Adding text overlay directly onto your video provides visual information, titles, or captions that appear as the video plays. This is different from adding text to the video description box found below the video on platforms like YouTube. Based on the steps provided, here's how to add text that appears on your video:
Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Text to Your Video
Follow these simple steps to incorporate text directly onto your video footage or alongside your transcript visualization:
- Select Where the Text Appears: First, choose the specific video clip you want the text to appear on. Alternatively, if your editing software supports it, highlight the exact portion of the transcript where you want the text overlay synchronized. This defines the timing and duration of your text element.
- Activate the Text Tool: Look for a "Text" button or icon in your editing software's toolbar and click it. This action typically opens up options related to adding and editing text overlays.
- Enter Your Text: A dedicated panel, often on the right side of your screen, will appear. Type the desired text you want to see on your video into this panel.
- Customize Text Appearance and Timing: Use the available options to tailor how your text looks and when it shows up. These options usually include:
- Font: Change the style of the letters.
- Color: Select the color of your text.
- Size: Adjust how large or small the text is.
- Position: Move the text to a specific location on the video frame (e.g., bottom center, top left).
- Timing: Fine-tune the exact start and end times for the text to appear on screen, matching your selection from Step 1 or adjusting further.
Customizing Your Text Overlay
Once you've added the basic text, don't hesitate to explore the customization options mentioned in Step 4. These features allow you to make your text stand out and align with the visual style of your video. Experiment with different fonts, colors that contrast well with your background, and positions that don't obstruct key parts of your video. Adjusting the timing precisely ensures the text appears only when relevant to the on-screen action or dialogue in the transcript.
Understanding Text Overlay vs. Video Description
It's important to note that the process described above is for adding text visuals directly onto the video playback itself. This is commonly used for titles, captions, subtitles, lower thirds (text identifying a person or place), or annotations. This is distinctly different from adding text to the "video description," which is the block of text metadata below the video on platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or others, used to provide context, links, and information about the video content. The steps provided relate specifically to the visual text overlay within a video editing context.
