How do I make on-screen text readable in a short video?

Decide what each text appearance needs to do: identify a speaker, explain a step, emphasize a point, or give a call to action. Give it one main idea, then remove words that the image or narration already makes clear.

Sketch where each card will sit. Leave space around the words, and avoid covering faces, demonstrations, or other details viewers need to see. If you expect different screen shapes or crops, check the video in its planned format. Keep related cards in a consistent area so viewers do not have to search around the frame.

For example, a hypothetical 20-second cooking clip with three steps might use separate cards: “Slice the tomatoes,” “Add a pinch of salt,” and “Toss gently.” This is just an example; the right amount of text depends on the video.

Test the timing rather than relying on a fixed formula. Watch at normal speed and at the intended size. The viewer should have time to take in the words and look back at the image. A familiar label may need less time than a new instruction; split a longer card if that makes it easier to read.

Pay attention to what is happening behind the words. If an important action happens at the same moment, try showing the text just before or after it, or simplify the wording. Review the whole sequence too: several cards that work alone can feel rushed when they follow one another.

Watch once without pausing. If you are trying to read ahead, replaying a card, or missing the action, shorten the text, give it more time, or reduce movement behind it.

Preview the exported video at roughly the size and orientation it is meant for, not only enlarged in your editing window. Check that the letters stand out from the image, the lines have room to breathe, and the text is not pressed against an edge. If the background changes, check each shot; text that reads clearly over one image may blend into another.

Make sure the words do not cover important image details or overlap controls and captions that may appear in the viewing interface. Keep essential text comfortably inside the picture. If an outline, shadow, or background panel helps separate it from the image, use it sparingly and consistently.

Then watch from beginning to end at normal speed. Check spelling, line breaks, timing, and placement as the picture changes. A still frame can help with layout, but it cannot show whether the timing works.

Review the full video, then fix the specific card that needs attention:

1. Purpose: Does each card add one useful idea? Can you remove any words?
2. Placement: Does it avoid faces, demonstrations, and other important details?
3. Reading time: Can you understand it at normal speed without pausing or racing ahead?
4. Small-screen test: Is it legible at the intended viewing size, with clear line breaks and space around it?
5. Changing shots: Does it stay readable as the background and action change?
6. Sequence pass: Are spelling, timing, and placement consistent from start to finish?

If a card fails, try the simplest fix: shorten it, split it, move it, or leave it up longer. Watch the revised sequence once more at normal speed.