OpenShot Tutorial: Adding Video Captions and Subtitles

Overview

In this tutorial, you will learn how to add video captions and subtitles using the built-in caption tool in OpenShot. This exercise involves adding captions and subtitles to a video project to enhance accessibility and understanding for viewers.

Key Steps

1. Project Setup
   • Start with a project containing a single track or multiple video clips.
   • Make sure the video clips have a voiceover embedded.

Step-by-Step Guide

Displaying Audio Waveforms

1. Show Audio Waveforms
   • Right-click on the video clip.
   • Select Display.
   • Click "Show waveform".
   • Use the audio waveform to identify dialogue or voiceover clips and determine start/end points of each line.

Adding Captions

1. Setup: Ensure the caption effect is active on the clip, indicated by the properties panel showing the caption properties.

2. Drag and Drop Caption Effect: Click and drag the caption effect to the desired clip.

3. Insert Caption Effect:

   • Move the playhead to the start of a voiceover line on the waveform.
   • Access the captions editor on the right side of the window.
   • Click the "Insert timestamp" button to record the playhead's position as the start time of the caption.

4. Set End Time for Caption:

   • Continue playing the video until the end of the spoken line.
   • Stop the video and return to the captions editor.
   • Insert the current playhead position as the end time.

5. Style Captions:

   • Font Type & Size: Double-click font property and change to the desired type. Change font size via the slider or enter a value directly.
   • Color: Double-click the color property to choose your preferred color from the basic colors table, color space, or enter the RGB values.
   • Background: Adjust the background alpha to a nonzero value to add a background. Alter color and corner radius as desired.
   • Position: Use left, right, and top size properties for text alignment. Left and right size values should be equal for center alignment.

6. Linking Captions Across Clips:

   • Once styling is set for the first clip, link subsequent clips to inherit the styling.
   • Add a caption effect to the second clip.
   • Right-click the parent property, select clips, then choose the first clip's caption ID to link properties.

7. Add Fade Effects:

   • OpenShot by default adds 0.35-second fade in and out effects.
   • Adjust these settings in the properties panel if desired.

Addressing Common Issues

• Caption Properties Bug (v3.1): If the font size property fails to inherit, position the playhead at the start of the second clip, access its properties, right-click the font size property, and select "insert key frame".

Conclusion

• This tutorial covers adding and styling captions with OpenShot's built-in tools.
• You can explore additional properties or start adding subtitles in another language by utilizing the multiple caption effects feature.
• Remember to ensure captions sync well with the dialogue or voiceover for optimal viewer experience.

Thank you for watching!