UILabel *label = [[UILabel alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(10, 10, 50, 70)]; label.numberOfLines = 2; label.text = @"text"; label.backgroundColor = [UIColor clearColor]; label.textColor = [UIColor whiteColor]; label.highlightedTextColor = [UIColor blackColor]; label.textAlignment = UITextAlignmentLeft; label.font = [UIFont systemFontOfSize:12]; //rotate label in 45 degrees label.transform = CGAffineTransformMakeRotation( M_PI/4 ); [self addSubview:label]; [label release];