diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index e896136..04c7789 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@ about an effect: `src/gui/window.cpp` builds SpinButtons/Switches/DropDowns/file
 choosers from them and `src/cli/options.cpp` generates flags from them
 (`strip_height` → `--strip-height`). Never add effect-specific branches to the
 GUI or the parser — add a `ParamSpec` instead. A `Path` param names a file on
-disk; like a source path it is written relative to the project folder. Values
+disk; like a source path it is written relative to the project folder. A `Text`
+param is free-form text the user types, and a `Color` param is a colour written
+`#rrggbb` (`parseColor`/`formatColor`/`paramColor` in `src/core/params.hpp`),
+shown as a colour button in the interface. Values
 travel as `ParamValues` (a
 `map<string, variant<long,double,bool,string>>`), read back with
 `paramInt`/`paramDouble`/`paramBool`/`paramChoice`.
@@ -96,7 +99,8 @@ is discarded rather than mixed into the new project (`dropLoadedImages_`).
 ### Two link targets, deliberately
 
 `effector_core` (static) holds image IO, params, effects, rng and links only
-`gdk-pixbuf-2.0` + Threads — **no gtkmm, no display**. The `effector` executable
+`gdk-pixbuf-2.0`, `pangocairo` (the text effect's glyphs; Pango and Cairo need
+no display) + Threads — **no gtkmm, no display**. The `effector` executable
 adds `src/main.cpp`, `src/cli/`, `src/gui/` and links gtkmm. Keep GTK out of
 `src/core/` and `src/effects/`; the tests link the core alone and rely on this.
 
@@ -105,7 +109,10 @@ adds `src/main.cpp`, `src/cli/`, `src/gui/` and links gtkmm. Keep GTK out of
 `Rng` (`src/core/rng.hpp`) is a hand-written xoshiro256\*\* rather than
 `<random>`, because libstdc++ distributions are not portable across
 implementations. Same sources + settings + seed must produce byte-identical
-output on any machine — the tests assert this. Effects must draw *every* random
+output on any machine — the tests assert this. The one thing outside this is the
+text effect's glyphs, which are whatever shapes the machine's fonts and
+fontconfig give: everything it is handed, the rng included, is still used the
+same way. Effects must draw *every* random
 value from the `Rng&` they are handed, and must not depend on thread scheduling:
 the scanlines effect first draws the whole strip plan serially from the rng,
 then copies pixels in parallel.
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 9c3f44e..19a1b12 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE "-O3 -DNDEBUG")
 find_package(PkgConfig REQUIRED)
 pkg_check_modules(GTKMM REQUIRED IMPORTED_TARGET gtkmm-4.0)
 pkg_check_modules(GDKPIXBUF REQUIRED IMPORTED_TARGET gdk-pixbuf-2.0)
+# Pango and Cairo draw the text effect's glyphs. Neither needs a display, so
+# the core stays headless.
+pkg_check_modules(PANGOCAIRO REQUIRED IMPORTED_TARGET pangocairo)
 
 find_package(Threads REQUIRED)
 
@@ -32,11 +35,12 @@ add_library(effector_core STATIC
     src/effects/monochrome.cpp
     src/effects/overlay.cpp
     src/effects/scanlines.cpp
+    src/effects/text.cpp
 )
 target_include_directories(effector_core PUBLIC src)
 # The core is GUI-free: it only needs gdk-pixbuf for decoding and encoding,
 # so headless rendering works without a display.
-target_link_libraries(effector_core PUBLIC PkgConfig::GDKPIXBUF Threads::Threads)
+target_link_libraries(effector_core PUBLIC PkgConfig::GDKPIXBUF PkgConfig::PANGOCAIRO Threads::Threads)
 target_compile_options(effector_core PRIVATE -Wall -Wextra -Wpedantic)
 
 # --- application --------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/cli/options.cpp b/src/cli/options.cpp
index 1f61745..307ac90 100644
--- a/src/cli/options.cpp
+++ b/src/cli/options.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "cli/options.hpp"
 
 #include <charconv>
+#include <cstdint>
 #include <cstring>
 #include <sstream>
 
@@ -111,8 +112,19 @@ Options parseOptions(int argc, char** argv) {
                     break;
                 }
                 case ParamSpec::Type::Path:
+                case ParamSpec::Type::Text:
                     options.params[spec->key] = requireValue(argc, argv, i, arg);
                     break;
+                case ParamSpec::Type::Color: {
+                    const std::string text = requireValue(argc, argv, i, arg);
+                    std::uint8_t rgb[3];
+                    if (!parseColor(text, rgb)) {
+                        throw EffectError(arg + ": '" + text +
+                                          "' is not a colour, expected e.g. #ff8800");
+                    }
+                    options.params[spec->key] = formatColor(rgb);
+                    break;
+                }
                 case ParamSpec::Type::Choice: {
                     const std::string text = requireValue(argc, argv, i, arg);
                     bool valid = false;
diff --git a/src/core/effect.cpp b/src/core/effect.cpp
index bebdda6..d6590a0 100644
--- a/src/core/effect.cpp
+++ b/src/core/effect.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ ParamValues Effect::defaults() const {
                 break;
             case ParamSpec::Type::Choice:
             case ParamSpec::Type::Path:
+            case ParamSpec::Type::Text:
+            case ParamSpec::Type::Color:
                 values[spec.key] = spec.defaultChoice;
                 break;
         }
diff --git a/src/core/params.cpp b/src/core/params.cpp
index 10e6910..76e2f19 100644
--- a/src/core/params.cpp
+++ b/src/core/params.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,28 @@ ParamSpec ParamSpec::makePath(std::string key, std::string label, std::string he
     return spec;
 }
 
