Why timestamps work
A date gives the image a place in time. It suggests the photo was taken, not constructed. That is why film emulation apps and disposable-camera filters almost always include a date stamp option.
The effect depends on three things: format, color, and placement.
1. Choose a format
- 2026.10.26 — the classic digital-compact look; clean and neutral.
- 26 10 2026 — European, slightly more filmic.
- Oct 26 2026 — editorial, easier to read at small sizes.
- 26'10'26 — the compact “date back” style; best used sparingly.
Pick one format per series. Mixing formats across a set looks like a mistake.
2. Choose a color
Orange-red is the iconic choice because early date backs used an LED. Warm yellow is softer and works well on dark images. White is the most neutral and the easiest to read on a white border.
If the border is white, avoid pale yellow — it disappears. If the border is black, white or orange both work.
3. Place it where it belongs
The bottom-right corner of the border is the default for a reason: it mirrors the date back on a film camera. Bottom-left is a quieter option. Avoid placing the date over the photo unless you are deliberately going for a camcorder look.
Keep the date aligned with the other border text. If you also use a camera brand line, put the date on the opposite corner rather than stacking everything in one place.
How to add one in white-border
- Open the editor and load a photo.
- Go to Decorate → Yellow timestamp and enable it.
- Use the capture date from EXIF, or type your own text.
- Choose a style, color, and position.
- Set a border wide enough for the text — 5–8% is usually enough.
- Export JPEG to keep the original metadata.
If the photo has no EXIF date, the field stays editable. That is useful for scans and restored family photos where you know the date but the file does not.
Design tips
- Small is better. The date should be readable at full size, not shout from the thumbnail.
- Match the border. A date floating in a huge empty margin looks lost; a date crammed into 3% looks like a watermark.
- Do not add a second timestamp. If the camera already burned one in, do not add another.
- Keep it out of the subject. Faces and text in the photo should never be covered.
Privacy check
A date is usually harmless. GPS is not. If the photo was taken at home, a client’s office, or a sensitive location, strip the GPS before sharing. white-border keeps camera data by default; check the metadata panel if location privacy matters.
Ready to try a date stamp? Open the editor, enable the timestamp, and compare orange with white on your own border.