Speech bubbles are an easy way to show what someone is saying in an image. You might think of speech bubbles, or speech balloons, as a relatively recent phenomenon found in comic books and in drawings, but their earliest examples lead us back to Mayan art around 600 AD. Today, speech bubbles have a much more informal association and can be a fun addition to photos, drawings and more.

Why add speech bubbles to your photos?

While speech has been shown in Mesoamerican and European art for millennia, the speech bubble as we know it only really took form in the late 19^th Century with the first comic character, The Yellow Kid. It was here that the style and design of the bubble first began.

Today, speech bubbles are so ubiquitous that they’re no longer relegated to the pages of comics. They’re often included in memes, adverts and even educational material. One common location for speech bubbles is in photos.

With this in mind, here are some popular reasons to add speech bubbles to a photo:

• To help tell a story. Speech bubbles' original purpose was to show a character's conversation - something you can do when you add a speech bubble to a photograph.
• To bring an image to life. Adding speech bubbles to a photograph can bring it to life and add wider context to the image.
• To make a graphic ‘pop’. One quick and easy way to make your photograph stand out is to add a speech bubble.
• To add humour. Depending on what you write in the speech bubble, it can be fun when you add text to your photo.
• To make a meme. Similar to the above, if you want to make a meme out of your photograph, a speech bubble is a great way to do it.

How to add speech bubbles to your photos with Adobe Express.

Adding a speech bubble into your photo is quick and easy with Adobe Express. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide to the process below:

• Open the Adobe Express image editor tool. This online tool lets you easily edit images and add elements of your choice, including speech marks.
• Upload your photo. On the landing page, click ‘Upload your photo’. Once a new canvas opens, you can upload from your device on the left.
• Resize your image. Once your image is uploaded, you can edit the size – making it bigger or smaller, flipping and rotating it.
• Go to ‘Elements’ on the left toolbar. On the far-left toolbar, you’ll find the ‘Elements’ tab. Under ‘Shapes’, you’ll also see a wide range of speech bubbles, suitable for your photograph. Simply click the one you want to use.
• Edit your speech bubble. You can expand or shrink your bubble, adjusting its rotation, colour, position and more.
• Add your text. On the left-hand bar, you can also find the ‘Text’ tab. Here you can add text to your image. Once you’ve written your message, you might have to move and resize it to fit your speech bubble.

Now you’re happy with your speech bubble and your photograph, you can share and download your image and use it however you like. Perhaps turn it into a card, poster, YouTube thumbnail, or an Instagram story.

Where can I use my speech bubble images?

The potential for a photograph with a speech bubble is only as limited as your imagination. However, the design process can be tricky. Fortunately, with Adobe Express you can pick through our selection of templates and add your photo, removing the complicated design process. We’ve listed some of our favourites below.

• Card. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary or anything in between, adding a photo with a speech bubble to a card is a great way to share a memorable message. You can choose the design from our templates, and we can even print and deliver the final product.
• YouTube thumbnail. Thumbnails are often a deciding factor for YouTube audiences. Using speech bubbles in your thumbnail is a great way to stand out from the crowd and create something eye-catching.
• Invitation. Speech bubbles can add humour to an image. So, if you’re holding a birthday bash, baby shower or friendly gathering, adding a speech bubble to a photo can be a great way to inject some comedy into your invitation.

How can Adobe Express help you craft more creative images and social posts?

Adobe Express is a fantastic tool for adding creativity to your work. It can be used to edit photos, social media posts and much more. Explore the ways you can use Adobe Express to get the most out of your content.

1. Find templates to inspire your creativity.

If you’re looking at a blank page, or even a single photo, it can be tough to know what to do next. With templates from Adobe Express, half the work has already been done. Editable, free and easy to use – they’re great for those creative blocks.

2. Plan ahead with the social media post scheduler.

If you’re using Adobe Express to add speech bubbles to your photos for social media, you can also get help with scheduling posts. Build out an effective social media scheduler, and you’ll never miss a post again.

3. Build in your own text effects for added fun.

Take your speech bubbles to the next level and use the Adobe Express AI text effects to create fun and unique fonts. Simply type in how you want your text to look, and Adobe Express will do the rest.

4. Resize your photos and images for different channels.

Whether you’re sharing images across different channels, or applying your photos to various media, Adobe Express can make it easy to resize your photos. Simply, drag and drop your files and tweak the dimensions of your image.

Generate unique images and posts in seconds with Adobe Express’ built-in AI tools.

Sometimes you won’t have the image you need, and it can act as a roadblock. With the Adobe text-to-image generator, you can create the project you need in moments. Simply enter what you want to see, and the AI technology will create rich, complex images that you can download and use. You’ll be shown four different images, and you can pick the one that’s best suited to your vision. If you’re still unsure, you can always edit your prompt, including additional details on style, tone and palette.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

What are speech bubbles used for?

Speech bubbles are used in still images to show the speech of a character or person. The bubble acts as a blank space to make it easier to read the text, but also shows who is speaking and, if there are multiple bubbles, in what order.

How can I make a picture look like it’s talking?

Speech bubbles are a great way to make a person in a picture look like they’re talking. Not only is it effective, but it’s also easy to do and doesn’t require too much time.

How big should speech bubbles be?

The size of a speech bubble is determined by the size of the total image. It should be big enough to include everything you need to say, but it shouldn’t overshadow the image. It can be a delicate balance and may require you to pick your words carefully.

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features, including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our pricing page for details and to compare plans.