diff --git a/lib/extensions/lettering_generate_json.py b/lib/extensions/lettering_generate_json.py
index e6f997c7d..3d656625c 100644
--- a/lib/extensions/lettering_generate_json.py
+++ b/lib/extensions/lettering_generate_json.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ class LetteringGenerateJson(InkstitchExtension):
 
         self.arg_parser.add_argument("-n", "--font-name", type=str, default="Font", dest="font_name")
         self.arg_parser.add_argument("-d", "--font-description", type=str, default="Description", dest="font_description")
+        self.arg_parser.add_argument("-v", "--default_variant", type=int, default=0, dest="default_variant")
+        self.arg_parser.add_argument("-x", "--text_direction", type=str, default="ltr", dest="text_direction")
         self.arg_parser.add_argument("-s", "--auto-satin", type=Boolean, default="true", dest="auto_satin")
         self.arg_parser.add_argument("-r", "--reversible", type=Boolean, default="true", dest="reversible")
         self.arg_parser.add_argument("-o", "--combine-at-sort-indices", type=str, default="", dest="combine_at_sort_indices")
@@ -81,9 +83,21 @@ class LetteringGenerateJson(InkstitchExtension):
         combine_at_sort_indices = self.options.combine_at_sort_indices.split(',')
         combine_at_sort_indices = set([index.strip() for index in combine_at_sort_indices if index.strip()])
 
+        # The inx gui doesn't seem to be able to remember the arrow values,
+        # therefore we used numbers which we need to convert now
+        default_variant = "→"
+        if self.options.default_variant == 1:
+            default_variant = "←"
+        elif self.options.default_variant == 2:
+            default_variant = "↓"
+        elif self.options.default_variant == 3:
+            default_variant = "↑"
+
         # collect data
         data = {'name': self.options.font_name,
                 'description': self.options.font_description,
+                'default_variant': default_variant,
+                'text_direction': self.options.text_direction,
                 'keywords': keywords,
                 'leading': leading,
                 'auto_satin': self.options.auto_satin,
diff --git a/lib/gui/edit_json/main_panel.py b/lib/gui/edit_json/main_panel.py
index 473d84252..646d952aa 100644
--- a/lib/gui/edit_json/main_panel.py
+++ b/lib/gui/edit_json/main_panel.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from inkex import errormsg
 from ...elements import nodes_to_elements
 from ...i18n import _
 from ...lettering import get_font_list
+from ...lettering.font_variant import FontVariant
 from ...lettering.categories import FONT_CATEGORIES
 from ...stitch_plan import stitch_groups_to_stitch_plan
 from ...svg.tags import SVG_PATH_TAG
@@ -129,6 +130,26 @@ class LetteringEditJsonPanel(wx.Panel):
         self.settings_panel.font_settings.combine_at_sort_indices.SetForegroundColour(wx.NullColour)
         self.font_meta['combine_at_sort_indices'] = indices
 
+    def on_default_variant_change(self, event=None):
+        selection = self.settings_panel.font_info.default_variant.GetSelection()
+        value = '→'
+        if selection == 1:
+            value = '←'
+        elif selection == 2:
+            value = '↓'
+        elif selection == 3:
+            value = '↑'
+        self.font_meta['default_variant'] = value
+        self.update_preview()
+
+    def on_text_direction_changed(self, event=None):
+        selection = self.settings_panel.font_info.text_direction.GetSelection()
+        value = 'ltr'
+        if selection == 1:
+            value = 'rtl'
+        self.font_meta['text_direction'] = value
+        self.update_preview()
+
     def on_letter_case_change(self, event=None):
         selection = self.settings_panel.font_settings.letter_case.GetSelection()
         value = ''
@@ -196,7 +217,7 @@ class LetteringEditJsonPanel(wx.Panel):
         self.font = self.fonts.get(self.settings_panel.font_chooser.GetValue(), list(self.fonts.values())[0].marked_custom_font_name)
         self.kerning_pairs = self.font.kerning_pairs
         self.font._load_variants()
-        self.default_variant = self.font.variants[self.font.default_variant]
+        self.default_variant = self.font.variants[self.font.json_default_variant]
         self.glyphs = list(self.default_variant.glyphs.keys())
         self.glyphs.sort()
         self.horiz_adv_x = self.font.horiz_adv_x
@@ -217,6 +238,8 @@ class LetteringEditJsonPanel(wx.Panel):
         self.font_meta = defaultdict(list)
         self.font_meta['name'] = self.font.name
         self.font_meta['description'] = self.font.metadata['description']  # untranslated description
+        self.font_meta['default_variant'] = self.font.json_default_variant
+        self.font_meta['text_direction'] = self.font.text_direction
         self.font_meta['keywords'] = self.font.keywords
         self.font_meta['default_glyph'] = self.font.default_glyph
         self.font_meta['auto_satin'] = self.font.auto_satin
@@ -234,6 +257,10 @@ class LetteringEditJsonPanel(wx.Panel):
         # update ctrl
         self.settings_panel.font_info.name.ChangeValue(self.font.name)
         self.settings_panel.font_info.description.ChangeValue(self.font.metadata['description'])
+        selection = ['→', '←', '↓', '↑'].index(self.font.json_default_variant)
+        self.settings_panel.font_info.default_variant.SetSelection(selection)
+        selection = ['ltr', 'rtl'].index(self.font.text_direction)
+        self.settings_panel.font_info.text_direction.SetSelection(selection)
         self.settings_panel.font_info.keywords.SetSelection(-1)
         for category in FONT_CATEGORIES:
             if category.id in self.font.keywords:
@@ -263,8 +290,10 @@ class LetteringEditJsonPanel(wx.Panel):
         kerning_list.AppendColumn("Current kerning", width=wx.LIST_AUTOSIZE_USEHEADER)
         kerning_list.AppendColumn("New kerning", width=wx.LIST_AUTOSIZE_USEHEADER)
         for kerning_pair in self.kerning_combinations:
+            if self.font_meta['text_direction'] == 'rtl':
+                kerning_pair = kerning_pair[::-1]
             index = kerning_list.InsertItem(kerning_list.GetItemCount(), kerning_pair)
-            kerning_list.SetItem(index, 0, kerning_pair)
+            # kerning_list.SetItem(index, 0, kerning_pair)
             kerning_list.SetItem(index, 1, str(self.kerning_pairs.get(kerning_pair, 0.0)))
         if kerning_list.GetItemCount() != 0:
             kerning_list.Select(0)
@@ -335,7 +364,17 @@ class LetteringEditJsonPanel(wx.Panel):
             return
 
