By the end of this guide, you'll know how to add text elements to custom images in lemlist, personalize text with variables (#{{firstName}}, #{{companyName}}), customize text styling, and save image templates for reuse in campaigns.

Text on images creates powerful visual personalization. Instead of just inserting #{{firstName}} in email body, you can display it on a custom graphic, screenshot, or branded image. This grabs attention, makes personalization impossible to miss, and shows extra effort. Personalized image text significantly increases engagement because it's visually striking, much more impactful than plain text variables alone.

Before you start:

💡 Starting point: If you have a template with background/logo already set up, select it. Otherwise, create a new image and add your background first.

💡 Layout tip: Common placements: top center for headlines, bottom left for names/companies, or over image focal points.

Inside your text, you can include:

Example text combinations:

💡 Variable names must match: If your lead data has a field called company, use #{{company}}, not #{{companyName}}. Check the exact field names in your CSV.

Use the styling panel on the right-hand side to customize appearance (font, size, weight, color, alignment, etc.).

💡 Readability matters: Ensure text contrasts with the background (dark on light, or light on dark) for best visibility.

To add more text:

Common multi-text layouts:

💡 Template library: Saved templates appear in the Custom Images section for quick access in any campaign.

Keep text minimal - 1-2 short sentences maximum. Too much text on images is hard to read and looks cluttered.

Use high contrast - Dark text on light backgrounds or light text on dark backgrounds. Avoid low-contrast combinations (gray on gray).

Choose readable fonts - Clean, simple fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Roboto) work better than decorative or script fonts for email images.

Size appropriately - Text should be large enough to read on mobile devices. Test at 400-600px width to ensure mobile readability.

Personalize strategically - Use #{{firstName}} or #{{companyName}} where it feels natural, not forced. "Hi #{{firstName}}" works; "#{{firstName}}'s special deal" can feel awkward.

Limit variables per image - 1-3 variables maximum. Too many personalized fields make images look busy and can break layout if data varies in length.

Test with long names - Preview with leads who have long company names or names to verify text doesn't overflow the text box.

Brand consistently - Use your brand colors and fonts across all image templates for a professional, cohesive look.

Add fallback text - If a variable might be empty, consider static text that works without personalization: "Welcome!" instead of "Welcome #{{firstName}}!" if firstName might be missing.

Personalized welcome images - "Hi #{{firstName}}, welcome!" with branded background

Company-specific visuals - "Made for #{{companyName}}" with their website screenshot

Event invitations - "#{{firstName}}, you're invited to [event]" on event graphic

Product demos - "#{{companyName}}'s personalized demo" with product screenshot

Achievement graphics - "Congrats #{{firstName}} on [milestone]!" with celebratory design

Branded quotes - "#{{firstName}}, here's an insight for you" with quote and branding

Website previews - "Checking out #{{companyName}}" text over screenshot of their website

Issue: Variable displays as #{{firstName}} instead of actual name

Root cause: Variable is not written properly

Fix: Verify you wrote the variable properly. If you miss adding at least one { variable won't work.

Issue: Text overflows or gets cut off

Root cause: Text box too small for content, or variable data longer than expected (long company names)

Fix: Resize the text box to accommodate the longest possible text. Reduce font size. Test with leads who have long names/companies. Add line breaks if needed.

Issue: Text is hard to read in the image

Root cause: Poor contrast between text color and background

Fix: Change the text color to a high-contrast option (white text on dark background, or dark text on light background). Add a semi-transparent background box behind text for better readability.

Issue: Text styling doesn't save

Root cause: Changes were made, but the template wasn’t saved, or there was a browser/cache issue

Fix: After styling, click Save as template. Refresh your browser if changes don't persist. Make a small edit (add a space) and resave to force an update.

Issue: Font looks different in the sent email than in the editor

Root cause: Email clients may not support custom fonts and revert to a default

Fix: Use web-safe fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, Georgia) that render consistently across email clients.

Issue: Multiple text elements overlapping

Root cause: Text boxes positioned too close or improperly layered

Fix: Move text boxes to separate positions and increase spacing between elements.

Create text template variations - Build 2-3 versions with different text placements (top, center, bottom) to see what drives best engagement.

Match text to campaign goal - Welcome campaigns use friendly greetings. Sales campaigns use benefit-focused text. Adjust tone to campaign purpose.

Use color strategically - Highlight key personalized words (#{{firstName}}, #{{companyName}}) in a brand color while keeping other text neutral.

Test text size on mobile - Send a test email to your phone. Verify text is readable without zooming. Increase font size if needed.

Combine with static images - Add personalized text to product screenshots, website previews, or branded graphics for maximum impact.

A/B test personalization levels - Compare performance of highly personalized text ("Hi #{{firstName}}, made for #{{companyName}}") vs. minimal ("Hi #{{firstName}}") to find the optimal level.

Keep branding consistent - Use the same fonts, colors, and text positioning across templates for a cohesive look.