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CJYYZ
Participant
January 29, 2023
Answered

Can't add background color to subtitles or captions

  • January 29, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 7848 views

I've watched several tutorial videos on how to add a background color to closed captions or subtitles. basically you select the subtitle/caption and the essential graphics panel populates with styling options. The problem is, my essential graphics panel is blank when I select captions or subtitles (see attached photo comparing tutorial on top, my Premiere Pro on bottom). No options for font choice, color, background color... Nada. I need to add a background color to closed captions. Any suggestions? I'm using Premiere Pro 2022 on a MacBook Pro on Catalina.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer jstrawn

    In the lower half of that image, I can see that you have several caption segments and a video track item selected at the same time. The Essential Graphics Panel cannot be used to change anything about regular video clips, so it's just showing the blank panel there. See see all EGP controls for captions, select one or more caption segments... and nothing else.

    3 replies

    jstrawn
    Community Manager
    jstrawnCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
    Community Manager
    January 30, 2023

    In the lower half of that image, I can see that you have several caption segments and a video track item selected at the same time. The Essential Graphics Panel cannot be used to change anything about regular video clips, so it's just showing the blank panel there. See see all EGP controls for captions, select one or more caption segments... and nothing else.

      Stan Jones
      Community Expert
      Stan JonesCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 31, 2023

      Ha! @jstrawn, I can't believe I missed that. I was focused on knowing that it was okay that multiple caption segments were selected, I forgot about the effect of adding a video clip.

       

      Thanks!

       

      Stan

       

        jstrawn
        Community Manager
        jstrawnCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        January 31, 2023

        Aha! Thanks @jstrawn! I was selecting a single caption segment and hitting Cmd+A to select all the caption segments on the track, forgetting that it selects everything. Is there a way to select everything on a captions track other than clicking and dragging?


        @CJYYZ Use the Track Select Forward Tool (A) which is right under the arrow tool in the toolbar. Better yet, create a Track Style using the Essential Graphics Panel and you can ripple any appearance changes to the whole Caption track with one push of a button.

        P
        Paul28125186k85q
        Participating Frequently
        January 30, 2023

        The reason is simple. You've imported as a 708 caption track (I believe from the name of the track in the screenshot). They are embedded in the video and the decoder on an STB, TV or similar will decide the look of the text at the endpoint. The look is described in the 708 guidelines.

        You can right click on the caption track and select "Track settings..." and change to something else, I've never had the chance to play with 708, but I've tested that with dfxp, srt, EBU-STL to set them to 708 or 608, because there are some frustrating things happening to the dfxp import, which is another story.

         

        P
        Paul28125186k85q
        Participating Frequently
        January 30, 2023

        In this video Adobe Care mention the fact that you're limited depending on the track type.

        Stan Jones
        Community Expert
        Stan JonesCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 29, 2023

        CJYYZ,

         

        Yes, that is strange. I would try selecting just one caption to see if the EGP Edit populates. but it should work with all of them selected.

         

        Restart PR. Assuming you have already done that, go to Workspace and "Reset to saved layout."

         

        Close that project, create a new test project, add a few captions, and test.

         

        If none of that helps, reset preferences.

         

        Stan

         

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