How to Add Text to an Image Online for Free

Step-by-step: Add text to an image

1. 1

   Upload your image in Camisual

   Sign in at camisual.com and click "New Design". Click "Add" in the top menu bar and then "Upload Image". Select your photo. It appears on the canvas.

2. 2

   Resize the canvas to match the image

   If the canvas is a different size from your image, you can resize the canvas to fit via "File" and then "Canvas Size". Enter the exact pixel dimensions of your image so there is no empty border.

3. 3

   Add a text object

   Click "Add" in the top menu bar and then "Add Text". A text box appears on the canvas. Double-click it to type your text.

4. 4

   Style the text

   In the left Text section you can change the font family, size, weight (bold, regular, light), style (italic), colour, line height, and letter spacing. Pick a colour that contrasts well with the area of the photo where the text sits.

5. 5

   Add a stroke for readability on complex backgrounds

   If the text blends into the photo, add an outline using the Stroke option in the Text section. A white stroke on dark text or a black stroke on white text makes text legible over any background. Set the stroke width to 2 to 5px.

6. 6

   Add a text background (optional)

   For a clean label effect, draw a semi-transparent rectangle in Shape mode and position it behind the text layer in the layer panel. Set the fill to a dark or light colour at 50 to 70 percent opacity.

7. 7

   Export your image

   Click "File" then "Export". Choose PNG to preserve transparency or JPG for a flat photo format. Your image downloads with the text baked in.

Font tips for overlay text

Sans-serif fonts like bold grotesques (Helvetica style) are the most readable at small sizes on complex backgrounds. Script and decorative fonts look great for quotes and headlines but should only be used at large sizes. Avoid very thin font weights on busy photo backgrounds.