An image macro is a piece of digital media featuring a picture, or artwork, with some form of text superimposed. The text frequently appears at the top and bottom of the image. Image macros are one of the most common forms of internet memes, and often feature a witty message or catchphrase, although not all image macros are necessarily humorous. LOLcats, which are images of expressive cats coupled with texts, are considered to be the first notable occurrence of image macros.[1] Advice animal image macros, also referred to as stock-character macros, are also highly associated with the image macro template.

Etymology and use

The term "image macro" originated on the Something Awful forums.[2] The name derived from the fact that the "macros" were a short bit of text a user could enter that the forum software would automatically parse and expand into the code for a pre-defined image.[2] This, in turn, related to the computer science concept of a macroinstruction; "a rule or pattern that specifies how a certain input sequence (often a sequence of characters) should be mapped to an output sequence (also often a sequence of characters) according to a defined procedure".

Beginning in 2007, lolcats and similar image macros (a form of internet phenomenon) spread beyond the initial communities who created them and became widely popular.[3]

Formats

An older and more traditional format for image macros

Another image macro format that has become more common since 2017

Although they come in many forms, the most common type of image macros consists of:

Text, typically a large text in the Impact font,[4] centered at the top and bottom of the image, using all upper-case letters. White text with a black border is typically used because it is easily readable on almost any background color. Typically, the text at the top is only for introduction and the text at the bottom is the main message. Exaggerated, intentional spelling errors are also used frequently for humorous effect.[citation needed]

An image to be placed behind the text. These are typically drawn from a specific set of images that are understood by many Internet users, such as Bad Luck Brian. However, by using the aforementioned typographic style, any image can take on the context or aesthetic of an image macro.

Examples

Photo of owl's head with "O RLY" superimposed.

An image of the O RLY owl using the Comic Sans font.

Cats and other animals in general have been a popular choice for images with humorous captions since the mid 2000s.[5] Some common animal-related image macros include lolcats, every time you masturbate... God kills a kitten, O RLY?, Doge and Grumpy Cat.

O RLY is often used on the internet as an abbreviation for the phrase "Oh, really?" Originally started with a snowy owl photograph (which is the classic O RLY image macro),[6] it spread out over the Web quickly and was followed by other macros that convey a wide range of emotions.

Another style of image macro that has amassed its own separate subculture is the "lolcat", an image combining a photograph of a cat with text intended to contribute humour. The text is often idiosyncratic and grammatically incorrect, and its use in this way is known as "lolspeak". Many times, the image is told from the point of view of the animal.[5]

"Rage faces" from rage comics are used to humorously depict an everyday or exaggerated situation or reaction.[7] Although Rage Comics in themselves are not image macros, images of specific rage faces are taken and put into image macro format and used in conjunction to their implied emotion or context.

Another popular type of image macro includes a picture of a certain person or figure drawn from various sources in front of a colored background, known as "advice animals". These "characters" often share the same image, but different internet users can choose different humorous captions.[8] These characters can include "Bad Luck Brian", "Success Kid", and "Scumbag Steve", among others. Bad Luck Brian image captions are used for unfortunate situations, Success Kid image captions depict an everyday situation involving good luck, and Scumbag Steve captions describe an unfriendly action taken by somebody.

Websites such as Know Your Meme document image macros such as Bad Luck Brian that have become popular enough to become internet memes, covering such topics as their original intended meaning, spread and popularity (as measured by Google search interest over time).

Another common trend in image macros is using specific scenes from television or movies such as One does not simply walk into Mordor from Lord of the Rings and 'Not Sure If-' from Futurama that uses a screen image of the character Fry looking unsure with his eyes squinted.

ChatGPT

Image macros are a form of digital media that consist of a picture or artwork with overlaid text. The text typically appears at the top and bottom of the image, and may feature a witty message, catchphrase, or other humorous or thought-provoking content. While LOLcats, which feature images of expressive cats accompanied by text, are considered the first notable occurrence of image macros, advice animal image macros are also highly associated with the format.

The term "image macro" was originally coined on the Something Awful forums and referred to a short bit of text that could be entered by a user to automatically generate an image. The popularity of image macros exploded in 2007, with lolcats and similar forms of digital media spreading beyond the initial communities who created them and becoming widely popular.

While there are many different types of image macros, the most common consist of text in the Impact font centered at the top and bottom of the image, with an image to be placed behind the text. The text is typically all uppercase and white with a black border for readability, and often includes exaggerated, intentional spelling errors for humorous effect. Although many image macros feature animals such as cats, other types of images and characters can also be used.

Some popular examples of image macros include the O RLY owl, which originated as a snowy owl photograph and was followed by other macros that convey a wide range of emotions. The "lolcat" is another popular type of image macro that combines a photograph of a cat with text intended to contribute humor, often using idiosyncratic and grammatically incorrect language known as "lolspeak." Other popular image macros include "rage faces" from rage comics, as well as "advice animals" featuring characters like "Bad Luck Brian," "Success Kid," and "Scumbag Steve."

Websites like Know Your Meme document popular image macros and other internet memes, providing information on their original intended meaning, spread, and popularity over time. Some image macros use specific scenes from movies or television shows to convey their message, such as the "One does not simply walk into Mordor" macro from Lord of the Rings or the "Not Sure If-" macro from Futurama featuring the character Fry looking unsure.

Etymology

The term "image macro" originated from the Something Awful forums, where users could enter a short bit of text that the forum software would automatically parse and expand into the code for a pre-defined image. This related to the computer science concept of a macroinstruction, which is a rule or pattern that specifies how a certain input sequence should be mapped to an output sequence according to a defined procedure.

Since the mid-2000s, lolcats and other similar image macros have become increasingly popular beyond their initial online communities and have become widely recognized and used on the internet.

Formats:

While there are many different types of image macros, the most common ones usually feature a large text in the Impact font centered at the top and bottom of the image. These texts are typically in all uppercase letters, and white text with a black border is often used for better readability on different background colors. Additionally, exaggerated, intentional spelling errors are often used for humorous effect.

An image is also included, which is usually drawn from a specific set of images that are understood by many internet users, such as Bad Luck Brian. However, using the aforementioned typographic style, any image can take on the context or aesthetic of an image macro.

Examples:

Animals, particularly cats, have been a popular choice for humorous image macros since the mid-2000s. Some of the most common animal-related image macros include lolcats, "every time you masturbate... God kills a kitten," O RLY?, Doge, and Grumpy Cat.

Another popular type of image macro includes a picture of a certain person or figure drawn from various sources in front of a colored background, known as "advice animals." These characters often share the same image, but different internet users can choose different humorous captions. Examples of advice animals include "Bad Luck Brian," "Success Kid," and "Scumbag Steve," among others.

Websites such as Know Your Meme document image macros that have become popular enough to become internet memes, covering topics such as their original intended meaning, spread, and popularity (as measured by Google search interest over time).

In addition to animal-related and advice animal image macros, specific scenes from television shows or movies have also become popular choices, such as "One does not simply walk into Mordor" from Lord of the Rings or "Not Sure If-" from Futurama, which uses a screen image of the character Fry looking unsure with his eyes squinted.

In conclusion, image macros are a form of digital media that feature a picture or artwork with superimposed text, often used to convey a humorous or witty message. While there are many different types of image macros, the most common ones feature large text in the Impact font centered at the top and bottom of the image, with an image drawn from a specific set of images understood by many internet users. Image macros have become increasingly popular since the mid-2000s and are now one of the most common forms of internet memes.