
Adding text to a picture can be a fun and creative way to express yourself, share your thoughts, or make a statement. Whether you're adding text to a photo for social media, to create a meme, or to make a graphic design, there are several easy and effective ways to do it. In this guide, we'll show you how to add text to a picture, step by step, using various tools and ways that are perfect for all types of users.

## Use a Mobile App

The easiest option for adding text to a picture is to use a mobile app. There are many mobile apps available for both iOS and Android that allow you to add text to a picture on the go. Some of the most popular mobile apps for adding text to a picture include [Instasize](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/instasize-photo-editor-ai/id576649830), [Typorama](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/typorama-text-on-photo-editor/id978659937), and [Phonto](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/phonto-text-on-photos/id438429273). These apps are perfect as they are fast, easy to use, and offer a different font styles, sizes, and colors, to create the perfect text overlay for your picture.

To add text to a picture using a mobile app, simply select the app, choose the picture you want to add text to, and select the text tool. Then, start typing and adjust the font style, size, and color to match the style of your picture. Once you're satisfied with the text overlay, you can save the picture and share it on social media or anywhere else you want.

## Use an Online Text Editor

One of the easiest ways to add text to a picture is to use an online text editor. There are many free and paid text editors available on the web that allow you to add text to a picture in a few simple steps. Some of the most popular online text editors for adding text to a picture include [Canva](https://canva.com) and [PicMonkey](https://www.picmonkey.com). These online text editors are a simple way to add text with a range different font styles, sizes, and colors, to help you create a great text overlay for your picture.

To add text to a picture using an online text editor, simply upload your picture, select the text tool, and start typing. You can then adjust the font style, size, and color to match the style of your picture. Once you're satisfied with the text overlay, you can save the picture and share it on social media or anywhere else you want.

Adding text to a picture is a great way to personalize your images and make them stand out. Whether you prefer using an online text editor, a mobile app, or a professional image editing software like Adobe Photoshop, there are many options available to meet your needs. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can add text to a picture with ease and create eye-catching visuals for social media, memes, graphic design, and more. So go ahead, give it a try and let your creativity shine!

Learn the easiest and fastest ways to add text to a picture with our step-by-step guide.

How to Add Text to a Picture


It’s no secret that nearly all photos you find posted online are post-processed in some form, whether it’s by the individual adjusting colors, balancing contrast, or adding and reducing saturation. You can have a great eye for composition when it comes to mobile phone photography, but there will be times when the images you take lack something to transform them from good to great. This is especially true for photos trying to convey a specific atmosphere that may not always show up in raw form when taken digitally. If you’re shooting for something more morose, dreamy, or nostalgic, then you can achieve this by adding film grain texture to your image.  
  

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Why Add Film Grain Texture to Your Digital Photos?
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It isn’t unreasonable to shake your head at adding film grain texture to phone photos. Technology has developed enough to produce clear, crisp photographs more accurately capturing the world around us and eliminating the grainy residue that were the norm on photos taken with older cameras. However, if you’re not shooting for hyper-realism and want to make photo viewing all about the mood and experience, [adding grain is a valid creative choice](http://thephotofundamentalist.com/technique/do-digital-images-gain-from-grain/ " title="). It conveys a dreamy atmosphere and brings texture that can nevertheless make images feel more “real,” despite looking less like it. This especially works in black and white to fit with the vintage aspect, and adds more character for possible future printouts.

![Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: Original Image](/content/original-image-before-film-grain.jpg "Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: Original Image")

  

_The original image before application of old film filters and film grain texture edits._

  

Here’s a step-by-step process on how to add an old photo filter using Instasize, and ones from the app library perfect for the job of granting a [retro look](/learn/how-to-make-photos-look-vintage-or-retro "Make Photos look Retro & Vintage").  
  

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1\. Choose and Crop Your Photo.
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![Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: Cropping](/content/add-film-grain-with-instasize-cropping.jpg "Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: Cropping")

  

When you fire up the Instasize app, you’ll be taken to your photo grid. You can select a picture you’ve already edited in case you want to change it up, or you can click the plus icon at the bottom. You’ll have the option to upload from your gallery, select multiple images from your gallery and put them into a collage, or take a new photo directly from your camera. The kinds of photos that work best with a grainy texture overlay are ones you want to soften and make more relatable, which works especially well with street photography and more intimate compositions.  
  

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2\. Play Around with Sliders and Filters.
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Before you add the grain itself, you need to have the image convey the feeling you want more accurately. Colors are important here—using photos with colors and lighting that are too bright can make a grainy image jarring instead of atmospheric. Once you pick a photo you’ll be taken straight to the filter screen. To get that vintage feel, try these filters:

![Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: Tokyo Filter](/content/add-film-grain-with-instasize-filter-tokyo.jpg "Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: Tokyo Filter")

![Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: D2 Filter](/content/add-film-grain-with-instasize-filter-d2.jpg "Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: D2 Filter")

![Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: N3 Filter](/content/add-film-grain-with-instasize-filter-n3.jpg "Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: N3 Filter")

  

*   **Tokyo:** While this filter brightens an image, it also adds a desaturated bluish tint to it, echoing media from the 80’s and 90’s and bringing an overall Japanese city pop inspired aesthetic. This one is available for all users for free.
  
*   **D2:** If you’re fond of sepia hues, this premium filter is for you. This works great in images with a lot of neutral colors to enhance, as it adds a vintage reddish-brown tone. Try it in cafés and comfy-looking shots of coffee, tea, or books.
  
*   **N3:** Another premium filter, this grants the darker edge of the retro look, deepening shadows and darkening an image just like the classic polaroid camera print look.

  

You can also forego color entirely and pick a filter that turns your photo grayscale or [black and white](/learn/shoot-edit-black-white-photos "Black & White Shooting Guide"). Choose this for scenes with attractive contrast between lights and darks.  
  

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3\. Add the Grain Texture.
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![Add Film Grain Texture to Photos](/content/add-film-grain-with-instasize.jpg "Add Film Grain Texture to Photos")

  

Once you’ve added the filter you want, it’s time to add grain. Select the adjustments menu, the second option from the left in the bottom menu, and scroll to the rightmost part to find the grain slider. For subtler effects, keep the grain slider below 50. To add more, go beyond that. Be careful not to add too much or else it will look too artificial, but don’t add too little either or risk not achieving the soft style you’re aiming for.  
  

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![Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: Original Image](/content/original-image-before-film-grain-1.jpg "Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: Original Image")

![Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: Final Edit](/content/final-image-before-film-grain.jpg "Add Film Grain Texture to Photos: Final Edit")

  

**Original Image w/ no Edits**

**With Film Grain & Filter**

  

The right additions can really make or break an image. While some photos look best when taken digitally, looking at old film photos can get nostalgic once in a while—and you can’t deny some of them hold up well and still look amazing. Getting the photo exactly how you want it is much easier if you have an app with multiple features in one package. The last thing anyone wants to do is spend way too much time than necessary making minor tweaks to photos and needing to switch apps to do it. Instasize takes away that hassle by having numerous filter styles and sliders available to both free and premium users, in addition to video editing, collages, and borders.

If you’re shooting for something more morose, dreamy, or nostalgic, then you can achieve this by adding film grain texture and old photo filters.