fox tools
Try it with sample files
These practice images were made by Fox Tools. Download them, then select them in the tool. They contain no personal information or real photographs.
Download practice image · PNG · 1800 × 1200Download transparent shape · PNG · 240 × 240
1. Give the image one clear purpose
A setup instruction or product explanation should make it obvious where to look and what to do. Start with one point of interest and one short sentence instead of covering the whole photograph with labels. For practice, point an arrow at the central shape in the sample and add “Check this part”.
Add a photo to create the canvas. Crop unnecessary edges early, but leave enough space for labels and arrowheads. Enlarging a small photo will not recover detail that was missing from the original.
2. Stack the photo, highlights and text
Think of layers as transparent sheets. Place highlights above the base photo and text above the highlights. Adding a second image lets you overlay a badge or a reference photo, then adjust its position and size.
White text over a bright, busy photograph is hard to read. Put a dark rectangle behind the label or choose a text color with clear contrast. Lower opacity lets the background show through, but too little opacity weakens the message. Lock a background layer once its position is settled to avoid moving it accidentally.
- Add the practice PNG. Optionally add the transparent shape PNG as a second image.
- Choose an arrow to point at the subject, then add a short text label.
- Select items in the layer list to adjust position, size, color and stacking order. Check that an image is not covering the text.
- Use the pen for additional marks, and Undo to correct a mistake.
| Symptom | What to check first |
|---|---|
| Text is missing | Layer order, visibility, text color and opacity |
| The wrong photo moves | The selected item and lock state in the layer list |
| JPG has a white background | JPG does not preserve transparency |
| Layers are gone when reopening | An exported image is flattened, not an editable project |
3. Check readability at the viewing size
Small text can look perfectly readable when the canvas is zoomed in. Zoom out and check at the size you expect people to view. Keep arrowheads clear of the subject and avoid crowding text against the edges.
Use numbers or short labels as well as colors so the explanation does not depend on color alone. Fine pen strokes can fade when the image is reduced or saved as JPG. Reopen the exported image to check the result, rather than judging only the editing canvas.
4. Understand what saving preserves
PNG is useful when sharp text, lines or transparency matter. JPG saves transparent areas as white and is worth comparing for a photo-heavy result with a size limit. Check both browser and destination support before choosing WebP.
Saving an image exports the combined appearance of the layers. It does not save an editable project. Edits remain in this tab’s memory, so export before reloading or closing the tab. Save important stages with different names if you want to compare versions later.
5. Review before sharing
This editor is not a dedicated secure-redaction tool. Covering a sensitive number with a translucent shape or hiding a layer is not evidence that the information has been safely removed. Use source material without secrets for a public explanation and inspect the final saved file yourself.
Use still JPG, JFIF, PNG or WebP images. GIF and animated PNG or WebP are outside this editor’s scope. If the final image must also meet a pixel or file-size requirement, finish it in the image resizing and conversion tool after exporting.
Before you finish
- Check that labels are readable at the intended viewing size
- Reopen the saved file to inspect position, background and text
- Export before reloading and keep a separate original