Maybe you want to create a fast presentation for a work meeting and need to point out elements in each photo. It’s definitely worth knowing how to add text to a picture if you work as a social media manager or have an influencer account.
Here are several ways you can add text to an image.
1. Add Text to a Photo With Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is not free, but it’s by far the best tool for any graphic design needs. It is filled with cool features like the one that lets you turn your image into a drawing. It also has more useful features, like the option to change the color of a certain element in a photo. So it’s no wonder that it’s our first pick if you want to add text to photos.
Even within the Text tool in Photoshop, there are so many options, like colors, borders, shading, changing the shape, and more. Follow these steps to start:
Go to File > Open to upload the image from your computer. Click the T button on the left side menu. Click anywhere on the picture. The software will add the words Lorem Ipsum, which you can delete to write your own text. Type in your text. With the top menu, you can play with the font in various ways. You can change its color, font, alignment, size, and more. While the biggest size on the drop-down menu is 72 pt, you can always type in a number to make it bigger. As we mentioned, the text doesn’t have to be horizontal. With the third button on the top menu (T with arrows pointing down and right), you can make the text vertical. And with the T with a curve underneath, you can make the text wavy, fish-eye shaped, and more. To move the text to a different place on the screen, click on the Move Tool. It’s the cross on top of the left-hand menu. Then drag the text to where you want. When you’re done, go to File > Save.
Pro tip: if you want to write a paragraph, you can create a box, so the text is contained within the box’s borders. After you pick the Text tool, don’t click on the screen. Click and drag instead to create a text box.
2. Use GIMP to Add Text on Top of an Image
If you don’t want to invest in a Photoshop license, GIMP is a great free alternative. Not only does it offer all of the basic features Photoshop has, but it also has plugins for additional features. It can help you crop images, enhance them, and of course, add text to images.
Go to File > Open to upload the image from your computer. Click the Text tool on the top left-hand menu. In this software, it’s the letter A. Similar to Photoshop, you can click on the screen for short text or click and drag to create a text box. After you type the text, you can change the color, font, weight, and even letter spacing and line height. It’s all in the menu right above the text. Important note: you have to select the text to change it. To move the text, use the Move Tool, which like Photoshop, looks like a cross made of arrows. When you’re done, go to File > Save.
3. Type Text on Your Pictures With Canva
The next option on the list is a cloud-based tool. This means that you don’t have to download Canva. After you sign up for a free account, you can use it from any computer and even with the Canva mobile app.
Canva works a bit differently than the other two. As it’s more geared towards graphic design, you have to decide on the size of your canvas first and then upload the image into it. However, the interface is user-friendly, especially if you don’t have any design experience.
It also offers a lot more options if you want to add text to images that don’t require much work (or any work at all).
Click the button to Create a Design on the top right corner of the home screen. Select the size of the image that you want to create. You can pick from presets such as Instagram Post or Poster. Alternatively, if you want the entire canvas to be your image and you know its size, pick Custom Size. On the left-hand menu, navigate to the Uploads tab. Click Upload Media and find the image on your computer. After the image is finished loading, drag it into the workspace until it fills the canvas. Navigate to the Text tab on the left-hand menu. Here, you have plenty of options. The first three provide you with heading text that you can later edit. Below, there are presets for colorful text, with shadows, glows, and more, that you can also modify to fit your needs. Click once on your choice, and it will be added to the photo. After you change the text, you can edit it with the top menu. You can change font, size, color (you can even easily use colors from the picture), and more. If you press the Effects button, you can also add shadow and change the shape of the text. To move the text, simply click and drag. You can also use the Position button from the top menu to be more accurate. When you’re done, press the Share button to either save the image or share it through email, social media, and more.
Explore the Possibilities When You Add Text to Photos
As you can see, there’s a myriad of options to add text to your photos. From the most basic fonts to different shapes, a combination of colors, and effects. This guide shows you the basics of how to add text to photos, but there’s so much more you can explore.
We didn’t even touch on Canva’s animation option or Photoshop’s 3D text feature. So if this is a topic that you’re interested in, it’s worth it to keep reading and researching.
