NSString *blah = @"Placeholder Pane"; NSSize size = [blah sizeWithAttributes: nil]; NSPoint startPoint; startPoint.x = bounds.origin.x + bounds.size.width / 2 - size.width / 2; startPoint.y = bounds.origin.y + bounds.size.height / 2 - size.height / 2; [blah drawAtPoint: startPoint withAttributes: nil];