How to Add Text to a Photo and Keep It Readable

Create a clear hierarchy

Give the most important message the largest size or strongest weight. Supporting information should be smaller and quieter. Two or three levels are usually enough: headline, supporting line, and optional detail.

Use one font family for a clean design or pair a distinctive display face with a simple sans serif. Too many unrelated fonts make a small graphic feel inconsistent.

Make text readable over a photo

Place text over an area with relatively simple texture. If the background is busy, add a subtle shadow, outline, or translucent highlight behind the letters. The goal is separation, not a heavy effect.

Check contrast in both bright and dark parts of the image. White text may disappear over clouds; black text may disappear in shadows. A background panel with modest padding is often more reliable than an extreme shadow.

Use the text box, not only font size

Resize the text box to control line breaks while keeping font size independent. Narrower boxes create more lines; wider boxes create a calmer horizontal shape. Use line height to prevent stacked lines from touching and letter spacing sparingly for uppercase headings.

1. Type the final wording before detailed styling.
2. Choose alignment based on the composition.
3. Set the text-box width and wrapping.
4. Adjust font size and line height.
5. Add contrast support only if needed.
6. Review at the final export size.

Keep important text away from edges

Leave a safe margin around titles and calls to action. Social apps may crop previews or place interface controls over corners. Export guides and selection handles should never appear in the downloaded image.