How to Make a Meme: Text, Fonts and What Makes It Work

A meme is a picture with words that make a joke or point. The format is simple. What separates a good one from a flat one is a clear picture, short words and text that's easy to read at a glance.

The classic layout

The usual layout has a short setup line at the top and the punch line at the bottom. People read top to bottom, so the joke lands on the last words. The Meme Maker starts with a top and bottom caption, and you can add more text and drag any of it where you want.

Making the text readable

• Use big, heavy letters. The classic meme look is capital letters in a bold font like Impact.
• White text with a thick black outline reads on almost any picture, light or dark.
• Keep it short. If you need three lines, trim the words.
• Leave the middle of the picture alone, where the main subject usually is.

Picking the picture

A strong expression or an obvious situation does half the work. Crop to the part that matters first with the Image Cropper, because a tight crop makes the text larger and the joke clearer. Larger pictures also give a sharper result.

Check before you share

• You should have the right to use the picture. Photos of other people, and pictures from other creators, may have rules.
• Think about whether the joke could hurt someone, or whether the picture shows a person who hasn't agreed.
• Read it on a phone-sized screen, because that's where most people will see it.

Saving it

JPG is the usual choice for photos and keeps the file small. PNG is sharper for flat graphics. If the finished meme is large, make it smaller with the Image Compressor so it uploads and loads quickly.