Tips on using subtitles

Adding subtitles to any video that will be accessed by the public will increase the range of people that are able to view and understand what it is about. Having subtitles will directly benefit deaf people, people with hearing impairments, as well as people with English as a second language.

The following are key elements to ensure successful use of subtitles to improve your video communication.

From the start

  • during the editing stage, you should keep in mind the effect of having subtitles. For example, always start with the face of someone talking rather than having a voice appearing over a background shot. Doing this will ensure the audience connects the person speaking with the text of their speech.

Placement on screen

  • subtitles work best when placed low on the screen, near bottom, in the centre. Having blank, non-distracting space around the text is important
  • ensure the text does not go to the edge of the screen. A good guide is leaving about one fifth of the screen free on either side of the subtitles. It is easier for a person to read big text that is wrapped together on a couple of lines in the screen centre, than to scan from one side of the screen to the other and back again.
Placement of subtitles. Text in the middle is easy to read, quick to scan.

Format

  • large white text, sans-serif font (like Arial) on a solid black background
  • two lines of text on screen at most. Less is ok, depending on the amount of words being spoken. Could have 3 lines, rarely, if needed
  • less words on the screen, but changing more frequently, works best. This allows a person to quickly read what is there and keep in time with action on screen
  • any names and titles of people, that are briefly shown on the screen, should be presented above the subtitle space so the text is not obscured.

Transcribing the spoken words

  • try not to reinterpret or translate what is being said. You should present as much as possible the actual words the person on screen is as saying and not paraphrase
  • if there are multiple people talking, or the film cuts between people speaking, consider using the names of the people in the subtitles to identify the different speakers. This is especially important if you cut away from the person and have other film shown while the voice over continues.

Examples

  • a good example of best practice in subtitles is the Teletext captions available on television
  • a different example, using both subtitles and sign language interpretation, is shown below. Note the two lines of text, large size, and while on a dark background (wholly black and opaque is better), and in the lower-middle of the screen.
Subtitles in film. Large text on dark background, opaque, and in the lower-middle of the screen.

Further advice on inclusive film products

  • A fully accessible and inclusive film product would include in its standard version, or as an alternative, audio-descriptions as well. This feature allows information on what’s happening in the film to be accessible to blind and vision-impaired people
  • This works by a voice describing action happening on the screen that is not apparent from the people talking or voice over, eg man opens door to greet guest
  • An example of audio described captioning is at the UK Disability Rights Commission online at: http://www.drc-gb.org/citizenship/talkvideos/talkvideo/index.asp .
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