Drop in a photo and place bold text that sits behind your subject, the viral depth effect in one click. We cut out the subject automatically. Free, no sign-up, and your photo never leaves your browser.
Drop a photo or click to browse
PNG, JPG, or WebP. Up to 25 MB. A photo with a clear subject works best.
100% in-browser. Your image is never uploaded to a server. The subject cutout runs on your device.
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Use Tool →How It Works
No account, no sign-up, completely free. The subject cutout runs in your browser, so your photo is never uploaded to any server.
Drop a PNG, JPG, or WebP up to 25 MB. A photo with one clear subject in front gives the cleanest result.
The tool automatically separates your subject from the background on your device, so text can slide in behind it.
Type your word, then tune font, color, size, and position. Download a high-resolution PNG with one click.
The Effect
The text-behind-image look works because your eye reads it as real depth. The photo has a background, your subject stands in the foreground, and the text lives in the gap between them. Get the layering right and a flat photo suddenly feels three dimensional.
background photo → text layer → subject cutout (on top)
The magic is the middle layer. The word is painted over the full photo, then the cut-out subject is painted back on top, hiding whatever part of the text falls behind it. That single overlap is what sells the effect.
This is why a clear subject matters so much. The cleaner the edge between your subject and its background, the more convincing the overlap looks. Portraits against a plain wall, a product on a seamless surface, or a pet in good light all cut beautifully.
It is also why you want part of the word to stay visible. If the subject swallows the whole text, there is no readable word left, and the depth cue disappears with it. Size and place the text so it ducks behind the subject but still reads at a glance.
Where to Use It
The tool exports at your photo's full resolution, so you can start from a source sized for wherever the image is headed. These are the common targets.
| Use case | Typical size | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram post | 1080 × 1350 | Portrait feed posts with a person or product up front Great fit |
| Story / Reel cover | 1080 × 1920 | Full-screen vertical with a big word behind the subject Great fit |
| YouTube thumbnail | 1280 × 720 | A bold title tucked behind the creator or product Great fit |
| Poster / flyer | Any high-res | Event names layered behind a headline photo Also works |
| Blog / OG image | 1200 × 630 | Article title behind a subject for social sharing Also works |
Sizes reflect common 2026 platform recommendations.
By Subject
The type of photo you start with decides how clean the cutout is and how you should place the text. Here is what to expect from each.
| Photo type | Cutout result | Text placement |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait of a person | Clear edges, hair against a plain wall cuts cleanest | One short word, large, centered around the shoulders |
| Product on a surface | Isolated product, even lighting, no busy background | Brand or price word tucked behind the product |
| Pet or object | High contrast between subject and background | Name or caption sized to peek past the edges |
| Group photo | Works, but fine gaps between people may show text | Keep text low and wide so it reads across the group |
| Landscape / no clear subject | Little to cut out, so the depth effect is weak | Better suited to plain text-over-image instead |
Troubleshooting
Almost every disappointing result comes down to one of these six. Most are about the photo you start with, not the tool.
The effect needs one thing in the foreground to sit in front of the text. A busy scene with no obvious subject gives the cutout nothing to grab.
Use a clear foregroundA dark jacket against a dark wall confuses the cutout. Photos where the subject clearly stands out from the background cut the cleanest.
High contrast cuts cleanIf the word sits entirely behind the subject you cannot read it. Grow the size or move it so part of the text peeks out past the edges.
Let the text peek outSmall images look soft once text is added and you export. Start with a large photo so the download stays crisp on retina screens.
Bigger source = crisper exportWhite text on a bright sky disappears. Pick a text color that contrasts with the part of the photo it sits over.
Contrast the text colorAutomatic cutouts are excellent but not flawless around fine hair or glass. Choose a photo with defined edges for the sharpest result.
Defined edges helpBest Practices
All CommonNinja widgets mentioned below are free to start. Apply these while you design and after you post.
01
A single person, product, or pet in the foreground gives the cutout a clean edge and makes the depth effect obvious. Plain backgrounds work best.
02
The illusion lands when some of the text disappears behind the subject and the rest stays readable. Size and position the text so both are true.
03
This look is built for one large word, not a sentence. Impact, Arial Black, or a heavy Poppins weight read best from a phone screen.
04
White reads as clean and modern, black as editorial. A brand color ties the image to your identity. Just keep it readable against the background.
05
Post the image where your audience lives, then embed your feed on your site so visitors follow you back to the source.
Add Instagram Feed free →06
A scroll-stopping graphic earns shares only if sharing is one tap. Add share buttons to any page the image lives on.
Add Share Buttons free →07
Reuse the same font, weight, and color across a series so your posts read as one set on your profile grid.
08
When a post spikes, catch that traffic with a timed popup offer on your landing page instead of letting it bounce.
Add Popup Builder free →Glossary
Six terms that come up whenever you design this effect. Bookmark this if you make these images for a team.
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