Image macro

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An image macro illustrating a pun from similar sounding "Rofl" and "waffle".

An image macro, also known as a thread bomb, is a picture with text superimposed, typically through the use of graphics software such as Photoshop or Microsoft Paint. The name image macro originates from the Something Awful Forums^{[citation needed]}, where for a time the use of a preset "macro" text (such as [img-timeline], resulting in the now-bannable Timeline of history) would insert into the post a corresponding image.

[edit] Internet forums

On internet forums like Something Awful and imageboards such as 4chan and YTMND, image macros are used to emphasize a certain phrase (often a meme) 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.

One of the most famous image macros is "O RLY?". O RLY is internet speak for "Oh really?". Originally started with a snowy owl photograph (which is the classic O RLY image macro), it spread out over the Web quickly and is now succeeded by many other photos that convey almost the entire spectrum of human emotions.

[edit] 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 colored white with a thin black outline.