diff --git a/doc/techref/index.md b/doc/techref/index.md
index 9d6367ac055..0380c229290 100644
--- a/doc/techref/index.md
+++ b/doc/techref/index.md
@@ -14,5 +14,6 @@ fonts.md
 text_formatting.md
 patterns.md
 encodings.md
+justification_codes.md
 environment_variables.md
 ```
diff --git a/doc/techref/justification_codes.md b/doc/techref/justification_codes.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..284b716521c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/techref/justification_codes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+---
+file_format: mystnb
+---
+
+# Justification codes
+
+To adjust the position of plot embellishments, such as scalebars, directional roses,
+colorbars, legends, text, and images, users can pass a two-character (order-independent)
+code. Choose from
+
+- Vertical: **T**\(op), **M**\(iddle), **B**\(ottom)
+- Horizontal: **L**\(eft), **C**\(entre), **R**\(ight)
+
+The possible nine justification codes are visualized in the sketch below:
+
+```{code-cell}
+---
+tags: [remove-input]
+---
+"""
+Script showing the justification codes used in GMT / PyGMT.
+"""
+import pygmt
+
+size = 5
+x1 = [-size, 0, size, size, size, 0, -size, -size, 0]
+y1 = [-size, -size, -size, 0, size, size, size, 0, 0]
+codes = ["BL", "BC", "BR", "MR", "TR", "TC", "TL", "ML", "MC"]
+
+fig = pygmt.Figure()
+fig.basemap(projection="X10c/6c", region=[-size, size, -size, size], frame=0)
+
+fig.text(
+    font="15p,1,black",
+    x=x1,
+    y=y1,
+    text=codes,
+    justify=codes,
+    offset="j0.5c/0.5c+v2p,gray30",
+)
+
+fig.plot(x=x1, y=y1, style="c0.3c", fill="steelblue", no_clip=True)
+
+fig.text(
+    font="15p",
+    offset="j0.5c/0.5c",
+    no_clip=True,
+    x=[size, size, size, -size, 0, size],
+    y=[size, 0, -size, size, size, size],
+    justify=["ML", "ML", "ML", "BC", "BC", "BC"],
+    text=[
+        "@%1%T@%%op",
+        "@%1%M@%%iddle",
+        "@%1%B@%%ottom",
+        "@%1%L@%%eft",
+        "@%1%C@%%enter",
+        "@%1%R@%%ight",
+    ],
+)
+
+fig.show(width=600)
+```
+
+For a non-rectangular geographic basemap, the justification codes refer to the map
+bounding box:
+
+```{code-cell}
+---
+tags: [remove-input]
+---
+"""
+Script showing justification codes for non-rectangular geographic basemaps.
+"""
+fig = pygmt.Figure()
+fig.basemap(projection="H10c", region="g", frame=0)
+
+for code in codes:
+    fig.text(
+        font="10p,1,black",
+        position=code,
+        justify=code,
+        text=code,
+        offset="j0.5c/0.5c+v2p,gray30",
+    )
+    fig.text(font="10p,steelblue", position=code, justify="MC", text="●", no_clip=True)
+
+fig.show(width=600)
+```
+
+
+Plot embellishments can be abstracted as rectangles. Here, the justification codes are
+shown exemplary for a colorbar.
+
+```{code-cell}
+---
+tags: [remove-input]
+---
+"""
+Script showing justification codes for plot embellishments, e.g., a colorbar.
+"""
+fig = pygmt.Figure()
+fig.basemap(projection="X10c/2c", region=[-size, size, -size, size], frame=0)
+
+fig.colorbar(cmap="buda", frame=0, position="jMC+w10c/2c+h")
+
+for code in codes:
+    fig.text(
+        font="10p,1,black",
+        position=code,
+        justify=code,
+        text=code,
+        offset="j0.3c/0.15c+v1p,gray30",
+    )
+fig.plot(x=x1, y=y1, style="c0.2c", fill="steelblue", no_clip=True)
+
+fig.show(width=600)
+```