// use of Jlabel to get multi-line label final JLabel jl = new JLabel(); jl.setFont( new Font( "Dialog", Font.PLAIN, 12 ) ); jl.setForeground( FOREGROUND_FOR_INSTRUCTIONS ); jl.setText( "<html><font color=\"blue\">Pick a file</span><br>Then hit <strong>Print</strong>.</html>" );