Subtitles.. fonts and size? at DVinfo.net

Alfred Okocha · December 12th, 2004, 03:30 PM

I'm sure that I have seen this stated here somewhere.. just can't find it anywhere. Could anybody please help me what the standard is? (Font and size I mean..)

What do you use in in FCP?? "Lower text" or something different?

Thank you.

Rob Moreno · December 12th, 2004, 08:19 PM

I prefer outline text myself. It's much easier to read over a variety of backgrounds. A line width of 20 with a softness of 5 seems to work well.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · December 12th, 2004, 09:31 PM

Franklin Gothic Demi is the font of choice for subtitles in some big movies.

Alfred Okocha · December 13th, 2004, 05:01 AM

Thank you Rob and Robert. I don't seem to have the Franklin font.. Could buy it I guess but isn't there another one that could be used? I don't want to seem ungrateful here but the job isn't paid so I'll (only..) invest my time in it.

Outline seems like a good idea.

Thanks.

Vic Owen · December 13th, 2004, 11:51 AM

Arial or Arial black can also give pretty good results.

Shane Ross · December 13th, 2004, 03:19 PM

There is no 'standard' font and font size for lower thirds. Font type depends on the cliet....font size depends on the font.

For The History Channel, I use Interstate Bold Condensed for the font, size 30 for the persons name (3 pt dropshadow at 75% opacity) and size 20 for their title..

For three different Discovery Channel series, the all had differenct fonts. ANd the size depends on the font. One font at 30pt can be larger than another at size 30.

Mark Sloan · December 13th, 2004, 04:00 PM

Test your letterspacing and sizing on different sized monitors. Make sure it is legible in different situations, different distances. If your audience is over 40 be aware that eyesite drops significantly, expecially if you will be in low light situations.

Especially with subtitles, where someone needs to read the words in order to know what is going on, making them strain to read really degrades the experience of what they are watching because they have to not only focus their eyes, but also their attention on "seeing" the letters clearly and then "reading" them.

Alfred Okocha · December 13th, 2004, 06:20 PM

Thanks all.

Iwas under the false impression that there was a standard font when using subtitles.
Thanks to your good advice I'm sure that I'll reach a satisfactory result!

Shane Ross · December 13th, 2004, 11:33 PM

Subtitles...I was thinking lower thirds. How did I confuse that?

Anyway...I have used differend fonts there too...

December 12th, 2004, 03:30 PM	#1
Alfred Okocha Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: London Posts: 427	Subtitles.. fonts and size? I'm sure that I have seen this stated here somewhere.. just can't find it anywhere. Could anybody please help me what the standard is? (Font and size I mean..) What do you use in in FCP?? "Lower text" or something different? Thank you.

December 12th, 2004, 08:19 PM	#2
Rob Moreno Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Tokyo Posts: 102	I prefer outline text myself. It's much easier to read over a variety of backgrounds. A line width of 20 with a softness of 5 seems to work well. __________________ Media Kobo Japan

December 12th, 2004, 09:31 PM	#3
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Franklin Gothic Demi is the font of choice for subtitles in some big movies. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 13th, 2004, 11:51 AM	#5
Vic Owen Major Player Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 540	Arial or Arial black can also give pretty good results. __________________ -- Vic Owen --

December 13th, 2004, 05:01 AM	#4
Alfred Okocha Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: London Posts: 427	Thank you Rob and Robert. I don't seem to have the Franklin font.. Could buy it I guess but isn't there another one that could be used? I don't want to seem ungrateful here but the job isn't paid so I'll (only..) invest my time in it. Outline seems like a good idea. Thanks.

December 13th, 2004, 03:19 PM	#6
Shane Ross Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 539	There is no 'standard' font and font size for lower thirds. Font type depends on the cliet....font size depends on the font. For The History Channel, I use Interstate Bold Condensed for the font, size 30 for the persons name (3 pt dropshadow at 75% opacity) and size 20 for their title.. For three different Discovery Channel series, the all had differenct fonts. ANd the size depends on the font. One font at 30pt can be larger than another at size 30.

December 13th, 2004, 04:00 PM	#7
Mark Sloan Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 346	Test your letterspacing and sizing on different sized monitors. Make sure it is legible in different situations, different distances. If your audience is over 40 be aware that eyesite drops significantly, expecially if you will be in low light situations. Especially with subtitles, where someone needs to read the words in order to know what is going on, making them strain to read really degrades the experience of what they are watching because they have to not only focus their eyes, but also their attention on "seeing" the letters clearly and then "reading" them.

December 13th, 2004, 06:20 PM	#8
Alfred Okocha Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: London Posts: 427	Thanks all. Iwas under the false impression that there was a standard font when using subtitles. Thanks to your good advice I'm sure that I'll reach a satisfactory result!

December 13th, 2004, 11:33 PM	#9
Shane Ross Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 539	Subtitles...I was thinking lower thirds. How did I confuse that? Anyway...I have used differend fonts there too...