How to Create Colorful Captions

Captions captivate the reader’s eye and integrate graphics with story content. A caption is a legend for a picture or illustration in a book or magazine article. Here are five basic guidelines to create colorful captions for the illustrations you have designed.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Publishing software

1. Tell your reader what is happening in the picture with dynamic words. The first lines of captions are written in the present tense. A caption promoting very unique marketing events might read: “Special events showcase your company to your most promising customers.”

2. Follow with points that tie the picture to the main article. Example: "Dominate the marketplace with fantastic events from savvy sales seminars to thrilling technological symposiums."

3. Avoid generalities. Answer the two specific questions
   in your reader’s mind:
   1. What’s that in the picture?
   2. Why am I looking at it?

4. Interesting captions present the illustrations with dramatic and emotional impact. Your words should pique curiosity and contain real informational value.

5. Caption writing generally comes in the last stages of story or article creation. Your goal is to bring forth a book which unites all elements: text, illustrations and captions. As you write, allow possible captions
   to emerge naturally. Record them for final caption writing sessions.

Tips & Warnings

• Captions are a way to touch on points that are interesting, but not essential to the main text.

Resources

• Prosperity Pipeline