How to Add Captions in a Video Using Alight Motion?

To add captions in a video using Alight Motion, follow these steps.

1. Open Alight Motion

First, launch the Alight Motion app on your device. If you haven’t installed it yet, you can download it from the App Store or Google Play. Once it’s open, you will see the main interface of the app. At the bottom of the screen, you will find the “+” icon. Tap this icon to begin creating a new project.

2. Create a New Project

After tapping the “+” icon, you will be prompted to set up your project. You can choose from a variety of aspect ratios depending on how you want the final video to appear. For example, you may select a 16:9 ratio for YouTube or a 9:16 ratio for TikTok or Instagram Stories. Once you’ve selected your preferred aspect ratio, tap “Create Project” to move to the editing screen.

3. Import Your Video

With your new project set up, it’s time to import the video that you want to add captions to. Tap the “Media” button located at the bottom of the screen (it looks like a square with a picture icon). This will open your device’s media gallery. Browse through your gallery to select the video clip you want to work with. Once selected, the video will appear in the timeline, where you can start editing.

4. Add Text

To add captions to your video, you need to create a text layer. Tap the “Layer” button at the bottom of the screen, which will give you several options for types of layers. Choose “Text” from the options. A text box will appear on the screen, and you can tap on it to edit the text. Type the caption or dialogue that you want to appear in the video.

For example, if you’re adding subtitles, you would enter the spoken words that appear in that section of the video.

5. Customize the Text

Once the text is added, you’ll want to make it visually appealing and easy to read. Alight Motion provides a variety of tools to adjust the text’s appearance. After selecting the text box, you can change the font style by tapping on the font icon at the bottom of the screen. You can also adjust the text size, change the color, and modify other properties like spacing, opacity, and alignment. This allows you to customize the look of your captions to suit the style of your video. You can also move the text around by simply dragging it to the desired location on the screen.

6. Set the Duration

Captions should appear for the right amount of time to sync with the video. To adjust the duration of the text, tap on the text layer in the timeline. You will see the text layer represented as a colored bar on the timeline. Drag the edges of the bar to set how long the caption will stay on screen. Align the text with the part of the video where you want it to appear, ensuring it stays on screen long enough for viewers to read it.

7. Animate the Text (Optional)

If you want your captions to appear or disappear with animation, you can add keyframes to the text layer. Tap on the text layer, then select the “Motion” button at the bottom. This will open up options for animating the text. You can use keyframes to make the text fade in or out, slide in from the side, or apply other animation effects. This adds a more dynamic and engaging element to your captions, especially if you’re working on a fast-paced video.

8. Preview

After making your changes, it’s important to preview your video to make sure everything looks good. Tap the play button at the top of the screen to watch a preview of your video with the added captions. This will allow you to check if the captions are correctly synchronized with the video, appear in the right spots, and are easy to read. You can go back and make adjustments if necessary, such as repositioning the text or modifying the timing.

9. Export the Video

Once you’re satisfied with your video and the captions, it’s time to export it. Tap the export icon in the top-right corner of the screen. Alight Motion will prompt you to choose the resolution and quality settings for the final video. You can select the highest resolution for the best quality or adjust it based on your needs. Once you’ve made your selections, tap “Export” and wait for the app to render your video. After the rendering is complete, your video will be saved to your device’s gallery or storage, and you can share it with others.

By following these detailed steps, you can easily add captions to your video in Alight Motion, creating a more accessible and engaging viewing experience.