters. 

Alignment - Allows you to set the vertical alignment of different sized text. Alignment options include Top, Middle and
Baseline. For example, Cardinal directions that are all caps with the first letter being 15” and additional letters 12” are usually
baseline aligned. There is also a new Text Rotation option that rotates text using a specified angle.

c. Left click to position the Text cursor inside a panel or on the workspace, type the text and press <enter>. In the example below, type Brookfield <Enter> Elm Grove <Enter>.

OpenRoads SignCAD 2023 & 2024

The Place Text tool is used to create new text. The Kerning Method can be used to adjust the spacing between letters and Text alignment to set the Top, Middle or Baseline vertical alignment. The Font drop-down shows the Recently used fonts, the Highway fonts and any other TrueType fonts installed in the C:\Windows\Fonts folder on the computer. The text display will update in the dialog as different fonts are selected.  The standard text sizes are available from the size drop-down. Additional text sizes can be used by typing in the size field and pressing enter. There are also Bold and Italic options that can be applied. Font Color can be changed in the Color dialog. The Insert Symbol dialog shows the symbols available including the stacked fractions. The default Text dialog background color (tan) can be changed by selecting a different background color from the Color dialog.