Comic Lettering

Varve builds a balloon from ordinary text, shape, and path nodes. The words remain editable, and the balloon uses the same selection, history, layer, and export systems as other artwork. Comic support is a built foundation inside the existing workspaces, not a separate Comic workspace.

Create a speech balloon

Create or select one text object that is not already inside a balloon.
In the Inspector, open Typography and choose Add speech balloon.
The selected text is grouped with an editable balloon body and tail. The text is moved into the group rather than flattened or duplicated.

Select the group to open the Comic balloon Inspector section. Choose Speech, Thought, Caption, Whisper, Shout, Burst, or Cloud; adjust padding and line shape; then edit the tail endpoint, curve, or width. Add, flip, remove, or detach a tail from the same section. Double-click the balloon to edit its dialogue.

Choose how dialogue fits

Reflow in balloon wraps the text to the balloon and reports when it is near the edge.
Fit balloon to text grows the body around the current text.
Show overflow leaves the text size and balloon geometry in place and reports the overflow.

Fitting never silently reduces the font size. For round balloons, the first and last lines can narrow to follow the contour. Vertical writing remains rectangular. Check long translations and exported lettering at the final size.

Current boundaries

A dedicated canvas drag tool for drawing balloons, joined balloons with a shared outline, vertical contour columns, speaker-target placement, and script-import automation are not included. Tails added manually to Burst or Cloud recipes anchor at the text box; tails created with the balloon start at the shaped outline. Comic page profiles and panels are editable starting points, not publisher-specific export guarantees.

See the Comic Lettering feature page for the full capability and status summary, and Typography for shared text controls.