How to Put Text Behind a Person (Step-by-Step)

January 9, 2026
How to Put Text Behind a Person (Step-by-Step)

Putting text behind a person is one of the most effective ways to add depth and professionalism to an image. You’ve seen it everywhere—YouTube thumbnails, social media posts, posters, and landing pages. The text feels integrated into the image instead of awkwardly sitting on top.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn:

  • What “text behind a person” actually means
  • The traditional (manual) way to do it
  • The modern AI-powered way (fastest)
  • Best practices to make the effect look clean and professional

No design background required.

What Does “Text Behind a Person” Mean?

Text behind a person is a design effect where part of the text is visually hidden by a person’s body, face, or hair—while the rest of the text remains visible.

Technically, this works by:

  • Separating the person from the background
  • Placing text between those layers
  • Masking the text so it appears behind the person

The result is a layered, 3D-style composition that immediately stands out.

Why Put Text Behind a Person?

This effect isn’t just aesthetic—it’s strategic.

Key Benefits

  • Creates depth: The image feels more dynamic and less flat
  • Looks professional: Often used by experienced designers and top creators
  • Keeps faces clear: Text doesn’t block eyes or expressions
  • Boosts engagement: Especially effective in thumbnails and social graphics

That’s why it’s so popular in YouTube thumbnails and personal branding visuals.

Method 1: Manual Masking (Traditional Way)

This is the classic approach used in tools like Photoshop.

Steps (Manual)

  1. Select the person using a selection or pen tool
  2. Refine the selection (especially hair edges)
  3. Create a mask and separate the person into its own layer
  4. Add text on a layer beneath the person
  5. Manually adjust edges and overlaps

Pros

  • Full control
  • Pixel-perfect results

Cons

  • Time-consuming
  • Requires design skill
  • Hard to get clean hair edges
  • Not scalable for frequent content

For most creators, this method is powerful—but slow.

Method 2: AI-Powered Text Behind (Recommended)

Modern AI tools eliminate manual masking entirely by automatically detecting people in images.

Instead of drawing masks, you tell the tool what you want—and the AI handles the rest.

Step-by-Step: Put Text Behind a Person with Thumix Canvas

This is the fastest and easiest way to achieve the effect.

Step 1: Open Thumix Canvas

Go to the Canvas editor and upload your image (or generate one in the prompt area).

Step 2: Add Your Text

Use the text tool to add your headline or message.

Tip: Short, bold text works best (3–5 words).

Step 3: Enable Object Detection

In the text settings, turn on object detection. Thumix automatically detects the person in the image.

Step 4: Enable “Text Behind”

Toggle Text Behind, and the text will instantly appear behind the person—no manual masking needed.

Step 5: Adjust for Best Results

Fine-tune:

  • Text position
  • Font weight
  • Color and contrast
  • Overlap amount

Export when you’re happy.

👉 Put text behind a person online in seconds with Thumix Canvas—no Photoshop required.

Tips for Clean Results (Especially Hair & Faces)

Hair and facial edges are where most designs fail. Keep these tips in mind:

  • Use bold fonts so text stays readable
  • Avoid hiding text behind eyes or facial features
  • Let hair overlap text slightly—it looks more natural
  • Don’t hide more than 40% of the text
  • Always preview the image at small sizes

A subtle overlap looks intentional. Too much looks messy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Thin or light fonts ❌ Low contrast between text and background ❌ Covering eyes or expressions ❌ Overusing the effect on every word ❌ Ignoring mobile previews

Remember: text behind is an accent, not the main subject.

Manual vs AI: Which Should You Use?

Choose Manual Masking If:

  • You’re an experienced designer
  • You need pixel-level precision
  • You’re working on a single, high-stakes image

Choose AI Tools Like Thumix If:

  • You create content regularly
  • Speed matters
  • You want professional results without a learning curve
  • You don’t want to deal with masks and layers

For most creators, AI is the clear winner.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to put text behind a person used to require advanced design skills and a lot of time. Today, AI-powered tools make it accessible to everyone.

Whether you’re designing thumbnails, portraits, or social posts, this technique can instantly level up your visuals—and your click-through rates.

👉 Try putting text behind a person online with Thumix Canvas today.