Making a meme
Choose an image, type a caption at the top, the bottom, or both, and download the result. The preview updates as you type, so you can adjust the wording and sizing until it sits properly on the image.
Text is drawn in heavy condensed capitals with a black outline, which is the convention the format settled on decades ago and is still what reads as a meme. The outline exists for a practical reason: it keeps white text legible over light areas of a photograph, which plain white text would disappear into.
Why the classic style persists
The top-and-bottom caption format dates to the image macros of the early 2000s, and the Impact typeface became standard largely by accident — it shipped with Windows, it is extremely bold, and it condenses enough to fit a long line across an image. Once enough people had seen it, the style itself became a signal that something was intended as a joke.
Modern formats have diverged considerably. Many popular templates now use captions above the image rather than over it, or dialogue-style labels pointing at parts of a scene. This tool covers the classic form, which remains the most broadly recognisable.
Writing captions that work
Brevity does most of the work. A caption that takes several seconds to read has already lost, because the format depends on the image and text landing together. If a line wraps to three rows, it is almost certainly too long.
The traditional two-part structure sets up an expectation at the top and subverts it at the bottom. That is not a rule, but it is a reliable structure, and it is why the format has both positions rather than one.
Sizing and legibility
The font size slider is a percentage of image height, so it scales sensibly whatever the image dimensions. Around ten percent suits most images. Text that overlaps a busy area of the photograph is hard to read regardless of size, so it is often worth choosing a different image rather than fighting with the caption.
A note on images you use
Memes made from photographs you do not own occupy genuinely uncertain legal ground. Parody and commentary attract some protection in many jurisdictions, but that protection is far from unlimited, and it is weakest when the result is used commercially. For anything published on behalf of a business, using an image you own or one that is properly licensed avoids the question entirely. Photographs of private individuals raise separate concerns about likeness and consent.
No watermark, nothing uploaded
The image is drawn to a canvas in your browser and downloaded from there. Nothing is uploaded, no watermark is added, and there is no limit on how many you make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a watermark on the result?
No. The downloaded image contains only your picture and your captions.
Why is the text white with a black outline?
It is the established convention, and it serves a purpose: the outline keeps white text readable over light areas of a photograph.
Can I use any image?
Technically yes, but images you do not own raise copyright questions, particularly for commercial use. Photographs of private individuals raise additional concerns.
Are my images uploaded?
No. Everything is drawn on a canvas element in your browser and never leaves your device.
What if my caption is too long?
Text wraps automatically, but long captions weaken the format. If a line wraps to three rows, it is worth cutting it down.