+ParamSpec ParamSpec::makeText(std::string key, std::string label, std::string defaultText,
+                              std::string help) {
+    ParamSpec spec;
+    spec.type = Type::Text;
+    spec.key = std::move(key);
+    spec.label = std::move(label);
+    spec.help = std::move(help);
+    spec.defaultChoice = std::move(defaultText);
+    return spec;
+}
+
+ParamSpec ParamSpec::makeColor(std::string key, std::string label, std::string defaultColor,
+                               std::string help) {
+    ParamSpec spec;
+    spec.type = Type::Color;
+    spec.key = std::move(key);
+    spec.label = std::move(label);
+    spec.help = std::move(help);
+    spec.defaultChoice = std::move(defaultColor);
+    return spec;
+}
+
 namespace {
 
 const ParamValue* find(const ParamValues& values, const std::string& key) {
@@ -119,4 +141,50 @@ std::string paramText(const ParamValues& values, const std::string& key,
     return fallback;
 }
 
+namespace {
+
+int hexDigit(char c) {
+    if (c >= '0' && c <= '9') return c - '0';
+    if (c >= 'a' && c <= 'f') return c - 'a' + 10;
+    if (c >= 'A' && c <= 'F') return c - 'A' + 10;
+    return -1;
+}
+
+}  // namespace
+
+bool parseColor(const std::string& text, std::uint8_t rgb[3]) {
+    std::string digits = text;
+    if (!digits.empty() && digits.front() == '#') digits.erase(digits.begin());
+    if (digits.size() != 3 && digits.size() != 6) return false;
+
+    int parsed[6];
+    for (std::size_t i = 0; i < digits.size(); ++i) {
+        parsed[i] = hexDigit(digits[i]);
+        if (parsed[i] < 0) return false;
+    }
+    for (int c = 0; c < 3; ++c) {
+        // "#abc" is the usual shorthand for "#aabbcc".
+        const int value = digits.size() == 3 ? parsed[c] * 17 : parsed[c * 2] * 16 + parsed[c * 2 + 1];
+        rgb[c] = static_cast<std::uint8_t>(value);
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+
+std::string formatColor(const std::uint8_t rgb[3]) {
+    static const char* const kDigits = "0123456789abcdef";
+    std::string text = "#";
+    for (int c = 0; c < 3; ++c) {
+        text += kDigits[rgb[c] >> 4];
+        text += kDigits[rgb[c] & 0x0F];
+    }
+    return text;
+}
+
+void paramColor(const ParamValues& values, const std::string& key, const std::string& fallback,
+                std::uint8_t rgb[3]) {
+    if (parseColor(paramText(values, key, fallback), rgb)) return;
+    if (parseColor(fallback, rgb)) return;
+    rgb[0] = rgb[1] = rgb[2] = 0;
+}
+
 }  // namespace effector
diff --git a/src/core/params.hpp b/src/core/params.hpp
index b9d03d3..eba8421 100644
--- a/src/core/params.hpp
+++ b/src/core/params.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <cstdint>
 #include <map>
 #include <string>
 #include <variant>
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ namespace effector {
 // Declarative description of one effect knob. The GUI turns these into widgets
 // and the CLI turns them into flags, so neither knows about any effect.
 struct ParamSpec {
-    enum class Type { Int, Double, Bool, Choice, Path };
+    enum class Type { Int, Double, Bool, Choice, Path, Text, Color };
 
     Type type = Type::Int;
     std::string key;
@@ -39,6 +40,14 @@ struct ParamSpec {
     // flag taking any string on the command line, written relative to the
     // project folder so that a folder still opens after it is moved.
     static ParamSpec makePath(std::string key, std::string label, std::string help = {});
+    // Free-form text the user types: an entry in the interface, a flag taking
+    // any string on the command line.
+    static ParamSpec makeText(std::string key, std::string label, std::string defaultText,
+                              std::string help = {});
+    // A colour written "#rrggbb": a colour button in the interface, the same
+    // spelling as a flag value.
+    static ParamSpec makeColor(std::string key, std::string label, std::string defaultColor,
+                               std::string help = {});
 };
 
 using ParamValue = std::variant<long, double, bool, std::string>;
@@ -52,4 +61,14 @@ std::string paramChoice(const ParamValues& values, const std::string& key,
 std::string paramText(const ParamValues& values, const std::string& key,
                       const std::string& fallback);
 
