How to Add Text to Images in Lightroom: 2 Ways

Adding text to your images is very simple in Lightroom. Let's show you two ways to do it.

When you think about adding text to your photos, you probably think of tools like Photoshop and Canva. But believe it or not, Lightroom is also a handy tool for complementing your pictures with words.

While you probably won’t use Lightroom to create complex designs, the platform’s text-adding tools are useful if you want to make simple changes. This article will identify the different ways you can add text to your images using this platform.

How Many Ways Are There to Add Text to Images in Lightroom?

You’ve got two options if you want to add text to your pictures in Lightroom. If you’re selling your photos or sharing them online, you’ll probably want to watermark them to avoid copyright theft. You can watermark pictures on your smartphone, but Lightroom is a better choice if you’ve got images on your computer.

The second way is by adding custom text to your pictures. Like the first option, you can simply add your name—but it’s also possible to add something more descriptive if that’s what you’d prefer.

How to Add Text to Images in Lightroom by Watermarking Your Photo

To start with, we’ll show you a step-by-step guide to adding text to your Lightroom images by watermarking them. First and foremost, you’ll need to open the Adobe Lightroom app; we’ll show you how to watermark pictures using Lightroom Classic on your computer.

When the app has opened, click on the picture you want to watermark. Then, select the Print tab.

Scroll down the toolbar on the right-hand side until you find the Watermarking box; tick this.

You’ll see a menu option called None, and you will need to select this before clicking on Edit Watermarks.

At the bottom of the window, you’ll see the text box for watermarks. Fill this in with whatever you want before pressing Save. You can also change how the text looks by selecting Font and Style under Text Options.

If you want to save yourself a bit of time in the future, go to Custom > Save Current Settings as New Preset.

How to Add Custom Text to Your Images in Lightroom

Another simple way to add text to your photos in Lightroom is by customizing the text; the process takes roughly the same amount of time as watermarking your image, so pick whichever method works best for you.

To add custom text to your Lightroom pictures, you will again need to go to the Print tab. Here, scroll down until you see the Identity Plate box and tick this to enable it.

Click inside the box before selecting Edit.

Make sure that you’ve ticked the Use a styled text identity template circle. Write whatever you want to appear on the image in the text box.

You can change the color by clicking on the blue square, which will reveal a color wheel.

If you’d like to tweak the fonts and sizing, choose your preferred fonts and so on from the dropdown menus beneath the text box.

Hit the blue OK button once you’re happy with what you’ve written and how it looks.

Once you’re back on the main screen, you can move the text wherever you want and change its scale. You’re also able to alter the opacity with the appropriate slider.

If you’d like to rotate the text, you can select the 0º button next to the tick box and choose how you’d like to do so.

Adding Text to Your Images in Lightroom Is Easy

Adding text to your photos in Adobe Lightroom is relatively straightforward, and it shouldn’t take you more than a couple of minutes to do so. You can add watermarks and customized text, giving you a selection of options to add the necessary finishing touches to your masterpiece.

Of course, you’ll want to use a tool like Canva or Photoshop for putting together more complex edits and graphics. Nonetheless, Lightroom is the perfect tool for simple extras.