With the aid of AI and user-friendly software like iMovie, adding captions and subtitles has never been easier. iMovie is a powerful tool that allows you to create and edit videos on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. You can also add captions and subtitles to your videos using iMovie’s built-in features. Captions and subtitles can help you convey your message more clearly, reach a wider audience, and improve the SEO of your videos.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the process of adding captions and subtitles in iMovie, whether you're using a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. By the end of this post, you'll have the tools and answer to the question “how to add text over video in iMovie” and ample knowledge to make your videos more accessible and engaging for a wider audience.
In this article
Part 1: How to Add Captions and Subtitles in iMovie on Mac?
The below steps can help you seamlessly add text to video iMovie on your Mac, enhancing the accessibility and comprehensibility of your video content.
Step 1: Open Your Project in iMovie
Start by launching iMovie and opening the project in which you want to add captions or subtitles. Navigate to the timeline and identify the specific clip to which you want to add the text.
Step 2: Access the Titles Button
Look for the "Titles" button in the toolbar located above the viewer. Clicking on this button will open a list of title styles that you can choose from. These title styles serve as the foundation for your captions or subtitles.
Step 3: Choose a Title Style
From the list of available title styles, select the one that best suits your needs. iMovie provides various styles, so pick the one that matches the look and feel you want for your captions or subtitles.
Step 4: Drag and Drop the Title Style
After choosing a title style, simply click and drag it onto the clip in the timeline where you want to add captions or subtitles. When you release the mouse button, the selected title style will appear as a text box over the clip in the viewer.
Step 5: Edit the Text
Double-click on the text box that has appeared over your clip in the viewer. This action opens a text editor, allowing you to type or paste your caption or subtitle into the text box. Feel free to edit the text to ensure it conveys your intended message accurately.
Step 6: Adjust Text Properties
iMovie offers options to customize the appearance and timing of your text. You can modify the font, size, color, alignment, and duration of the text using the available options within the viewer. This step allows you to fine-tune the text to match your video's style and timing.
Step 7: Repeat for Multiple Clips
If your project includes multiple clips that require captions or subtitles, repeat these steps for each one. This ensures that every clip with spoken dialogue or important information is properly captioned or subtitled.
Step 8: Export Your Video with Captions or Subtitles
Once you've added captions or subtitles to all the necessary clips and you're satisfied with the results, it's time to export your video. To do this, click on the "File" menu at the top left of the screen, then select "Share," and finally choose "File" from the options. In the export settings, make sure to check the box next to "Include captions when available." This ensures that the captions or subtitles you added will be included in the final exported video.
Part 2: How to Add Captions and Subtitles in iMovie on iPhone and iPad
If you want to add titles to iMovie, you should keep in mind that the process of adding captions and subtitles in iMovie on iPhone and iPad is almost the same, except for some minor differences in the user interface and the resolution options. For example, on iPhone, you need to tap the gear icon at the bottom right of the screen to access the title options, while on iPad, you need to tap the title button at the top right of the screen. Also, on iPhone, you can only export your video with captions in 720p or 1080p resolution, while on iPad, you can also choose 4K resolution. So, those steps are pretty straight-forward and self-explanatory that you will explore during the process. Below, we’ve discussed the basic steps to add subtitles on iPhone and iPad.
Step 1: Open Your Project in iMovie
Start by launching the iMovie app on your iPhone or iPad. Open the project where you want to add captions or subtitles. In the project timeline, locate the specific video clip to which you want to add text.
Step 2: Access the Text Option
To add captions or subtitles, you need to tap on the clip that you want to modify. This action will open the clip in the editing view. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a row of icons, one of which is the "T" icon. Tap on the "T" icon to access the text options.
Step 3: Choose a Title Style
After tapping the "T" icon, a list of title styles will appear on the screen. These styles serve as the foundation for your captions or subtitles. You can select the style that best fits your video's aesthetics by tapping on it.
Step 4: Add Text to the Clip
Once you've chosen a title style, a text box will appear over the clip in the viewer. Tap on this text box to activate the text editor. Here, you can type or paste your caption or subtitle.
Step 5: Customize Text Properties
To make your text align with your video's style and timing, you can customize various text properties. At the bottom of the screen, you'll find options to adjust the font, size, color, alignment, and duration of the text. Use these settings to fine-tune the appearance and timing of your captions or subtitles.
Step 6: Repeat for Multiple Clips
If your project includes multiple video clips that require captions or subtitles, you can repeat the above steps for each clip individually. Ensure that all relevant clips are properly captioned or subtitled to maintain consistency throughout your project.
Step 7: Export Your Video with Captions or Subtitles
Once you've added captions or subtitles to all the necessary clips and you're satisfied with the results, it's time to export your video. Tap the "Done" button in the top-left corner of the screen to return to the main project view. Then, tap "Share" and select "Save Video" from the sharing options. In the export settings, be sure to choose a resolution that supports captions or subtitles.
Part 3: Bonus Tip: A Useful Tool You May Need
If you are thinking “how to add titles in iMovie” and are also looking for a faster and easier way to add captions and subtitles to your videos, we highly recommend you to try KwiCut - an online transcription tool that can help you generate captions and subtitles automatically using artificial intelligence.
KwiCut is a smart tool that can analyze your video or audio files and convert them into editable and searchable text. You can also use KwiCut’s auto subtitle function to create subtitles for your videos in different languages. KwiCut supports up to 90 languages and ensures an impressive transcription accuracy of 90% to 99%.
With KwiCut, you can also edit your transcripts and subtitles using its interactive text editor. You can copy, paste, delete, split, merge, or modify your text as needed. You can also use KwiCut’s AI helper to extract important highlights from your transcripts for short video creation.
When you are satisfied with your transcripts and subtitles, you can export them in popular formats like TXT or SRT. You can also generate AI voice cloning from your text if you want to add narration or dubbing to your videos.
KwiCut is a powerful tool that can help you create captivating videos with captions and subtitles in no time. It is also free to use for up to 10 minutes of transcription per month. If you want more features and benefits, you can upgrade to a premium plan starting from $9 per month.
Key Features and Functions of KwiCut
- Auto subtitle feature allows you to create subtitles for your videos in different languages. You can upload your video or audio file to KwiCut and select the language that you want to transcribe. KwiCut will analyze your file and generate subtitles for you in minutes. You can also choose the output format of your subtitles, such as SRT or TXT.
- Interactive text editor allows you to edit your transcripts and subtitles using a user-friendly interface. You can copy, paste, delete, split, merge, or modify your text as needed. You can also adjust the timing and position of your subtitles on the video. You can preview your changes in real time and save them when you are done.
- AI helper ensures extracting important highlights from your transcripts for short video creation. You can use KwiCut’s AI helper to summarize your transcripts and generate key points for your videos. You can also customize the length and tone of your summaries according to your preferences.
- AI voice cloning helps you to generate AI voice cloning from your text if you want to add narration or dubbing to your videos. You can use KwiCut’s AI voice cloning to create realistic and natural-sounding voices from your text. You can also choose from different voice styles and languages for your voice cloning.
Conclusion
In today's media-driven world, adding text to video iMovie is no longer an option; it's a necessity. Whether you're using iMovie on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you now have the knowledge to make your videos more accessible and engaging. And with the bonus tip of KwiCut, you have an efficient tool at your disposal to streamline the captioning process.
So go ahead, make your videos inclusive, informative, and captivating for audiences around the world.