+// Reads "#rgb" or "#rrggbb" (the leading hash optional) into three bytes.
+// Returns false and leaves `rgb` untouched for anything else, so a malformed
+// value falls back to the default rather than painting an arbitrary colour.
+bool parseColor(const std::string& text, std::uint8_t rgb[3]);
+std::string formatColor(const std::uint8_t rgb[3]);
+
+// The colour of a param, or `fallback` when the value does not parse.
+void paramColor(const ParamValues& values, const std::string& key, const std::string& fallback,
+                std::uint8_t rgb[3]);
+
 }  // namespace effector
diff --git a/src/core/project.cpp b/src/core/project.cpp
index cc9b041..bfc06d7 100644
--- a/src/core/project.cpp
+++ b/src/core/project.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <charconv>
 #include <cmath>
+#include <cstdint>
 #include <cstdio>
 #include <cstdlib>
 #include <filesystem>
@@ -358,8 +359,15 @@ std::string projectToJson(const Project& project, const std::string& directory)
                                   spec.digits);
                     break;
                 case ParamSpec::Type::Choice:
-                    out << quote(paramChoice(stage.values, spec.key, spec.defaultChoice));
+                case ParamSpec::Type::Text:
+                    out << quote(paramText(stage.values, spec.key, spec.defaultChoice));
                     break;
+                case ParamSpec::Type::Color: {
+                    std::uint8_t rgb[3];
+                    paramColor(stage.values, spec.key, spec.defaultChoice, rgb);
+                    out << quote(formatColor(rgb));
+                    break;
+                }
                 case ParamSpec::Type::Path: {
                     // Written relative to the project folder, exactly as the
                     // sources are, so a folder still opens once it is moved.
@@ -452,6 +460,18 @@ Project projectFromJson(const std::string& text, const std::string& directory) {
                                 value->text.empty() ? value->text : resolve(value->text, directory);
                         }
                         break;
+                    case ParamSpec::Type::Text:
+                        if (value->kind == Json::Kind::String) stage.values[spec.key] = value->text;
+                        break;
+                    case ParamSpec::Type::Color: {
+                        // A colour that does not parse keeps the default,
+                        // exactly as an unknown choice does.
+                        std::uint8_t rgb[3];
+                        if (value->kind == Json::Kind::String && parseColor(value->text, rgb)) {
+                            stage.values[spec.key] = formatColor(rgb);
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
                     case ParamSpec::Type::Choice:
                         for (const auto& choice : spec.choices) {
                             if (value->kind == Json::Kind::String && value->text == choice) {
diff --git a/src/core/registry.cpp b/src/core/registry.cpp
index 25e0df5..31fe57d 100644
--- a/src/core/registry.cpp
+++ b/src/core/registry.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "effects/monochrome.hpp"
 #include "effects/overlay.hpp"
 #include "effects/scanlines.hpp"
+#include "effects/text.hpp"
 
