Here's what I do that achieves desired effect... format a text box with your variable text-- color black (or dark). Position where you want it. Now copy it. Paste a copy (it should position it exactly on top of previous text box). Use the arrow keys and move the new text box up 2 arrow clicks. Paste again (again, text box will be positioned exactly where previous text box was) and click the left arrow twice. Repeat until you have a text box positioned 2 pixels in each direction. Final steps are paste a new text box, and move it one pixel up and one pixel over-- this should center the new text box. Now double click on new text box, select text, and change to white (or other light color). Walla!