diff --git a/apps/api/src/lib/meme-text-renderer.ts b/apps/api/src/lib/meme-text-renderer.ts
index 1d0f6277..9d624990 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/lib/meme-text-renderer.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/lib/meme-text-renderer.ts
@@ -143,8 +143,9 @@ export function autoSizeFontToFit(
   boxHeight: number,
   maxFontSize = DEFAULT_MAX_FONT_SIZE,
 ): number {
+  const effectiveMax = Math.min(maxFontSize, Math.floor(boxHeight / 2), Math.floor(boxWidth / 3));
   let lo = MIN_FONT_SIZE;
-  let hi = maxFontSize;
+  let hi = Math.max(MIN_FONT_SIZE, effectiveMax);
   let best = MIN_FONT_SIZE;
 
   while (lo <= hi) {
@@ -216,6 +217,9 @@ export function renderMemeTextSvg(opts: MemeTextOptions): Buffer {
     const fillAttr = escapeXmlAttr(textColor);
     const strokeAttr = escapeXmlAttr(strokeColor);
 
+    const totalTextHeight = lines.length * lineHeight;
+    const yOffset = by + (bh - totalTextHeight) / 2 + fontSize * 0.85;
+
     for (let i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
       const line = lines[i];
       if (!line) continue;
@@ -228,12 +232,10 @@ export function renderMemeTextSvg(opts: MemeTextOptions): Buffer {
       } else if (textAlign === "right") {
         x = bx + bw - lineWidth;
       } else {
-        // center
         x = bx + (bw - lineWidth) / 2;
       }
 
-      // Baseline y: top of box + line offset + ascent approximation
-      const y = by + (i + 1) * lineHeight;
+      const y = yOffset + i * lineHeight;
 
       let d: string;
       try {
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/tools/meme-generator-settings.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/tools/meme-generator-settings.tsx
index eb180483..bf9c1a57 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/tools/meme-generator-settings.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/tools/meme-generator-settings.tsx
@@ -163,46 +163,46 @@ function EditorSettings() {
       </div>
 
       {/* Colors */}
-      <div className="flex gap-3">
-        <div className="flex-1">
+      <div className="flex gap-2">
+        <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
           <label htmlFor="text-color" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground block mb-0.5">
-            Text Color
+            Text
           </label>
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-1">
             <input
               id="text-color"
               data-testid="text-color"
               type="color"
               value={textColor}
               onChange={(e) => setTextColor(e.target.value)}
-              className="w-8 h-8 rounded border border-border shrink-0 cursor-pointer"
+              className="w-7 h-7 rounded border border-border shrink-0 cursor-pointer"
             />
             <input
               type="text"
               value={textColor}
               onChange={(e) => setTextColor(e.target.value)}
-              className="flex-1 px-1.5 py-1 rounded border border-border bg-background text-xs text-foreground font-mono"
+              className="flex-1 min-w-0 px-1 py-1 rounded border border-border bg-background text-[11px] text-foreground font-mono"
             />
           </div>
         </div>
-        <div className="flex-1">
+        <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
           <label htmlFor="stroke-color" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground block mb-0.5">
-            Stroke Color
+            Stroke
           </label>
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-1">
             <input
               id="stroke-color"
               data-testid="stroke-color"
               type="color"
               value={strokeColor}
               onChange={(e) => setStrokeColor(e.target.value)}
-              className="w-8 h-8 rounded border border-border shrink-0 cursor-pointer"
+              className="w-7 h-7 rounded border border-border shrink-0 cursor-pointer"
             />
             <input
               type="text"
               value={strokeColor}
               onChange={(e) => setStrokeColor(e.target.value)}
-              className="flex-1 px-1.5 py-1 rounded border border-border bg-background text-xs text-foreground font-mono"
+              className="flex-1 min-w-0 px-1 py-1 rounded border border-border bg-background text-[11px] text-foreground font-mono"
             />
           </div>
         </div>