Finale Forum

Is it possible to print text in various colors in Finale 2014?

Not as far as I know. You would have to export a PDF to another program, and insert colored text there.

In the Print dialog box there is the option of printing Display Colors.

This is not exactly what you are asking for, I know.

But take a look at the tutorial document “EntryExercises.musx”.
In the document “EntryExercises.musx” you can see text in 4 different colors.

You can customize the display colors before you use the option of printing Display Colors.
The possibilities are very limited, indeed, but at least something is possible.


I agree with Mike that the “pro” solution is to “print” to a PDF file, and edit the PDF in another program, e. g. a vector based drawing program (like Illustrator).

Thanks! I went for the pdf method. Hopefully Finale, in the future, will add this option to its text tool. It's great to b able to highlight certain directions to help reduce rehearsal time and misunderstandings

Even if Finale can not so easily color text, you still have some other options for highlighting text:

Use a bigger font size for the text you want to highlight - or use a different text font.

Or use italic style.

Thanks Peter! Great idea.

You can customize the display colors before you use the option of printing Display Colors.
The possibilities are very limited, indeed, but at least something is possible.

One can change certain text blocks to "Measure text Blocks" (right click on handle, Edit Frame Attributes, attach to measure) and then move the block to where you want it. Color can be changed in preferences. I've been able to get a third color using Expressions, with Tempo Alterations, Tempo Marks or Rehearsal Marks, which are tied to Expression Text color in preferences. You can create standard text "expressions" in these by unchecking the default font. There may be more options but I have only used these.

If you have windows and want to do colored text as headings or other than lyrics I can tell you how I did it.
1. Open Word and put in the text
2. Save the Doc as a pdf
3. Open the pdf in adobe and save it as a jpg
4. Open the jpg in Paint and select and crop the text
5. Save it as a jpg
6. Open Finale and go to Graphics menu
7. Insert the jpg file (I right click after its in and unlink the graphics)
8. Adjust the size and placement in the Finale Score.
I wish Finale could do all this internally but after decades they can't figure it out I guess.

Wagnersmusic wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 16, 2019 4:41 pm

If you have windows and want to do colored text as headings or other than lyrics I can tell you how I did it.
1. Open Word and put in the text
2. Save the Doc as a pdf
3. Open the pdf in adobe and save it as a jpg
4. Open the jpg in Paint and select and crop the text
5. Save it as a jpg
6. Open Finale and go to Graphics menu
7. Insert the jpg file (I right click after its in and unlink the graphics)
8. Adjust the size and placement in the Finale Score.
I wish Finale could do all this internally but after decades they can't figure it out I guess.

Today there is no need to convert the PDF; Finale v26 can insert PDF files.