 namespace effector {
 
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ const std::vector<EffectPtr>& effects() {
         std::make_shared<GrainEffect>(),
         std::make_shared<MonochromeEffect>(),
         std::make_shared<OverlayEffect>(),
+        std::make_shared<TextEffect>(),
     };
     return registry;
 }
diff --git a/src/effects/text.cpp b/src/effects/text.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe772b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/effects/text.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,306 @@
+#include "effects/text.hpp"
+
+#include <pango/pangocairo.h>
+
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <cmath>
+#include <cstdint>
+
+#include "core/parallel.hpp"
+#include "effects/source_fill.hpp"
+
+namespace effector {
+
+const std::vector<ParamSpec>& TextEffect::params() const {
+    static const std::vector<ParamSpec> specs = {
+        ParamSpec::makeText("text", "Text", "Effector",
+                            "What to write; a line break starts a new line."),
+        ParamSpec::makeText("font_family", "Font", "Sans",
+                            "Font family, as it is named on this machine: Sans, Serif, Monospace, "
+                            "\"DejaVu Serif\", ..."),
+        ParamSpec::makeChoice("font_weight", "Weight", "normal",
+                              {"thin", "light", "normal", "medium", "semibold", "bold", "heavy"},
+                              "How bold the glyphs are; a family without the chosen weight is "
+                              "rendered in the nearest one it has."),
+        ParamSpec::makeBool("font_italic", "Italic", false, "Slants the glyphs."),
+        ParamSpec::makeDouble("font_size", "Size", 96.0, 4.0, 2000.0,
+                              "Height of the glyphs in pixels.", 1.0, 1),
+        ParamSpec::makeColor("text_color", "Colour", "#ffffff", "The colour of the glyphs."),
+        ParamSpec::makeChoice("text_align", "Alignment", "center", {"left", "center", "right"},
+                              "How several lines line up against each other."),
+        ParamSpec::makeInt("text_wrap", "Wrap width", 0, 0, 20000,
+                           "Breaks the text into lines no wider than this many pixels; 0 writes "
+                           "it as given."),
+        ParamSpec::makeChoice("text_box", "Box", "none", {"none", "colour", "image"},
+                              "What the text sits on: nothing, a filled rectangle, or a picture "
+                              "from disk cropped to the rectangle."),
+        ParamSpec::makeColor("box_color", "Box colour", "#000000",
+                            "The colour the box is filled with."),
+        ParamSpec::makePath("box_image", "Box picture",
+                            "The picture the box is filled with, scaled to cover it."),
+        ParamSpec::makeInt("box_padding", "Box padding", 24, 0, 2000,
+                           "How far the box reaches past the text on every side."),
+        ParamSpec::makeDouble("box_opacity", "Box opacity", 1.0, 0.0, 1.0,
+                              "How strongly the box is mixed over the input."),
+        ParamSpec::makeBool("text_center", "Centre", true,
+                            "Places the text in the middle of the canvas rather than at its top "
+                            "left corner; the offset is counted from there either way."),
+        ParamSpec::makeInt("text_offset_x", "Offset X", 0, -20000, 20000,
+                           "Moves the text right by this many pixels (left when negative)."),
+        ParamSpec::makeInt("text_offset_y", "Offset Y", 0, -20000, 20000,
+                           "Moves the text down by this many pixels (up when negative)."),
+        ParamSpec::makeDouble("text_opacity", "Text opacity", 1.0, 0.0, 1.0,
+                              "How strongly the glyphs are mixed over what is behind them."),
+    };
+    return specs;
+}
+
+namespace {
+
+// Small holders so that an EffectError thrown half way through still frees the
+// Cairo and Pango objects.
+struct SurfaceHandle {
+    cairo_surface_t* get = nullptr;
+    ~SurfaceHandle() {
+        if (get != nullptr) cairo_surface_destroy(get);
+    }
+};
+
+struct ContextHandle {
+    cairo_t* get = nullptr;
+    ~ContextHandle() {
+        if (get != nullptr) cairo_destroy(get);
+    }
+};
+
+struct LayoutHandle {
+    PangoLayout* get = nullptr;
+    ~LayoutHandle() {
+        if (get != nullptr) g_object_unref(get);
+    }
+};
+
+struct FontHandle {
+    PangoFontDescription* get = nullptr;
+    ~FontHandle() {
+        if (get != nullptr) pango_font_description_free(get);
+    }
+};
+
+PangoWeight weightFor(const std::string& name) {
+    if (name == "thin") return PANGO_WEIGHT_THIN;
+    if (name == "light") return PANGO_WEIGHT_LIGHT;
+    if (name == "medium") return PANGO_WEIGHT_MEDIUM;
+    if (name == "semibold") return PANGO_WEIGHT_SEMIBOLD;
+    if (name == "bold") return PANGO_WEIGHT_BOLD;
+    if (name == "heavy") return PANGO_WEIGHT_HEAVY;
+    return PANGO_WEIGHT_NORMAL;
+}
+
+PangoAlignment alignmentFor(const std::string& name) {
+    if (name == "left") return PANGO_ALIGN_LEFT;
+    if (name == "right") return PANGO_ALIGN_RIGHT;
+    return PANGO_ALIGN_CENTER;
+}
+
+// An RGB image plus its alpha as a Cairo ARGB32 surface, premultiplied, which
+// is the only layout Cairo paints from.
+cairo_surface_t* toSurface(const Image& image, const std::vector<std::uint8_t>& alpha) {
+    cairo_surface_t* surface =
+        cairo_image_surface_create(CAIRO_FORMAT_ARGB32, image.width(), image.height());
+    if (cairo_surface_status(surface) != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
+        cairo_surface_destroy(surface);
+        throw EffectError("Cannot hold the box picture in memory.");
+    }
+    const int stride = cairo_image_surface_get_stride(surface);
