How to add text to an image in your browser

You want to add a caption to a photo, put a name on a graphic, or make a simple title image. The hard part is usually not typing the words. It is placing them where they are easy to read without covering the subject.

You can do it in a browser with the Photo Editor. It supports text and layers, so you can add words over an image and adjust their placement without changing the original file on your device.

Add text to the image

1. Open the Photo Editor and load the image you want to edit from your device. If the image matters to you, keep a separate original copy before you begin.
2. Choose the text option in the editor and add a text element to the image. Enter your caption, title, or label. Keep the first version short so you can judge its size and position easily.
3. Move the text to a clear area of the image. Resize it and adjust its appearance with the controls available in the editor. Check that the words do not cover a face, product, or other important detail.
4. Review the image at its normal size, not only while zoomed in. When it looks right, save or export the edited image using the editor's available option.

Text may appear as its own layer, separate from the photo. If so, leave it separate while you are still making changes. You can reposition or revise the words without repainting the image underneath.

Choose a style that suits the image

Use a simple caption

For a photo caption, keep the wording brief and place it near an edge or in open space. A sentence that runs across the whole image can compete with the subject. If the picture is busy, put the words over a calmer area rather than directly over fine detail.

Make a title stand out

A title can be larger than a caption, but it still needs breathing room. Leave a margin between the text and the image edges. If the title is long, split it into shorter lines instead of shrinking it until it is difficult to read.

Add a label without hiding details

For a product name, location, or short annotation, use a compact text block and place it beside the feature it describes. Make sure the connection is clear. Avoid putting a label over small details that someone may need to inspect.

Pick a color with enough contrast

Contrast is the difference between the text and the area behind it. Light text is often clearer over a dark area, while dark text is easier to see over a pale one. If the image changes from light to dark behind the words, a single text color may disappear in part of the picture. Move the text, choose a different color, or use a background treatment if the editor offers one.

Make the text easier to read

1. Shorten the wording. Remove words that are not needed. A few clear words are easier to scan than a long sentence placed over a photo.
2. Move it onto a quieter area. Look for plain sky, a wall, a table, or another part of the image with fewer details. A busy background makes letters harder to distinguish.
3. Increase the text size. Make a small change, then check the image at its normal viewing size. Text that looks large while zoomed in can become tiny when the image is shared or viewed on a phone.
4. Change the text color. Choose a color that clearly differs from the background directly behind the letters. Do not judge contrast from a different part of the image.
5. Use a background or outline if available. A subtle solid or translucent area behind the words can help when the photo has mixed tones. Keep it restrained so it supports the text instead of taking attention away from the image.
6. Try a simpler font style. Decorative lettering can be hard to read at small sizes. Use a clean style for instructions, labels, and any text people need to understand quickly.

Keep the image sharp

Start with the largest good-quality version of the image you have. If you enlarge a small picture, the photo may look soft, and added text cannot restore the missing detail. Avoid repeatedly saving and reopening a compressed image if you can work from the original instead.

Before saving, check that the text is fully inside the image and that punctuation, names, and numbers are correct. Look for letters that blend into bright highlights or dark shadows. If the image will be viewed at a small size, make the text large enough to read there rather than designing only for a full-screen preview.

The Photo Editor runs in your browser. The image and your edits stay on your device.