Adding Text Overlays and Effects

Introduction

Text overlays add titles, captions, lower thirds, and credits to videos. Effects enhance visual impact. This guide covers adding and styling both.

Adding Text Overlays

Method 1: Text tool

1. Click Text tool in toolbar (T)
2. Click on preview window where you want text
3. Type your text
4. Text appears on timeline as a clip

Method 2: AI request

"Add title text 'Product Launch' at the beginning"

Styling Text

In inspector panel:

• Font family and size
• Color and opacity
• Bold, italic, underline
• Alignment (left, center, right)
• Shadow and outline

Positioning Text

Drag in preview window:

• Click and drag text to reposition
• Snaps to edges and center guides

Or use inspector:

• Enter exact X, Y coordinates
• Set alignment (top, middle, bottom)

Text Duration

Text overlays work like video clips:

• Drag edges to change duration
• Move along timeline to change timing
• Overlap with video below

Common Text Uses

Titles:

• Beginning of video
• Large, centered text
• 3-5 seconds duration

Lower Thirds:

• Name and title graphics
• Bottom third of frame
• Appears/disappears with speaker

Captions:

• Subtitle dialogue
• Centered or bottom-aligned
• Timed to speech

Credits:

• End of video
• Scrolling or static
• List contributors

Adding Effects

Select video clip → Effects panel

Available effects:

• Blur
• Brightness/Contrast
• Saturation
• Speed (slow motion/fast forward)
• Fade in/out

Adjusting Effect Parameters

Each effect has controls:

• Strength/intensity slider
• Enable/disable toggle
• Blend mode options
• Timing (when effect starts/ends)

Next Steps

• Multi-Track Video Editing — Timeline fundamentals
• Audio Editing and Mixing — Audio tracks
• Exporting Your Final Video — Render and export