+    unsigned char* data = cairo_image_surface_get_data(surface);
+    const bool hasAlpha = alpha.size() == static_cast<std::size_t>(image.width()) *
+                                              static_cast<std::size_t>(image.height());
+
+    for (int y = 0; y < image.height(); ++y) {
+        const std::uint8_t* in = image.row(y);
+        auto* out = reinterpret_cast<std::uint32_t*>(data + static_cast<std::size_t>(y) * stride);
+        for (int x = 0; x < image.width(); ++x) {
+            const std::uint32_t a =
+                hasAlpha ? alpha[static_cast<std::size_t>(y) * image.width() + x] : 255;
+            const std::uint32_t r = in[x * 3 + 0] * a / 255;
+            const std::uint32_t g = in[x * 3 + 1] * a / 255;
+            const std::uint32_t b = in[x * 3 + 2] * a / 255;
+            out[x] = (a << 24) | (r << 16) | (g << 8) | b;
+        }
+    }
+    cairo_surface_mark_dirty(surface);
+    return surface;
+}
+
+void setColor(cairo_t* cr, const std::uint8_t rgb[3], double opacity) {
+    cairo_set_source_rgba(cr, rgb[0] / 255.0, rgb[1] / 255.0, rgb[2] / 255.0, opacity);
+}
+
+// Mixes the drawn layer, ARGB32 and premultiplied, over the canvas.
+void composite(Image& canvas, const cairo_surface_t* surface) {
+    const int stride = cairo_image_surface_get_stride(const_cast<cairo_surface_t*>(surface));
+    const unsigned char* data =
+        cairo_image_surface_get_data(const_cast<cairo_surface_t*>(surface));
+    const int width = canvas.width();
+
+    parallelFor(static_cast<std::size_t>(canvas.height()), [&](std::size_t begin, std::size_t end) {
+        for (std::size_t y = begin; y < end; ++y) {
+            const auto* in =
+                reinterpret_cast<const std::uint32_t*>(data + static_cast<std::size_t>(y) * stride);
+            std::uint8_t* out = canvas.row(static_cast<int>(y));
+            for (int x = 0; x < width; ++x) {
+                const std::uint32_t pixel = in[x];
+                const std::uint32_t a = pixel >> 24;
+                if (a == 0) continue;
+                // Premultiplied: the colour is already scaled by alpha, so the
+                // mix is an addition once the background is scaled down.
+                const std::uint32_t channel[3] = {(pixel >> 16) & 0xFF, (pixel >> 8) & 0xFF,
+                                                  pixel & 0xFF};
+                std::uint8_t* px = out + static_cast<std::size_t>(x) * 3;
+                for (int c = 0; c < 3; ++c) {
+                    const std::uint32_t value = channel[c] + px[c] * (255 - a) / 255;
+                    px[c] = static_cast<std::uint8_t>(std::min<std::uint32_t>(value, 255));
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    });
+}
+
+}  // namespace
+
+void TextEffect::loadBoxImage(const std::string& path, Image& image,
+                              std::vector<std::uint8_t>& alpha) const {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(cacheMutex_);
+    if (cachedPath_ != path || cached_.empty()) {
+        std::vector<std::uint8_t> loadedAlpha;
+        Image loaded;
+        try {
+            loaded = Image::load(path, &loadedAlpha);
+        } catch (const std::exception& error) {
+            throw EffectError("Cannot read the box picture '" + path + "': " + error.what());
+        }
+        if (loaded.empty()) throw EffectError("The box picture '" + path + "' is empty.");
+        cached_ = std::move(loaded);
+        cachedAlpha_ = std::move(loadedAlpha);
+        cachedPath_ = path;
+    }
+    image = cached_;
+    alpha = cachedAlpha_;
+}
+
+Image TextEffect::render(const std::vector<Image>& sources, int width, int height, Rng& rng,
+                         const ParamValues& values) const {
+    if (width < 1 || height < 1) throw EffectError("Canvas size must be at least 1x1 pixels.");
+
+    Image canvas(width, height);
+    if (!sources.empty()) {
+        // Drawn before any threading, so that a seed always gives the same image.
+        const std::size_t index = rng.below(sources.size() - 1);
+        const Image& src = sources[index];
+        const int sx = static_cast<int>(rng.inRange(0, std::max(0, src.width() - width)));
+        const int sy = static_cast<int>(rng.inRange(0, std::max(0, src.height() - height)));
+        fillFromSource(canvas, src, sx, sy);
+    }
+
+    const std::string text = paramText(values, "text", "");
+    const double textOpacity = std::clamp(paramDouble(values, "text_opacity", 1.0), 0.0, 1.0);
+    const std::string boxKind = paramChoice(values, "text_box", "none");
+    const double boxOpacity = std::clamp(paramDouble(values, "box_opacity", 1.0), 0.0, 1.0);
+    const bool drawsText = !text.empty() && textOpacity > 0.0;
+    const bool drawsBox = boxKind != "none" && boxOpacity > 0.0;
+    // No text typed yet is the state the interface starts in, not an error: the
+    // stage simply passes its input through.
+    if (!drawsText && !drawsBox) return canvas;
+
+    SurfaceHandle surface;
+    surface.get = cairo_image_surface_create(CAIRO_FORMAT_ARGB32, width, height);
+    if (cairo_surface_status(surface.get) != CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
+        throw EffectError("Cannot hold the text layer in memory.");
+    }
+    ContextHandle cr;
+    cr.get = cairo_create(surface.get);
+
+    LayoutHandle layout;
+    layout.get = pango_cairo_create_layout(cr.get);
+    pango_layout_set_text(layout.get, text.c_str(), -1);
+    pango_layout_set_alignment(layout.get, alignmentFor(paramChoice(values, "text_align", "center")));
+    const int wrap = static_cast<int>(paramInt(values, "text_wrap", 0));
+    if (wrap > 0) {
+        pango_layout_set_width(layout.get, wrap * PANGO_SCALE);
+        pango_layout_set_wrap(layout.get, PANGO_WRAP_WORD_CHAR);
+    }
+
+    FontHandle font;
+    font.get = pango_font_description_new();
+    const std::string family = paramText(values, "font_family", "Sans");
