---
title: Text Boxes
description: How to lay out text layers so Apptonomy Bridge can localize and render them.
---

Apptonomy Bridge treats each Figma text layer as either localizable copy or static art, depending on whether it's bound to a string variable. This page covers how to lay text out; the mechanics of binding and font handling live on their own pages.

## One text layer per string

Put every piece of screenshot copy — headline, subhead, caption — in its own Figma text layer inside an `apg_` frame. The plugin localizes a screen by swapping the contents of text layers that are **bound to string variables**. A layer that isn't bound is treated as static art and is never rewritten.

To make a text layer localizable, bind its text content to the matching string variable. See [String Variables & Binding](/docs/figma-plugin/string-variables) for the full process.

## Leave room for translations

The plugin sets each locale's font and reading direction but does not resize your text to fit — the size you set in Figma is what renders. Translations are often longer than the source copy, so size and position each text box with slack: avoid tight single-line boxes for headlines that may wrap, and keep clear space below text that could grow. For how fonts and alignment change per locale, see [Fonts & Text Sizing](/docs/figma-plugin/fonts).

## Related

- [String Variables & Binding](/docs/figma-plugin/string-variables)
- [Fonts & Text Sizing](/docs/figma-plugin/fonts)
- [Figma File Structure](/docs/figma-plugin/file-structure)