         text = self.text_before + text + self.text_after
+        if self.font_meta['text_direction'] == 'rtl':
+            text = text[::-1]
 
+        self._render_text(text)
+
+        if self.default_variant.variant == FontVariant.RIGHT_TO_LEFT:
+            self.layer[:] = reversed(self.layer)
+            for group in self.layer:
+                group[:] = reversed(group)
+
+    def _render_text(self, text):
         last_character = None
         position_x = 0
         for character in text:
@@ -348,27 +387,33 @@ class LetteringEditJsonPanel(wx.Panel):
                     glyph = self.default_variant[self.font_meta['default_glyph']]
 
                 if glyph is not None:
-                    node = deepcopy(glyph.node)
-                    if last_character is not None:
-                        position_x += glyph.min_x - self.kerning_pairs.get(last_character + character, 0)
+                    position_x, last_character = self._render_glyph(glyph, position_x, character, last_character)
 
-                    transform = f"translate({position_x}, 0)"
-                    node.set('transform', transform)
+    def _render_glyph(self, glyph, position_x, character, last_character):
+        node = deepcopy(glyph.node)
+        if last_character is not None:
+            if self.font_meta['text_direction'] != 'rtl':
+                position_x += glyph.min_x - self.kerning_pairs.get(last_character + character, 0)
+            else:
+                position_x += glyph.min_x - self.kerning_pairs.get(character + last_character, 0)
 
-                    horiz_adv_x_default = self.font_meta['horiz_adv_x_default']
-                    if horiz_adv_x_default is None:
-                        horiz_adv_x_default = glyph.width + glyph.min_x
+        transform = f"translate({position_x}, 0)"
+        node.set('transform', transform)
 
-                    position_x += self.font.horiz_adv_x.get(character, horiz_adv_x_default) - glyph.min_x
+        horiz_adv_x_default = self.font_meta['horiz_adv_x_default']
+        if horiz_adv_x_default is None:
+            horiz_adv_x_default = glyph.width + glyph.min_x
 
-                    self.font._update_commands(node, glyph)
-                    self.font._update_clips(self.layer, node, glyph)
+        position_x += self.font.horiz_adv_x.get(character, horiz_adv_x_default) - glyph.min_x
 
-                    # this is used to recognize a glyph layer later in the process
-                    # because this is not unique it will be overwritten by inkscape when inserted into the document
-                    node.set("id", "glyph")
-                    self.layer.add(node)
-                    last_character = character
+        self.font._update_commands(node, glyph)
+        self.font._update_clips(self.layer, node, glyph)
+
+        # this is used to recognize a glyph layer later in the process
+        # because this is not unique it will be overwritten by inkscape when inserted into the document
+        node.set("id", "glyph")
+        self.layer.add(node)
+        return position_x, character
 
     def render_stitch_plan(self):
         stitch_groups = []
diff --git a/lib/gui/edit_json/settings_panel.py b/lib/gui/edit_json/settings_panel.py
index 8e0e60733..88cf7ac4c 100644
--- a/lib/gui/edit_json/settings_panel.py
+++ b/lib/gui/edit_json/settings_panel.py
@@ -96,6 +96,14 @@ class FontInfo(wx.Panel):
             lambda event: self.parent.on_font_meta_value_changed("description", False, event)
         )
 