+    pango_font_description_set_family(font.get, family.empty() ? "Sans" : family.c_str());
+    pango_font_description_set_weight(font.get, weightFor(paramChoice(values, "font_weight", "normal")));
+    pango_font_description_set_style(
+        font.get, paramBool(values, "font_italic", false) ? PANGO_STYLE_ITALIC : PANGO_STYLE_NORMAL);
+    // Absolute size: the param is in pixels, not in points at some unstated dpi.
+    pango_font_description_set_absolute_size(
+        font.get, std::clamp(paramDouble(values, "font_size", 96.0), 4.0, 2000.0) * PANGO_SCALE);
+    pango_layout_set_font_description(layout.get, font.get);
+
+    PangoRectangle logical;
+    pango_layout_get_pixel_extents(layout.get, nullptr, &logical);
+
+    const int padding = static_cast<int>(paramInt(values, "box_padding", 24));
+    const int boxWidth = std::max(1, logical.width + 2 * padding);
+    const int boxHeight = std::max(1, logical.height + 2 * padding);
+    const bool centre = paramBool(values, "text_center", true);
+    const double boxX = (centre ? (width - boxWidth) / 2.0 : 0.0) +
+                        static_cast<double>(paramInt(values, "text_offset_x", 0));
+    const double boxY = (centre ? (height - boxHeight) / 2.0 : 0.0) +
+                        static_cast<double>(paramInt(values, "text_offset_y", 0));
+
+    if (drawsBox) {
+        cairo_save(cr.get);
+        cairo_rectangle(cr.get, boxX, boxY, boxWidth, boxHeight);
+        cairo_clip(cr.get);
+        if (boxKind == "image") {
+            const std::string path = paramText(values, "box_image", "");
+            if (!path.empty()) {
+                Image picture;
+                std::vector<std::uint8_t> alpha;
+                loadBoxImage(path, picture, alpha);
+                SurfaceHandle fill;
+                fill.get = toSurface(picture, alpha);
+                // Scaled to cover the box, keeping its proportions, exactly as
+                // the overlay's "fill" does; what does not fit is clipped away.
+                const double factor = std::max(static_cast<double>(boxWidth) / picture.width(),
+                                               static_cast<double>(boxHeight) / picture.height());
+                cairo_translate(cr.get, boxX + (boxWidth - picture.width() * factor) / 2.0,
+                                boxY + (boxHeight - picture.height() * factor) / 2.0);
+                cairo_scale(cr.get, factor, factor);
+                cairo_set_source_surface(cr.get, fill.get, 0.0, 0.0);
+                cairo_pattern_set_filter(cairo_get_source(cr.get), CAIRO_FILTER_BILINEAR);
+                cairo_paint_with_alpha(cr.get, boxOpacity);
+            }
+        } else {
+            std::uint8_t rgb[3];
+            paramColor(values, "box_color", "#000000", rgb);
+            setColor(cr.get, rgb, boxOpacity);
+            cairo_paint(cr.get);
+        }
+        cairo_restore(cr.get);
+    }
+
+    if (drawsText) {
+        std::uint8_t rgb[3];
+        paramColor(values, "text_color", "#ffffff", rgb);
+        setColor(cr.get, rgb, textOpacity);
+        // logical.x/y are where the layout actually starts, which a wrapped or
+        // right-aligned layout shifts; subtracting them puts the glyphs inside
+        // the padding on every side.
+        cairo_move_to(cr.get, boxX + padding - logical.x, boxY + padding - logical.y);
+        pango_cairo_show_layout(cr.get, layout.get);
+    }
+
+    cairo_surface_flush(surface.get);
+    composite(canvas, surface.get);
+    return canvas;
+}
+
+}  // namespace effector
diff --git a/src/effects/text.hpp b/src/effects/text.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d5cc26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/effects/text.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include "core/effect.hpp"
+
+namespace effector {
+
+// Writes a line (or several) over its input: a title, a caption, a watermark.
+// The family and the weight are chosen freely, and the text can sit on a box
+// filled with a colour or with a picture from disk. Like the blur and the
+// overlay it needs no source images of its own, so it can lead a chain; given
+// sources it fills the canvas from a randomly chosen one first.
+//
+// The glyphs come from Pango, so the exact pixels depend on the fonts the
+// machine has installed: a seed reproduces everything this effect draws, but a
+// machine without the chosen family renders the substitute its fontconfig
+// picks.
+class TextEffect : public Effect {
+public:
+    std::string name() const override { return "text"; }
+    std::string title() const override { return "Text"; }
+    std::string description() const override {
+        return "Writes text over its input in a chosen family, weight and size, optionally on a "
+               "box filled with a colour or with a picture.";
+    }
+    const std::vector<ParamSpec>& params() const override;
+    bool needsSources() const override { return false; }
+
+    Image render(const std::vector<Image>& sources, int width, int height, Rng& rng,
+                 const ParamValues& values) const override;
+
+private:
+    // The box picture is re-read on every param change otherwise, and a render
+    // is a keystroke away in the interface. Renders can overlap, so it is
+    // guarded.
+    void loadBoxImage(const std::string& path, Image& image,
+                      std::vector<std::uint8_t>& alpha) const;
+
+    mutable std::mutex cacheMutex_;
+    mutable std::string cachedPath_;
+    mutable Image cached_;
+    mutable std::vector<std::uint8_t> cachedAlpha_;
+};
+
+}  // namespace effector
diff --git a/src/gui/window.cpp b/src/gui/window.cpp
index 87656a9..377487f 100644
--- a/src/gui/window.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/window.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <chrono>
+#include <cmath>
+#include <cstdint>
 #include <filesystem>
 #include <sstream>
 
