Benefits

The benefit of having separate subtitle files for your file instead of burning them onto the movie is that many movie players can change the font, the color, and the location of the subtitles.

Subtitles Definition

A textual representation of the spoken audio in a video program. Subtitles for the hearing impaired (HOH) are different to the spoken English as they include additional non spoken phrases, that add meaning to the viewer.

More Information

If you would like to supply your own subtitles, here are some useful tips.

  • Don’t use Serif fonts. Sans Serif fonts are easier to read on video screen, as the serif fonts tend to create single-pixel horizontal lines that produce interlaced twittering.
  • Use a drop shadow or an outline, either black or translucent (using the subpicture transparency feature)
  • Each new subtitle should appear at the scene change, not at the dialog start. This provides more on screen time. And studies have shown that it reduces reading fatigue.
  • Centre the subtitles, if there is more than one line, left-justify the lines within the centred position. Try to limit the titles to two lines.
  • Keep the first line shorter, which covers less video and clues in the eye that there’s, another line.
  • If there is more than one speaker, indicate speaker change with a hyphen at the beginning of the line.
  • Display subtitles for no less that one second and no more than 7 seconds.
  • And lastly proof read.

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