+        default_variant_label = wx.StaticText(self, label=_("Default Variant"))
+        self.default_variant = wx.Choice(self, choices=[_("→"), _("←"), _("↓"), ("↑")])
+        self.default_variant.Bind(wx.EVT_CHOICE, self.parent.on_default_variant_change)
+
+        text_direction_label = wx.StaticText(self, label=_("Text direction"))
+        self.text_direction = wx.Choice(self, choices=[_("Left to Right"), _("Right to Left")])
+        self.text_direction.Bind(wx.EVT_CHOICE, self.parent.on_text_direction_changed)
+
         keywords_label = wx.StaticText(self, label=_("Keywords"))
         self.keywords = wx.ListBox(
             self,
@@ -110,6 +118,10 @@ class FontInfo(wx.Panel):
             (self.name, 0, wx.ALL | wx.EXPAND, 0),
             (description_label, 0, wx.ALL, 0),
             (self.description, 1, wx.ALL | wx.EXPAND, 0),
+            (default_variant_label, 0, wx.ALL, 0),
+            (self.default_variant, 1, wx.ALL | wx.EXPAND, 0),
+            (text_direction_label, 0, wx.ALL, 0),
+            (self.text_direction, 1, wx.ALL | wx.EXPAND, 0),
             (keywords_label, 0, wx.ALL, 0),
             (self.keywords, 1, wx.ALL | wx.EXPAND, 0)
         ])
diff --git a/lib/lettering/font.py b/lib/lettering/font.py
index 8d2a0c4bc..6dca40940 100644
--- a/lib/lettering/font.py
+++ b/lib/lettering/font.py
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ class Font(object):
     name = font_metadata('name', '')
     description = localized_font_metadata('description', '')
     keywords = font_metadata('keywords', '')
+    json_default_variant = font_metadata('default_variant', FontVariant.LEFT_TO_RIGHT)
+    text_direction = font_metadata('text_direction', 'ltr')
     letter_case = font_metadata('letter_case', '')
     default_glyph = font_metadata('default_glyph', "�")
     leading = font_metadata('leading', 100)
@@ -158,7 +160,7 @@ class Font(object):
     @property
     def default_variant(self):
         # Set default variant to any existing variant if default font file is missing
-        default_variant = font_metadata('default_variant', FontVariant.LEFT_TO_RIGHT)
+        default_variant = self.json_default_variant
         font_variants = self.has_variants()
         if default_variant not in font_variants and len(font_variants) > 0:
             default_variant = font_variants[0]
@@ -224,8 +226,12 @@ class Font(object):
             glyph_set = glyph_sets[i % 2]
             line = line.strip()
 
+            if self.text_direction == "rtl":
+                line = line[::-1]
+
             letter_group = self._render_line(destination_group, line, position, glyph_set)
-            if (back_and_forth and self.reversible and i % 2 == 1) or variant == '←':
+            if ((variant == '→' and back_and_forth and self.reversible and i % 2 == 1) or
+                    (variant == '←' and not (back_and_forth and self.reversible and i % 2 == 1))):
                 letter_group[:] = reversed(letter_group)
                 for group in letter_group:
                     group[:] = reversed(group)
@@ -257,8 +263,6 @@ class Font(object):
 
         if text_align in [3, 4]:
             for line_group in destination_group.iterchildren():
-                # print(line_group.label, len(line_group), file=sys.stderr)
-                # print(line_group.bounding_box().width, max_line_width, file=sys.stderr)
                 if text_align == 4 and len(line_group) == 1:
                     line_group = line_group[0]
                 if len(line_group) > 1:
@@ -377,7 +381,10 @@ class Font(object):
 
         node = deepcopy(glyph.node)
         if last_character is not None:
-            position.x += glyph.min_x - self.kerning_pairs.get(last_character + character, 0)
+            if self.text_direction != "rtl":
+                position.x += glyph.min_x - self.kerning_pairs.get(last_character + character, 0)
+            else:
+                position.x += glyph.min_x - self.kerning_pairs.get(character + last_character, 0)
 
         transform = "translate(%s, %s)" % position.as_tuple()
         node.set('transform', transform)
diff --git a/templates/lettering_generate_json.xml b/templates/lettering_generate_json.xml
index d9e4b0456..5700d47b6 100644
--- a/templates/lettering_generate_json.xml
+++ b/templates/lettering_generate_json.xml
@@ -19,7 +19,16 @@
 
         <param type="string" name="font-name" gui-text="Name" indent="1" />
         <param type="string" name="font-description" gui-text="Description" indent="1" />
-
+        <param name="default_variant" type="optiongroup" appearance="combo" gui-text="Default variant" indent="1">
+             <option value="0">→</option>
+             <option value="1">←</option>
+             <option value="2">↓</option>
+             <option value="3">↑</option>
+        </param>
+        <param name="text_direction" type="optiongroup" appearance="combo" gui-text="Text direction" indent="1">
+             <option value="ltr">Left to right</option>
+             <option value="rtl">Right to left</option>
+        </param>
         <spacer />
         <separator indent="1"/>
         <spacer />