Text Overlay

Modified on Mon, 29 Apr at 11:27 PM

Overview

Text Overlay can help you make an impact with dynamic information visualized right from your Custom Edit. With a variety of tools and settings available you can create unique, informative, and exciting clips and playlists.

Getting Started

You must be working with a Custom Edit in order to use the Text Overlay tool. To open the Text Overlay menu, click the Text Overlay icon below the video player window.

Text Overlay Tools

There are a number of tools available in the Text Overlay palette. Starting from left to right:

Text

To insert text onto your video, begin by selecting the Text tool from the Text Overlay tool pallet. Click and drag to create a text box anywhere in the Video Player panel, then select the Outline Properties tool to access the text properties. Enter your desired text in the lower box and select the properties such as size and font, etc. Choose to set this as a theme or reset an existing theme. Use the other tools to the right to adjust color, orientation, and duration. Click and drag the text box to reposition your text to the desired location. Use the handles to resize or rotate.

You can also use the Text Overlay field in the Custom Edits playlist as an alternative method of entering text. If using this method, remember that you must select the text in the video player panel and open the Text Overlay tool to edit features such as color or size, etc.

NOTE: Using this method automatically adds the text to the upper left of the video player as a default. Click the text to drag it to a new location and/or use the Text Overlay tools to change its features

When adjusting the color, ensure you have the correct item selected. Click the appropriate heading to customize the Fill, Outline, or Text.

Shapes

Squares

Add shapes to highlight or call out important sections of a clip. Similarly to adding text, select the Square tool from the Text Overlay palette, make any desired adjustments to the appearance, then click and drag anywhere in the Video Player panel to create the object. Select the Outline Properties tool to adjust the physical appearance of the shape, Color Properties to choose outline and fill colors and transparency levels, and the Timing Properties tools to the right to adjust the duration off appearance.

Circles

Select the Circle tab from the Text Overlay palette. As with the square shapes, click and drag to draw the shape in the Video Player panel. Select the Outline Properties tool to adjust the physical appearance of the shape, Color Properties to choose outline and fill colors and transparency levels, and the Timing Properties tools to the right to adjust the duration off appearance.

Lines

Select the Line tool from the Text Overlay palette and click and drag to draw your line in the Video Player panel. Select the Outline Properties tool and choose the size and appearance, and if the line will begin or end with an arrow point, line, or tally.

Arrows

Select the Arrows tool from the Text Overlay palette and click and drag to draw your arrow in the Video Player panel. Select the Outline Properties tool and choose the size and appearance, and what direction the arrow faces, or if it is a double-ended arrow.

Hand-Drawn Lines

Select the Free Hand tool to do your own telestrations from the Text Overlay palette. Click and drag to draw in the Video Player panel. Select the Outline Properties tool and choose the thickness of the line. Use the Color and Time Properties tools to adjust the appearance and duration.

Pro Tip: It may make more sense to adjust the color of the hand-drawn line before drawing. You can go back and select the item later to change the color as well, but this may be cumbersome if you create multiple or overlapping drawings

Add Image

Insert an image to a clip by selecting the Add Image tool. Browse for the image you wish to add, select the file, and click Open.

Once the image is selected, it will appear in the video player window. You cannot edit the image itself in the Editor; however, you can reshape, reposition, and adjust the transparency with other Text Overlay tools.

Colors Properties

Customizing the color, outline, text, and transparency of overlayed objects is all achieved in the same place. To change the appearance of multiple items, you must select each item individually and adjust the desired properties.

Fill: Use to adjust the color/transparency that will appear inside of a shape or object that you draw.

Outline: Use to adjust the color/transparency of the outline of a shape or object.

Text: Use to adjust the color/transparency of the text added to an object.

Color

Choose unique colors that add interest and express ideas using the Color Selector for each category. To adjust the color of an object, click to select it from its place in the video player window. You will see the grey selection handle appear to indicate it is the active object.

Next, select the Colors Properties tool from the Text Overlay palette. From here, use the options available to set the object color.

Transparency

Transparency is the degree to which you can see through an object. An element with 0 transparency will completely block everything behind it. An element with 100 transparency will be completely see-through. You can adjust the transparency of a selected element by moving the transparency sliders below the related object or typing in the assigned box.

Outline Properties

Use outline properties to adjust the visualization of your object. For a text box, you can adjust the thickness of the outline, font, size, alignment, and the actual text within the box.

Layout Properties

Use the Layout Properties tool to adjust an object's orientation.

Object Level: Use the arrows or type in the box to assign layered levels to multiple objects that are visible at the same time. For example, an Object Level of 0 indicates that the object is layered to the farthest back, while a level of 2 (in this example) indicates an object is in the foreground.

Bring to Front/Send to Back: Using either of these buttons will move a selected element to either the foremost or backmost level regardless of its original position.

Grid

Use the radio buttons to view or hide gridlines and to align objects to a grid for more precise alignment.

Timing Properties

Create dynamic objects to enhance your edit by animating its appearance, when it appears or disappears, the duration of its appearance, and setting an auto-pause to allow you to address your team without video rolling. To adjust the display and time properties, select an element in the video playback window, then select the Time Properties icon from the Text Overlay palette.

Set or adjust the following selections:

100% Visible At: Use to set the exact time you wish to have an object or element fully appear on-screen. This time must be set using the following format: 00:00:00.000. It will not accept a shortened format for the time, so leading or ending zeros may need to be added to this field when entering the time.

Duration: Use to determine how long the element will be visible in the video clip. The longer the duration, the longer the element will be visible in the clip. If the duration is set to be longer than the actual clip, the object will appear throughout the entire clip. Choices range from 1-9, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 seconds.

Hold Entry Point/Hold Exit Point: Use to maintain an object's entry or exit point with regard to its visible duration. Once an entry or exit time is entered, check the Hold Entry Point/Hold Exit Point to select the feature. If both are checked, the object or element will enter and exit at the designated times exactly. If you only select one and then choose an option from Duration, the un-held point will adjust accordingly.

Auto-Pause Video / Dismiss Object after Auto-Pause: Use Auto-Pause Video to automatically pause the video and object's appearance for a predetermined number of seconds. This is helpful if there is a play you want to discuss or an event you want to point out in detail, for example. You can also choose to dismiss the object after auto-pause by selecting the Dismiss Object after Auto-Pause radio button. Doing so will pause the object at the in point, hold the video for the designated time, and then automatically remove the object from the video after the auto-pause is done.

Display Object for Full Clip

Selecting Display Object for Full Clip disables all other options and allows the object to be present for the duration of the clip.

Summary

Presenting dynamic ideas and points of interest and highlighting important plays, players and events are possible using the wide variety of tools and features available with the Text Overlay feature. Use the options available to create unique, informative, and exciting clips and playlists.