: How do I preserve legibility when overlaying text on images? I have lots of creative images that I want to use, except when I put text over them it makes the text really hard to read. Other

@Karen819

you could try adding a shape behind the text but in front of the image and adjust the opacity level on the shape until you are happy with the image visibility and the text legibility.

hope this helps

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@Pope1402555

In addition to e100 great answer, using shadows with blur on text may be a good trick.

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@Sims5801359

Yes. Do one or more of these:


Use larger text
Use a bolder or simpler typeface
Use a spot colour, varnish, foil or clear laminate for the text
Increase the tonal contrast:

If your text is black, make it rich black and/or slightly lighten the darkest areas of the image
If your text is reversed out (white paper), slightly darken the lightest areas of the image, make sure they are not also pure white

Blur the image, recrop or rescale it to reduce the amount of competing detail (for example, you'll have issues if there are lots of repeating elements the same size as text stems)
Convert the background to greyscale, use coloured text
Colourise the background (monotone or duotone) and use black or reversed-out text
If none of these work, or aren't practical, find another layout that separates the text from the image.

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