Video Subtitling, Titles & Text Overlays
Professional video subtitles and captions, human-timed: SDH and burn-in built to broadcaster readability rules (CPS/CPL), delivered as SRT/VTT sidecars or baked into the master per platform.
From lower thirds to fully captioned, accessible masters
Professional video subtitling and captions, built to broadcaster readability rules (SDH, CPS/CPL)
On-screen text is often the first thing a viewer reads, so I set typography and motion that feel intentional without pulling focus from the picture.
I turn brand tone, hierarchy and accessibility requirements into responsive title and caption templates that hold up across 16:9, 1:1 and 9:16.
From editorial captions to campaign subtitles, every deliverable is checked and exported so it stays easy to update later.
Most social video is now watched on mute: a large share of feed views happen with the sound off, so on-screen captions are what keep a viewer from scrolling past. Captions measurably help retention on TikTok, Instagram Reels and in-feed posts, where the picture has to carry the message alone. Professional video subtitling turns that constraint into reach: clean, readable text that stays legible on a phone and respects the rhythm of the cut.
Subtitles are also an accessibility and discoverability layer. France counts millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers who depend on SDH captions with speaker IDs and sound cues to follow a video at all. On platforms that read subtitle text, captions are indexable, so accurate wording helps people find the content as well as watch it. The point of difference here is human craft: timing, line breaks and CPS/CPL readability handled by hand to broadcaster spec, with titles kept on your brand charter, rather than the raw auto-captions you get from CapCut, Canva or VEED.
Project highlights
- Animated intros, lower thirds, and chapter cards
- Burned-in or sidecar file delivery
- Captions for sound-off feeds, with SDH accessibility versions for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers
- Wording adapted to the audience, not translated word-for-word, with source files handled confidentially
What You Receive
- Master exports with burned-in text when required
- External SRT/VTT subtitle files for YouTube, Vimeo and the web
- SDH accessibility subtitles with speaker identification and sound cues, following accessibility conventions
- Subtitle text written to be indexable on platforms that read it, supporting discoverability alongside readability
Professional video subtitling and captions: external SRT/VTT files or burned-in (hardcoded) subtitles, plus animated lower thirds, chapter cards and on-brand titles. Includes SDH accessibility subtitles, with timing and line breaks handled by a human following broadcaster and platform readability rules (reading speed in characters per second, line length). Wording is adapted to the audience rather than translated word-for-word, and source files are handled confidentially. Delivered remotely worldwide and on-site in Paris.
At a glance
| Delivery formats | SRT/VTT sidecar files or burned-in (hardcoded) subtitles |
| On-screen text | Animated intros, lower thirds, chapter cards, on-brand titles |
| Accessibility | SDH subtitles with speaker IDs and sound cues |
| Readability standards | Broadcaster and platform rules (reading speed in characters per second, line length) |
| Languages | French and English natively; other languages on request with translated text provided |
| Workflow | Transcription -> spotting (time-code) -> translation when needed; timing by hand |
| Where | Remote worldwide and on-site in Paris |
| Accessibility reach | SDH captions for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers, plus readable text for sound-off social feeds |
| Discoverability | Subtitle text written to be indexable where platforms read it |
| Confidentiality | Source files and scripts handled confidentially |
SRT/VTT files vs burned-in subtitles
| Option | Format | Where it lives | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRT / VTT | External sidecar file | Separate file alongside the video | YouTube, Vimeo and web; in-feed social (TikTok, Instagram, Reels) needs burn-in instead |
| Burned-in | Hardcoded into the picture | Baked into the master export | When text must stay embedded in the master |
hanna-eng.com video titles and subtitles page
Creative + Technical
Typography, accessibility, and localization working together
Concept
Gather brand assets, fonts and tone references, then transcribe and spot the dialogue against the time-code so every caption lands on the right frame.
Design
Build motion-ready title and lower-third templates in DaVinci Resolve and Fusion that scale across 16:9, 1:1 and 9:16, with line breaks and reading speed (CPS/CPL) checked by hand.
Localization
Adapt the wording to the target audience rather than translating word-for-word, then export VTT and SRT packages or burn the captions into the master per platform.
Need words that move with the story?
I handle typography, accessibility, and versioning for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you deliver SRT/VTT or burned-in subtitles?
Both, external SRT/VTT files for platforms, or burned-in (hardcoded) subtitles when you need them baked into the master.
Do you make accessibility (SDH) subtitles?
Yes, subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH), with speaker IDs and sound cues for music, laughter and off-screen noises.
Which languages do you work in?
French and English natively; other languages on request when you provide the translated text.
Are the subtitles written by a human?
Yes, timing, line breaks and readability are handled by hand, not left to raw auto-captioning.
Do you also create titles and lower thirds?
Yes, animated lower thirds, chapter cards and on-brand title design, alongside the subtitling.
Do you offer transcription and translation too?
Yes: the full chain transcription -> spotting (time-code) -> translation when needed, delivered as SRT/VTT files for YouTube, Vimeo and web, or burned-in for in-feed social (TikTok, Instagram, Reels), which does not take SRT/VTT sidecars.
What is the difference between captions, subtitles and SDH?
Captions and subtitles both put spoken words on screen; in everyday use captions often refer to same-language text for sound-off viewing, while subtitles can also carry an adapted or translated version for a different audience. SDH (subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing) goes further: it adds speaker identification and sound cues (music, laughter, off-screen noises) so the video makes full sense with no audio. I deliver all three, built to the same readability rules.
Do subtitles really help reach and SEO?
Yes, on two fronts. A large share of social video is watched with the sound off, so captions are what hold attention in the feed and improve retention. And on platforms that read subtitle text, that text is indexable, so accurate, well-written captions help people discover the video as well as watch it. Both reasons are why on-screen text is no longer optional for social-first content.
How do you handle confidentiality and translation accuracy?
Source files, scripts and unreleased footage are handled confidentially and used only to do the work. For other-language versions I adapt the wording to the audience rather than translating literally word-for-word, so the meaning, tone and reading speed survive the change of language. I do not claim certifications I do not hold; the guarantee is careful, human-checked work to broadcaster and platform readability rules.
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