Text overlays and titles

Text overlays are used for titles, labels, callouts, captions, hooks, lower thirds, and on-screen instructions.

Add a text overlay

1. Open a project.
2. Click Text in the left asset panel.
3. Choose a text style or click Add text.
4. A text element appears on the canvas and timeline.
5. Drag it to the correct position in the preview.
6. Trim its duration on the timeline.

Edit text content

1. Select the text element on the canvas or timeline.
2. Open the right properties panel.
3. Go to the Text tab.
4. Edit the text content.
5. Press Enter or click outside the field to confirm.

Keep text short. For social video, one or two lines is usually enough.

Typography controls

Use typography controls to make text match your brand or platform.

Common controls:

• Font family — choose the typeface.
• Font size — make text readable at the target platform size.
• Text color — set the primary fill color.
• Alignment — left, center, or right.
• Font weight — regular, medium, bold, etc.
• Font style — normal or italic.
• Text decoration — underline or similar decoration.
• Letter spacing — tighten or spread characters.
• Line height — adjust spacing between lines.

Text fill and gradients

Text can use a solid fill or gradient fill.

Solid fill

1. Select the text.
2. Open Text properties.
3. Set the fill type to solid.
4. Choose a color.

Gradient fill

1. Select the text.
2. Open Text properties.
3. Set the fill type to gradient.
4. Choose gradient colors and direction.
5. Preview over the actual background.

Use gradients sparingly. They work best for titles and hooks, not long captions.

Add a text background box

A background box improves readability over busy footage.

1. Select the text.
2. Open Text properties.
3. Enable Background.
4. Choose a background color.
5. Adjust:
   • Corner radius for rounded boxes.
   • Padding X/Y for space around text.
   • Offset X/Y to shift the box behind the text.

For captions, use enough padding that words do not touch the box edges.

Add stroke and shadow

Stroke

Use stroke for high-contrast social captions.

1. Select text.
2. Enable Stroke.
3. Pick stroke color.
4. Increase stroke width until the text is readable.

Shadow

Use shadow for subtle separation.

1. Select text.
2. Enable Shadow.
3. Set shadow color.
4. Adjust blur and X/Y offset.

A small shadow often looks more professional than a heavy outline.

Position text safely

1. Move the playhead to a frame with busy visuals.
2. Drag the text on the canvas.
3. Keep it away from platform UI areas.
4. Avoid placing text too close to edges.
5. Preview the entire clip, not just one frame.

For vertical videos, keep key text inside the center-safe area so TikTok, Reels, or Shorts UI does not cover it.

Animate text

Text animations include:

• Fade in.
• Fade in/out.
• Pop.
• Rise.
• Slide in.
• Zoom in.
• Bounce.
• Spin in.

To add an animation:

1. Select the text element.
2. Open Text animation in the properties panel.
3. Choose an animation preset.
4. Adjust duration and intensity if available.
5. Preview from a few seconds before the animation.

Per-character animation

Per-character controls animate letters individually.

Use this for:

• Hook text.
• Kinetic title sequences.
• Emphasis words.
• Short social captions.

Avoid per-character animation for long educational text because it can slow readability.

Use text with the timeline

Text elements are timeline clips.

You can:

• Drag them earlier or later.
• Trim their start and end.
• Split them with S.
• Duplicate them with Cmd/Ctrl+D.
• Place them on text or overlay tracks.

Common text recipes

Big hook title

1. Add text.
2. Type the hook.
3. Use a bold font weight.
4. Add stroke or background.
5. Place it in the upper-middle safe zone.
6. Add Pop or Rise animation.
7. Keep it on screen for 1-2 seconds.

Lower-third label

1. Add text.
2. Place it in the lower-left or lower-center.
3. Use medium font size.
4. Add a subtle background box.
5. Keep animation simple: fade in/out.

Step label

1. Add text like Step 1: Import footage.
2. Place it near the action.
3. Add a rounded background.
4. Duplicate for each step.
5. Edit wording and timing.

Troubleshooting

See also

• Captions deep-dive
• Properties panel
• Canvas and preview