Field guide
Choosing a background text can sit on
Average contrast is not enough for overlaid words. Every stroke needs a stable local relationship with the pixels immediately behind it.
01
Measure the darkest and lightest parts under the intended text box, not the whole image. A quiet corner can be readable even when the overall background is dramatic.
02
Prefer gradients whose strongest transition runs away from the reading direction. A vertical luminance change behind a horizontal sentence makes different words appear to have different weights.
03
Use a restrained scrim when the source cannot provide stable contrast. A translucent band is more honest and more robust than a heavy shadow pretending to separate every edge.
04
Test the composition at thumbnail size and under dark-mode surroundings. Fine outlines that work on a large white artboard often disappear when the finished image is seen in a feed.