@@ -315,6 +317,34 @@ void EffectorWindow::buildParamWidgets() {
                 widget = std::move(box);
                 break;
             }
+            case ParamSpec::Type::Text: {
+                auto entry = std::make_unique<Gtk::Entry>();
+                entry->set_text(paramText(stage.values, spec.key, spec.defaultChoice));
+                // Re-rendering on every keystroke would start a render per
+                // letter typed, so the text is taken when the entry is left or
+                // Enter is pressed.
+                entry->signal_activate().connect(
+                    sigc::mem_fun(*this, &EffectorWindow::onParamChanged));
+                auto focus = Gtk::EventControllerFocus::create();
+                focus->signal_leave().connect(
+                    sigc::mem_fun(*this, &EffectorWindow::onParamChanged));
+                entry->add_controller(focus);
+                widget = std::move(entry);
+                break;
+            }
+            case ParamSpec::Type::Color: {
+                auto button = std::make_unique<Gtk::ColorDialogButton>(Gtk::ColorDialog::create());
+                button->set_halign(Gtk::Align::START);
+                std::uint8_t rgb[3];
+                paramColor(stage.values, spec.key, spec.defaultChoice, rgb);
+                Gdk::RGBA colour;
+                colour.set_rgba(rgb[0] / 255.0, rgb[1] / 255.0, rgb[2] / 255.0, 1.0);
+                button->set_rgba(colour);
+                button->property_rgba().signal_changed().connect(
+                    sigc::mem_fun(*this, &EffectorWindow::onParamChanged));
+                widget = std::move(button);
+                break;
+            }
             case ParamSpec::Type::Choice: {
                 std::vector<Glib::ustring> choices(spec.choices.begin(), spec.choices.end());
                 auto dropdown = std::make_unique<Gtk::DropDown>();
@@ -358,9 +388,19 @@ ParamValues EffectorWindow::paramValues() const {
                 values[entry.spec.key] = static_cast<Gtk::SpinButton*>(entry.widget)->get_value();
                 break;
             case ParamSpec::Type::Path:
+            case ParamSpec::Type::Text:
                 values[entry.spec.key] =
                     std::string(static_cast<Gtk::Entry*>(entry.widget)->get_text());
                 break;
+            case ParamSpec::Type::Color: {
+                const auto colour = static_cast<Gtk::ColorDialogButton*>(entry.widget)->get_rgba();
+                const std::uint8_t rgb[3] = {
+                    static_cast<std::uint8_t>(std::lround(colour.get_red() * 255.0)),
+                    static_cast<std::uint8_t>(std::lround(colour.get_green() * 255.0)),
+                    static_cast<std::uint8_t>(std::lround(colour.get_blue() * 255.0))};
+                values[entry.spec.key] = formatColor(rgb);
+                break;
+            }
             case ParamSpec::Type::Choice: {
                 const auto index = static_cast<Gtk::DropDown*>(entry.widget)->get_selected();
                 if (index < entry.spec.choices.size()) values[entry.spec.key] = entry.spec.choices[index];
diff --git a/tests/core_tests.cpp b/tests/core_tests.cpp
index 951f4ff..013a6cf 100644
--- a/tests/core_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/core_tests.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "effects/monochrome.hpp"
 #include "effects/overlay.hpp"
 #include "effects/scanlines.hpp"
+#include "effects/text.hpp"
 
