You've seen the trend: a big title like "Day in my life" sitting behind the person in the clip. The background shows around the letters, and the person walks in front of them as if the words were part of the scene. It looks like something from a desktop editor with masking and keyframes. On iPhone it takes one long-press and one button.
"Day in my life" tucked behind the subject, exported straight from Jodu.
TL;DR: Add your clip to a Jodu project, long-press on yourself in the video, and wait for Tracking subject to finish. Tap Text Behind, type your words, then size and place them. Export as Animated Video. Jodu cuts you out of every frame on your phone, so the text stays behind you as you move.
The short version
Add your clip. Start a project in Jodu (the 9:16 Story size suits Reels and TikTok) and tap Add Media to pick a video. Clips can be up to 15 seconds, and the trim sheet lets you choose which 15. Stretch the clip to fill the canvas.
Long-press on yourself. Press and hold on the person in the video. Jodu shows Tracking subject… with a percentage while it finds you in every frame of the clip. A short clip takes a few seconds.
Tap Text Behind. When tracking finishes, the background flashes to a checkerboard to show the cutout, and a bar appears with Effects, Remove BG, Text Behind, and Copy. Tap Text Behind and the keyboard opens on a new text layer that already sits behind you.
Type your words. They start big and white, and you can watch them land behind you as you type. Change the font or color from the bar above the keyboard, then tap the check mark.
Size and place it. Pinch to resize and drag the text so part of it overlaps you. The overlap is what sells the effect: a few letters hidden behind your shoulder look far better than text sitting off to the side.
Export as Animated Video. Tap the share icon and choose Animated Video. Turn on Clip sound if you want the original audio, tap Export, then Save to Photos.
What Text Behind actually does
Text Behind is a shortcut for a three-layer sandwich. At the bottom is your original clip. In the middle is the new text layer. On top is a cutout of you, tracked through every frame, with the background removed.
Because the top layer is just you, the text shows everywhere except where your body is. When you move, the cutout moves with you, so the letters disappear behind you and reappear as you pass. You can see the three layers in the layers panel and move or restyle each one like any other layer.
If you'd rather build the sandwich yourself, tap Copy instead of Text Behind. That puts the cutout on top of the original without adding text, and you can slot any layer in between: a sticker, a shape, a second photo.
Tips for a clean result
- Pick a clip where you stand out. Tracking works best when you're clearly separate from the background, not half hidden behind a pole or blending into a crowd.
- Keep yourself in frame. If you walk out of the shot, there's nothing to track for those frames.
- Use big, heavy letters. Thin fonts barely get covered, so the "behind" part goes unnoticed. A chunky serif or bold sans gives your body more to hide.
- Overlap on purpose. Put the middle of the text across your torso or shoulder, where you move the least, so the hidden letters stay hidden.
- Add an edge if the background is busy. A thin outline or shadow keeps white text readable as the scene behind it changes. The add text to video guide covers the styles.
- Make the text move. The text layer accepts the usual text animations, so the title can type itself out behind you. See animated text over video.
Does this upload my video?
No. Jodu finds and tracks you with Apple's on-device Vision framework and renders the export with AVFoundation, all on your iPhone. Your clip never leaves the phone, and the whole thing works offline. It's the same on-device cutout that powers Jodu's photo background remover, applied to every frame of the video.
FAQ
How do I put text behind myself in a video on iPhone?
Add the clip to a Jodu project, long-press on yourself, and wait for tracking to finish. Tap Text Behind, type your words, and drag them so they overlap you. Export as Animated Video and the text stays behind you for the whole clip.
Does it work if I'm moving around?
Yes. Jodu tracks you frame by frame, so the cutout follows you as you walk, turn, or move your arms. It works best when you stay in the shot and aren't hidden behind other objects.
How long can the video be?
Up to 15 seconds per clip. If your video is longer, the trim sheet lets you pick which 15 seconds to use before you start.
Can I put a sticker or photo behind me instead of text?
Yes. After tracking, tap Copy instead of Text Behind. That adds the cutout of you on top of the original clip, and you can move any sticker, shape, or photo into the layer between them.
Can I change the text after I've placed it?
Yes. The text is a normal layer. Tap it to edit the words, font, or color, or drag and pinch to move it. It stays behind the cutout.