modbender Instagram Photo Text Overlay
Overlay text onto photos for Instagram-ready images. Two styles: list (title + numbered items) and clean (title only).
Quick Start
python3 scripts/overlay.py \
--input photo.jpg \
--output result.jpg \
--title "TAORMINA" \
--subtitle "3-Day Trip Itinerary" \
--items '["Teatro Greco|Ancient theatre with Etna views", "Isola Bella|Crystal-clear beach"]' \
--style list
Options
| Flag | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
--input |
(required) | Source photo path |
--output |
(required) | Output image path |
--title |
(required) | Main title (auto-uppercased) |
--subtitle |
"3-Day Trip Itinerary" |
Subtitle below title |
--items |
[] |
JSON array of "Name|Reason" strings (list style) |
--watermark |
"tabiji.ai" |
Top-left watermark (empty string to disable) |
--accent |
255,220,150 |
Accent color for numbers/tags (R,G,B) |
--quote |
"" |
Quote text (for quote style) |
--style |
list |
list / clean / quote |
--quality |
95 |
JPEG output quality |
Styles
- clean: Cover slide. Big title = destination + category + count (e.g. "7 unique cheap eats in barcelona spain"). Subtitle = credibility/source line (e.g. "Insider takes from r/barcelona"). Best as carousel first slide.
- list: Content slides. Title + subtitle + divider + numbered items with reasons. Best for top-5 / itinerary posts.
- quote: Title with accent bar on the left + blockquote text below. No subtitle or divider. Best for travel quotes, testimonials, or key takeaways.
Workflow
- Receive photo + destination/topic + list of items from user
- Run
scripts/overlay.pywith appropriate args - Output is auto-cropped to 4:5 portrait (Instagram optimal)
- Review output and adjust if needed (font sizes scale with image width)
Requirements
- Python 3 + Pillow (
pip install Pillow) - Works on macOS (Helvetica) and Linux (DejaVu/Liberation fallback)
Tips
- Items format:
"Name|Short reason"— the pipe separates bold name from description - For destinations, pull top picks from existing itineraries when available
- Gradient + white text ensures readability on any photo
- All font sizes are proportional to image width — works at any resolution