 namespace {
 
@@ -129,6 +130,15 @@ effector::Image renderOverlay(const std::vector<effector::Image>& sources, int w
     return effect.render(sources, width, height, rng, merged);
 }
 
+effector::Image renderText(const std::vector<effector::Image>& sources, int width, int height,
+                           const effector::ParamValues& values) {
+    effector::TextEffect effect;
+    effector::Rng rng(7);
+    auto merged = effect.defaults();
+    for (const auto& [key, value] : values) merged[key] = value;
+    return effect.render(sources, width, height, rng, merged);
+}
+
 // The three channels of one pixel, to read a placement off directly.
 std::array<int, 3> pixel(const effector::Image& image, int x, int y) {
     const auto* px = image.row(y) + static_cast<std::size_t>(x) * 3;
@@ -533,6 +543,186 @@ int main() {
         std::filesystem::remove_all(dir);
     }
 
+    std::cout << "colour params\n";
+    {
+        std::uint8_t rgb[3] = {0, 0, 0};
+        check(parseColor("#ff8800", rgb) && rgb[0] == 255 && rgb[1] == 136 && rgb[2] == 0,
+              "a six digit colour is read");
+        check(parseColor("00FF80", rgb) && rgb[1] == 255 && rgb[2] == 128,
+              "the hash is optional and the case does not matter");
+        check(parseColor("#f80", rgb) && rgb[0] == 255 && rgb[1] == 136 && rgb[2] == 0,
+              "the three digit shorthand doubles each digit");
+        check(!parseColor("#12345", rgb) && !parseColor("#gg0000", rgb) && !parseColor("", rgb),
+              "anything else is refused");
+        const std::uint8_t written[3] = {1, 171, 255};
+        check(formatColor(written) == "#01abff", "a colour is written back as six digits");
+
+        // A value that does not parse falls back rather than painting
+        // something arbitrary.
+        std::uint8_t fallback[3] = {0, 0, 0};
+        paramColor({{"c", std::string("nonsense")}}, "c", "#102030", fallback);
+        check(fallback[0] == 0x10 && fallback[1] == 0x20 && fallback[2] == 0x30,
+              "a malformed colour keeps the default");
+
+        // Both new types survive a project round trip, and the reader drops a
+        // colour it cannot read exactly as it drops an unknown choice.
+        Project project;
+        project.width = 64;
+        project.height = 64;
+        project.stages.push_back({effectByName("text"),
+                                  {{"text", std::string("a \"quoted\" line")},
+                                   {"text_color", std::string("#ff0080")}}});
+        const auto reread = projectFromJson(projectToJson(project, ""), "");
+        check(paramText(reread.stages[0].values, "text", "") == "a \"quoted\" line",
+              "text with quotes in it survives a project round trip");
+        check(paramText(reread.stages[0].values, "text_color", "") == "#ff0080",
+              "and so does a colour");
+        const auto broken = projectFromJson(
+            "{\"chain\": [{\"effect\": \"text\", \"params\": {\"text_color\": \"#zz\"}}]}", "");
+        check(paramText(broken.stages[0].values, "text_color", "") == "#ffffff",
+              "a colour a project cannot be read keeps the effect's default");
+
+        // The command line refuses one too, rather than drawing black.
+        bool threw = false;
+        try {
+            const char* argv[] = {"effector", "-e", "text", "--text-color", "purple"};
+            parseOptions(5, const_cast<char**>(argv));
+        } catch (const EffectError&) {
+            threw = true;
+        }
+        check(threw, "an unparseable colour on the command line is reported");
+    }
+
+    std::cout << "text\n";
+    {
+        const std::vector<Image> blue = {solid(200, 120, 0, 0, 255)};
+        const ParamValues plain = {{"text", std::string("Hi")},
+                                   {"font_size", 60.0},
+                                   {"text_color", std::string("#ff0000")}};
+
+        // Counting the red pixels is how every placement below is read: the
+        // exact glyphs belong to whatever font this machine has.
+        const auto countRed = [](const Image& image, int x0, int y0, int x1, int y1) {
+            int found = 0;
+            for (int y = y0; y < y1; ++y) {
+                for (int x = x0; x < x1; ++x) {
+                    if (isRed(pixel(image, x, y))) ++found;
+                }
+            }
+            return found;
+        };
+
+        const auto centred = renderText(blue, 200, 120, plain);
+        check(countRed(centred, 60, 30, 140, 90) > 0, "the text lands in the middle of the canvas");
+        check(countRed(centred, 0, 0, 200, 120) == countRed(centred, 50, 20, 150, 100),
+              "and nothing is written outside it");
+
+        ParamValues corner = plain;
+        corner["text_center"] = false;
+        const auto topLeft = renderText(blue, 200, 120, corner);
+        check(countRed(topLeft, 0, 0, 100, 60) > 0 && countRed(topLeft, 100, 60, 200, 120) == 0,
+              "uncentred it starts at the top left corner");
+
+        ParamValues nudged = corner;
+        nudged["text_offset_x"] = 100L;
+        nudged["text_offset_y"] = 60L;
+        const auto moved = renderText(blue, 200, 120, nudged);
+        check(countRed(moved, 100, 60, 200, 120) > 0 && countRed(moved, 0, 0, 100, 60) == 0,
+              "the offset moves it down and to the right");
+
+        // Weight and size are the two knobs the glyphs themselves answer to: a
+        // bolder or a larger setting covers strictly more of the canvas.
+        ParamValues bold = plain;
+        bold["font_weight"] = std::string("heavy");
+        check(countRed(renderText(blue, 200, 120, bold), 0, 0, 200, 120) >
+                  countRed(centred, 0, 0, 200, 120),
+              "a heavier weight inks more pixels than a normal one");
+        ParamValues large = plain;
+        large["font_size"] = 90.0;
+        check(countRed(renderText(blue, 200, 120, large), 0, 0, 200, 120) >
+                  countRed(centred, 0, 0, 200, 120),
+              "and so does a larger size");
+
+        // The box is drawn under the text, in a colour or from a picture.
+        ParamValues boxed = plain;
+        boxed["text_box"] = std::string("colour");
+        boxed["box_color"] = std::string("#00ff00");
+        boxed["box_padding"] = 10L;
+        const auto onBox = renderText(blue, 200, 120, boxed);
+        const auto corner_px = pixel(onBox, 2, 2);
+        check(corner_px[2] > 200, "the box leaves the canvas outside it alone");
+        bool greenSomewhere = false;
+        for (int y = 0; y < 120 && !greenSomewhere; ++y) {
+            for (int x = 0; x < 200; ++x) {
+                const auto px = pixel(onBox, x, y);
+                if (px[1] > 200 && px[0] < 60 && px[2] < 60) greenSomewhere = true;
+            }
+        }
+        check(greenSomewhere, "and is filled with the colour it was given");
+        check(countRed(onBox, 0, 0, 200, 120) > 0, "the text is drawn over the box");
+
+        ParamValues faint = boxed;
+        faint["box_opacity"] = 0.5;
+        const auto half = renderText(blue, 200, 120, faint);
+        bool mixed = false;
+        for (int y = 0; y < 120 && !mixed; ++y) {
+            for (int x = 0; x < 200; ++x) {
+                const auto px = pixel(half, x, y);
+                // Half the green box over the blue input, and neither of them.
+                if (px[1] > 100 && px[1] < 200 && px[2] > 100 && px[2] < 200) mixed = true;
+            }
+        }
+        check(mixed, "half a box opacity sits between the box and the input");
+
+        const auto dir = std::filesystem::temp_directory_path() / "effector_test_text";
+        std::filesystem::create_directories(dir);
+        const auto picture = (dir / "fill.png").string();
+        solid(40, 40, 255, 255, 0).save(picture);
+        ParamValues fromPicture = boxed;
+        fromPicture["text_box"] = std::string("image");
+        fromPicture["box_image"] = picture;
+        const auto onPicture = renderText(blue, 200, 120, fromPicture);
+        bool yellowSomewhere = false;
+        for (int y = 0; y < 120 && !yellowSomewhere; ++y) {
+            for (int x = 0; x < 200; ++x) {
+                const auto px = pixel(onPicture, x, y);
+                if (px[0] > 200 && px[1] > 200 && px[2] < 60) yellowSomewhere = true;
+            }
+        }
+        check(yellowSomewhere, "a box picture fills the box");
+        check(pixel(onPicture, 2, 2)[2] > 200, "and stops at its edge");
+
+        bool threw = false;
+        try {
+            ParamValues missing = fromPicture;
+            missing["box_image"] = std::string("/nope/missing.png");
+            renderText(blue, 200, 120, missing);
+        } catch (const EffectError&) {
+            threw = true;
+        }
+        check(threw, "a missing box picture is reported");
+
+        // Nothing to draw is the state the interface starts in: a pass through.
+        check(sameBytes(renderText(blue, 200, 120, {{"text", std::string("")}}),
+                        solid(200, 120, 0, 0, 255)),
+              "with no text typed the stage passes its input through");
+        check(sameBytes(renderText(blue, 200, 120, {{"text", std::string("Hi")},
+                                                    {"text_opacity", 0.0}}),
+                        solid(200, 120, 0, 0, 255)),
+              "zero opacity leaves the input untouched");
+
+        // Like blur and overlay it needs no sources of its own, and the same
+        // settings render the same bytes twice over.
+        check(!TextEffect().needsSources(), "text can lead a chain");
+        const auto alone = renderText({}, 200, 120, plain);
+        check(alone.width() == 200 && countRed(alone, 0, 0, 200, 120) > 0,
+              "without sources it draws on an empty canvas");
+        check(sameBytes(renderText(blue, 200, 120, boxed), onBox),
+              "the same settings render the same bytes");
+
+        std::filesystem::remove_all(dir);
+    }
+
     std::cout << "chain\n";
     {
         std::vector<Image> sources = {gradient(1200, 800, 10), gradient(640, 480, 90)};