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  1. I followed the guide on how to add subtitles to an existing DVD (use Subtitle Creator v2_3rc1 to turn srt to sup, use PgcDemux and Muxman), but the subtitles are somewhat jagged as played on a standalone or VLC/Media Player Classic ( see screenshot). I would like to have professional smooth looking subtitles. How can I get better looking subtitles? (Edit: click on image to get larger picture that clearly shows jaggedness.)
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    Last edited by jimdagys; 28th Oct 2013 at 05:40.
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  2. You could use an anti-aliasing color. Maybe a different font, but I'm no expert on that being happy with a plain Tahoma font. I do think anti-aliasing is important.
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  3. as manono says - antialiasing is a must (good anitalias) - as a substitute higher resolution/bigger font can improve readability, also font type can reduce perceived jaggies (search for straight/45 deg (on screen) lines font (or specialized TV font).

    Subtitle format itself is a bit limited to 2/4 (higher depths are uncommon and can be not supported) colors thus area for anitalias is limited
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  4. Member
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    Maybe try Envy Code R

    I use it for programming but it is a clean font...mono spaced
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    Hi,

    I have the same problem, and I need your advices to improve the subtitles.
    Here are a few examples of subs created in Arial font with Subtitle Creator. I created 8 files of subs, each one with a different Outline (Contour, in french), saved as SUP files, muxed with Rejig, and then opened with DVdsubEdit.

    First, I used the antialias that was in the CLUT
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    Then I modified the colour of the antialias
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    And I tried another modification for the antialias
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    I don't understand why the subs are not neat, and am really lost about which one to use in my DVDs.

    Could you help, please?
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  6. Soft DVD subs are never smooth. They are low res bitmap images and there's not enough colors available for good antialiasing. If you want good antialiasing you have to hard code the subs.
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    Hi jagabo

    Thank you for your precious information, it will spare me a lot of time doing studies, tries and researches.
    Well, I guess I'll have to drop DVDs and carry on with Blu-Ray Dics, now!
    Have a nice day
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  8. There is few issues:
    First DVD subtitles itself - as there is no open specification for DVD (please correct me if i have incorrect impression) then we can use DVB subtitles specification (more or less both are very similar) - DVB subtitles are described by http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_en/300700_300799/300743/01.03.01_60/en_300743v010301p.pdf good to read to understand limitations of the system.
    Second - font shape and font rasterization quality are essential to have good quality subtitles - i would try to use other font (optimized for low resolution screens, perhaps even bitmap font designed for DVB/DVD subtitling - not sure if such exist but...).
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    Hi pandy,

    your technical level seems far out of my reach. I'll read the pdf, it seems very interesting.

    And, as you wrote, I'll try to use some other fonts, like Verdana.
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  10. Originally Posted by Patapin View Post
    Hi pandy,

    your technical level seems far out of my reach. I'll read the pdf, it seems very interesting.

    And, as you wrote, I'll try to use some other fonts, like Verdana.
    nope - this not about technical but about limitations - especially color coding and why it is so ugly (but who cares if this is cheap for silicon vendor)

    https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/216996-Best-subtitle-font

    btw this is technical even if it looks like purely not technical https://www.microsoft.com/typography/tools/trtalr.aspx

    btw

    https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/216996-Best-subtitle-font
    http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=85429
    http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=91546
    http://hivelogic.com/articles/top-10-programming-fonts
    http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4689/recommended-fonts-for-programming
    http://www.sitepoint.com/top-10-programming-fonts/
    http://www.slant.co/topics/67/~what-are-the-best-programming-fonts
    Last edited by pandy; 8th May 2014 at 05:19.
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    Very precise, thank you. And thanks for all the links, I have some readings to do!

    One thing I am not sure of, is the "cheap for silicon vendor" expression. I am French, and not accustomed to all idiotic phrases. I guess you meant that it doesn't matter if it is ugly, as long as it can be sold, didn't you?
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  12. Originally Posted by Patapin View Post
    Very precise, thank you. And thanks for all the links, I have some readings to do!

    One thing I am not sure of, is the "cheap for silicon vendor" expression. I am French, and not accustomed to all idiotic phrases. I guess you meant that it doesn't matter if it is ugly, as long as it can be sold, didn't you?
    English is also not my native - sorry for problem.

    cheap for silicon vendor means that subtitle format and everything related to way how data are organized, limitations etc etc are clearly due of low implementation cost from hardware perspective - silicon vendor is shortcut to describe company that produce integrated circuits - they need to implement displaying of the subtitles on integrated circuit - with this kind specification this is very low cost for them - not require anything special as data are almost directly used to create video signal however this reduce for example customer experience - lack of antialiasing, low resolution, impossible to select optimal color etc - everything was designed to be cheap in production not to provide cost/quality balance so in other words - customer experience was less important.
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    Yes, of course, I understand now, thanks. Your long explanation gave me all the informations I needed.
    It is nice from you.

    I have made a few tests with a Verdana font, it seems much better than Arial:

    First, just after opening DVDSubEdit:
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  14. With DVD the 4 color subs are overlaid onto the video at DVD resolution then the frame is upscaled by the player or TV to the final display resolution -- say 1920x1080. But with SRT subs the image can be upscaled first, then the subs rendered in full color at the the upscaled resolution. So SRT subs can look much smoother than DVD subs:

    DVD sub upscaled to ~1080p:
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    SRT sub upscaled to ~1080p:
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    Incredible! Very neat, your srt subs, I dream of them!
    I now understand why BD display better subs on TV screen.

    Well, I think I'll drop DVDs and begin to transfer my movies to BD now!
    I have begun to read about MultiAVCHD, in order to put three movies on a BD. See you soon on a new topic!
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