Image macro

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An example of an image macro

An image macro is a term recently coined for a picture with digitally superimposed text, often for humorous effect. It is not to be confused with macro photography.

1 Internet forums
2 Formats
3 See Also
4 References
5 External links

Internet forums

On internet forums and imageboards, image macros are used to emphasize a certain phrase (often a clichéd Internet phrase or reference) by superimposing it over a related picture. In some forums, use of image macros outside of certain subforums is seen as annoying or disruptive, and may be prohibited.

Formats

Although they come in many forms, the most common type of image macro is a photograph with large text superimposed in Impact font, using all upper case letters and coloured white with a thin black outline.

One of the most famous image macros is "O RLY?" O RLY is often used on the internet as slang for the phrase "Oh, really?" Originally started with a snowy owl photograph (which is the classic O RLY image macro)^[1], it spread out over the Web quickly and is now succeeded by many other photos that convey the entire spectrum of human emotions. Another style of image macro that has amassed its own separate subculture is the "lolcat", a photo of a cat with a humorous or idiosyncratic caption.