This IS the Avid L2: Re: [Avid-L2] subtitling guidelines

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Re: [Avid-L2] subtitling guidelines

If it's for broadcast, normally the broadcaster wants a subtitle file (Pac or 890) and will do the insertion itself.
If you must burn in, most broadcasters will provide you with a screenshot if you ask.
If you want to see some examples, get Subbits from my site. The render engine has a couple of templates (and there is a template image in HD with subs in a form i like.)

General rules of thumb to make it look good:
Centered, Sans serif condensed font, outline, very tiny or no drop shadow, NO box, Way bigger line spacing than you would expect, way higher in the image than you would expect,
No color (avoid top white as well, 220 220 220 is white enough), max two lines.

There is a huge difference between specs nowadays. Subs tend to get smaller and smaller, but don't let the font size fool you.
The amount of chars as in the specs seems silly now, and it is when it comes to screen space / title safe, but it is NOT when it comes to read speed.

Bouke

VideoToolShed
van Oldenbarneveltstraat 33
6512 AS NIJMEGEN, the Netherlands
+31 24 3553311
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Brockington
To: Avid-L2
Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2013 9:18 AM
Subject: [Avid-L2] subtitling guidelines

I'm getting towards the end of an HD project with lots of subtitles, and
figuring it's time to try to lock down their format. Currently they are
readable, but not terribly attractive. I'm wondering if there are
guidelines floating around for subtitle formatting -- perhaps
broadcaster specifications. Things like max characters per line,
recommended fonts and sizes, colours, outline vs text box -- ideally
spec'd in a form compatible with Avid's subcap tool.

I've found Channel 4's guidelines, for instance:

http://www.channel4.com/media/documents/corporate/foi-docs/SG_FLP.pdf

But when I try the font sizes they suggest in Avid's SubCap, they look
very small. Is there anything floating around from Canadian or American
broadcasters?

Thanks in advance,
--Michael Brockington

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