Subtitles Positioning

[Shoyriazu]

Okay, I have a .srt subtitle file.

The position of the subtitles are not exactly right.

For example, the word "salt" should be place directly under the salt packet, but instead placed in the middle bottom center as if it were a regular sub. Is there a way to position them so that they will correspond how they originally were?

Example:

If the word "flying" is supposed to be in the top left corner, but instead is shown in the bottom center (does directvobsub always do that?), how do I make it so it stays in the top left corner?

I tried added the subtitle positions to the .srt file, didn't help it out.

[skeg64]

What are you using to author?

[mats.hogberg]

Only way to achieve that would be if you had VobSub (sub/idx) subtitles.
srt subs is just text with timing info. No positioning at all.

/Mats

[skeg64]

yes but in certain authoring programs, like DVDMaestro, you can adjust the position of individual subs.
Ideally you need the subs in bitmap format though, then you can edit the individual bitmaps in an editor like photoshop or mspaint.

[Shoyriazu]

Is there any program that can make those words attached to their spot? Like saving the text as an image file and then being able to place it onto the video?

[manono]

Hi-

Yes there is. One way is to first convert the SRT subs into SSA format subs. Resynch, which comes with the VobSub package, can do this more or less instantly. There are other ways also. Then open the SSA subs in SubStation Alpha. There you can do the repositioning (for words, lines, or the whole subs), as well as assign fonts, sizes (maybe you want the movie title, or "THE END" in a larger size), colors and many other things. If this is just for AVI playback or for burning into the video, then you're done.

If you want selectable subs on a DVD, then once you have them the way you like in SSA format, if you want them to look their best in the DVD, open them in MaestroSBT to convert the subs from text to images. One important thing in MaestroSBT is that it often creates a black line below the subs. To avoid that, in the Rendering Tab, check "Don't Clip Bitmaps". Then use Son2VobSub to create subs in IDX/SUB format. Then use Sub2Sup. My authoring apps (MuxMan, IFOEdit) use the SUP subtitles. You may be able to cut out a step or 2 if your app accepts the subtitles in other formats.

[Shoyriazu]

Ok, its kinda not working heres what I kinda mean

To encode HARDSUBS, (as in make it part of the video file, and accurately position it within the video file) How would I do that? Is there a program that allows an image to be placed onto it and then moved to a certain spot?

I am trying to encode hardsubs on an AVI file. I require certain text to be placed accurately into a spot (such as off middle, or right on piece of paper where the japanese text is covered by the english one)

Can anyone help? If you need more specifics, feel free to ask me

[manono]

I took the time to explain how to do it, and you ask the same thing again? There's a bit of a learning curve associated with SubStastion Alpha, but it can be done. Once you have the subs the way you like, then they can be burned into the AVI by reencoding the AVI, this time with your newly created SSA subs (which will keep the positions you set up in SubStation Alpha) added to the AVI with the TextSub filter in an AviSynth script, or using the similar filter in VDub(Mod). Before encoding, test them out by playing them with your AVI. If it's not right, go back and edit the line(s) again in SubStation Alpha. I know of no encoding program that will allow you to adjust the subs on-the-fly, so to speak.

Now, you may not be able to put them into the exact spot you want, but you can place any line in the top, middle, or bottom, and also in the left, center, or right side of the image. I've done what you want dozens of times. First define your Style for the subs as a whole (up at the very top). Then for any subs or group of subs that you want to handle differently (like raise it to a different position), highlight that line and click on "Style Override" in the top center to change whatever you want. If you just have a few subs to position differently, then you can define a separate style for each one, and position them to the exact pixel. You'll have no idea how powerful this program is unless and until you play around with it for awhile.