Master the Art of Adding Captions to Reels and TikToks

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Adobe Fonts and Monserrat
3. Importing and initial cuts
4. Reformatting the timeline
5. Applying auto reframe
6. Adjusting position and duplicating settings
7. Adding multi-band compressor for audio
8. Subtitles with text layers
9. Importing presets for text animations
10. Creating subtitle templates
11. Applying text templates
12. Applying fins are presets to subtitles
13. Customizing and getting creative with subtitles
14. Conclusion

Article

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the process of creating subtitles and captions in Adobe Premiere Pro. Subtitles and captions are essential for making videos accessible to a wider audience and can greatly enhance the viewer's experience. We will cover everything from importing fonts to applying text animations and creating subtitle templates. So let's dive in and learn how to add professional-looking subtitles to your videos!

Adobe Fonts and Monserrat

To begin, we need to ensure we have the right fonts for our subtitles. Adobe Fonts is a great resource for finding and downloading high-quality fonts. In this tutorial, we will specifically use the Monserrat font. Make sure to log in to Adobe Fonts and search for the Monserrat font, specifically the black font type. Once you have found it, download and install it on your computer.

Importing and initial cuts

Now that we have the necessary fonts, let's start working on our video project. Begin by importing your clip into Adobe Premiere Pro. Once the clip is imported, make any initial cuts or trims to remove unwanted portions of the footage.

Reformatting the timeline

Since we are creating subtitles for vertical videos, we need to reformat the timeline to match the video's aspect ratio. To do this, select the timeline and navigate to the reformat option. Change the dimensions from 16 by 9 to 9 by 16 and set the resolution to 1080 by 1920.

Applying auto reframe

Next, we will apply the auto reframe effect to our clips. This effect automatically reframes the footage to fit the vertical video format. Select one of your clips in the timeline and search for the auto reframe effect in the effects panel. Apply the effect to the clip.

Adjusting position and duplicating settings

If the position of the reframed clip is not to your liking, you can adjust it using the horizontal and vertical axes position points. Once you have positioned the clip correctly, right-click on the effect and select copy. Highlight the rest of your clips in the timeline and press Control + V to paste the effect settings across your entire timeline.

Adding multi-band compressor for audio

To improve the audio quality of your dialog, we will add a multi-band compressor effect. In the effects panel, search for the multi-band compressor and apply it to one of your audio clips. Select the effect in the timeline and navigate to the effects control panel. Click on the edit button next to the custom setup tab. In the compressor settings, select the broadcast preset and close the effect. Copy the effect and spread it across your remaining dialog tracks, but make sure not to apply it to the clip that already has the effect.

Subtitles with text layers

Unfortunately, Adobe Premiere Pro's built-in caption and transcription tool lacks the ability to add effects to captions. To work around this limitation, we will create our subtitles using text layers. This is where the fins are preset comes in handy. We need to import the preset file into Premiere Pro. Once you have downloaded and extracted the preset file, navigate to the effects tab and right-click to import the preset. Locate the fins are preset and import it.

Importing presets for text animations

With the fins are preset imported, we can now start creating our subtitles. Press the "T" key to activate the text tool and hover over your video. Type in a word or phrase and select it. Navigate to the effects control panel and open the dropdown arrow for your text graphic. Choose the Monserrat font and enable center alignment and all caps. Customize the fill color, stroke color, and other settings as desired.

Creating subtitle templates

Once you have the desired subtitle appearance, save it as a preset. This allows you to reuse the same style for future subtitles. Select your text layer in the timeline, go to the text in the effects control panel, and right-click to save the preset. Give it a name and make sure to toggle anchor to endpoint. Click save, and now you have your subtitle template.

Applying text templates

When you want to use the saved subtitle template, press the "T" key to activate the text tool, hover over your video, and click without typing anything. In the effects panel, go to your presets and find your saved subtitle template. Drag it onto your video and the template will be applied instantly.

Applying fins are presets to subtitles

To further enhance your subtitles, you can apply the fins are presets to them. These presets offer various text animations that can make your subtitles more visually appealing. Apply the desired fins are preset to your subtitle text layer and adjust the settings as needed.

Customizing and getting creative with subtitles

Feel free to get creative with your subtitles by changing the font type, colors, and sizes. You can also select specific words or letters within a subtitle and apply different colors or styles to them. Experiment with different settings and see what works best for your video.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined in this article, you should now have a good understanding of how to create subtitles and captions in Adobe Premiere Pro. Remember to import the necessary fonts, apply text animations, and create subtitle templates for future use. With these techniques, you can elevate the quality and accessibility of your videos. Have fun experimenting with different styles and making your subtitles visually engaging for your audience.