text behind image pinterest pin maker

Pinterest is a place where people scroll fast and save what catches their eye. A pin with text behind the subject looks different from a regular text overlay. Instead of text just sitting on top of the photo, it looks like it is part of the scene. The person or object appears to be in front of the words. This creates a sense of depth that makes the pin look more designed and more interesting.

When someone is scrolling through hundreds of pins, this effect makes yours stop them. It signals that the creator put effort into the design. On Pinterest, that matters because saved pins get shown to more people. A pin that gets saved a lot is treated as a high-quality pin by Pinterest's system, so it gets shown to even more users over time.

Using the right size is one of the easiest things you can do to improve how your pins perform.

The text on a Pinterest pin needs to do two things: look good and be easy to read fast. Here are some tips that help with both.

Keep it short. Three to seven words is ideal for a pin headline. People scroll quickly and will not stop to read a long sentence. Your text should tell them what the pin is about in a glance.

Use big text. Pinterest pins appear in a column that is not very wide on most screens. Text that looks a good size on your desktop may be too small to read on a phone. Make the font size bigger than you think you need.

Pick high-contrast colors. White text on a dark subject, or dark text on a light background, is the easiest to read. Avoid colors that blend into the photo behind the text.

Bold fonts win. Thin fonts look elegant close up but disappear at thumbnail size. Use bold or extra-bold weights for anything that needs to be read clearly in the feed.

The text-behind effect shows up across many different types of Pinterest content. Here are the most common uses.

If you use Pinterest for a business or blog, your pins should look consistent so people recognize them. Here are some simple ways to keep your pins on-brand.

Use the same fonts every time. Pick one or two fonts and stick with them. People will start to recognize your style after seeing a few of your pins. You can save your favorite font choices as text layers and reuse them.

Use your brand colors. The text color is the easiest place to add your brand color. Even if the photo changes every time, the same text color ties your pins together visually.

Keep the text in the same spot. Placing the text in a consistent position — like always across the lower third of the photo — gives your pins a signature look. Viewers who see your pins often will start to recognize the layout before they even read the text.

Add your website or handle. A small second text layer with your website URL or Pinterest handle is a simple way to brand your pins. Put it in a corner where it does not compete with the main text.