Write for the image's audience
Before choosing a font, decide what the viewer needs to understand. A social image may need a short headline. A product draft may need a variant name or a measurement. A tutorial screenshot may need two or three numbered labels. If the words repeat what the image already makes obvious, remove them. Less text usually leaves more room for the subject and improves scanning.
Keep the wording short enough to survive the final display size. A sentence that looks comfortable on a desktop can become a block of tiny lines on a phone or marketplace card. Write the shortest version that stays accurate, then use the saved image to verify it.
Use separate text layers
Multiple text layers are more flexible than one long text box. A heading, subtitle, product name, and measurement note can each be moved, resized, recolored, or deleted without disturbing the others. Separate layers also make it easier to test two compositions: one with a headline and one with a clean image.
Give each layer a clear role. Do not create a new layer for every word unless the design requires independent movement. Too many layers make selection difficult and increase the chance that a label is accidentally left behind. Name or mentally group layers by their purpose while you work.
Choose fonts for reading first
A familiar sans-serif font is often the safest starting point for interface screenshots, listings, and instructional graphics. A display or serif font can add personality to a title, but small supporting text needs clear letter shapes and enough spacing. Use bold weight to establish hierarchy, not to make every line compete for attention.
Keep the number of typefaces limited. One family with two weights can create a strong hierarchy without making a small image feel inconsistent. If the project has brand rules, follow them; otherwise start with the default readable style and change it only when the content benefits.
Control the text box, not just the font size
A text box controls where a line can wrap. If the box is too narrow, a short phrase becomes several lines and may cover the subject. If it is too wide, the phrase may stretch across the entire image and lose hierarchy. Resize the box to match the intended line length, then adjust font scale until the words are readable without dominating the frame.
When you move a text layer, check whether the box has changed how the words wrap. Dragging a layer should not create accidental breaks that were not part of the design. Use the visible selection state to see the box boundaries, make the adjustment, then click outside it to review the clean image.
SizeCraft workflow
- Crop the base image first.
Text placement depends on the final canvas and subject position. - Create a text layer.
New text can be edited immediately, then selected again later for changes. - Set the words and font.
Choose a readable family, weight, color, and an optional outline only when contrast needs help. - Resize and move the box.
Adjust the box width and height so line wrapping follows the composition. - Click outside to review.
The clean preview should hide editing handles before you export. - Export and read it small.
Open the downloaded file and check text at the destination's likely size.
Optional outlines, shadows, and contrast
Text should be readable through color and placement before effects are added. Put light text on a dark area or dark text on a light area when you can. If the image has a mixed background, a restrained outline may separate the letters from the photo. Keep the outline outside the glyphs and use a small width; heavy effects reduce the clarity of small characters.
A shadow can create separation, but it also changes the tone of the design and can make type look fuzzy. Treat outlines and shadows as optional controls, not defaults. Compare the plain version first. If the normal text is already clear, leaving it unstyled usually produces the more durable export.
Text on collage and product images
In a collage, place a label near the tile it describes and keep the style consistent across tiles. A shared baseline, color, or font weight can help the viewer compare variants. Avoid placing a large title over the center of every tile because small photos have limited room for readable type.
On a product image, avoid covering the product name, label, or important feature. A measurement marker may already provide the information you need, so do not add a second text layer that repeats the same number. Keep an unannotated export when the destination has restrictions on text overlays.
Text review checklist
- The words have a clear job and are accurate.
- Each independent item is a separate selectable layer.
- The font is readable at the final display size.
- The text box is wide and tall enough for intentional line wrapping.
- Outline or shadow effects are optional and restrained.
- The clean preview and exported file have no editing handles.