Adding titles at the beginning and end of your movies gives them a touch of professionalism. Also, if actors have participated in it, this is a good way to reward them for helping you with your home movie.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use the Windows Movie Maker Title Overlay Feature
Step 1. Import the video
Open Windows Movie Maker and click "Videos" from the "Import" menu located in the left column. If the video file is stored on a digital video camera, click "From digital video camera." The "Import Media" dialog opens.
Find the video file that is saved on your computer's hard drive or on your digital video camera and double-click on the file to import it into Movie Maker. Your video will now be visible in the "Collections" folder, located just above the timeline that appears between the "Tasks" menu and the preview monitor. This means that the video file has been imported successfully
Step 2. Change the view from "Storyboard" to "Timeline"
To be able to adjust the position or synchronize the subtitles in a Movie Maker project, the view in the application window must be set to "Timeline" view. Click the "View" tab in the menu bar and make sure the "Timeline" option is selected. In this way you will have set the application's view settings as a "Timeline" view.
Step 3. Insert the video file into the "Timeline" to edit videos
Note that there will now be 3 video editing timelines arranged horizontally at the bottom of the application window, one stacked on top of the other. The top video editing timeline is labeled "Video," the next one down is labeled "Audio," and the one at the bottom is labeled "Overlay Title." Click on the video file in the "Collections" folder and drag it over to the video editing timeline that says "Videos." Now the video will appear within the "Videos" timeline.
Step 4. Insert the title overlay to be used with the first group of subtitles
Once you've inserted the overlay title, you can reposition it anywhere on the timeline. Click on the "Titles and credits" option from the "Edit" menu in the left column. They will ask you where you want to insert the title. Select "Title on selected clip" from the list of available options. When asked to enter the title text, write the first set of subtitles you want to add to the video in the empty field.
- Once the text has been entered, select the "Change title animation" option. The "Title Animation" menu will appear. Scroll down the list of available animations and click "Subtitles." Under "More options," click the option to change the text and font color. Now the font format menu will appear. From the font format menu, select a simple, easy-to-read font like "Arial" or "Times New Roman." The selected font will now be visible in the preview monitor that appears on the right side of the application window.
- Adjust the font size if necessary, using the up and down arrows located below the "Font" menu. You can also adjust the font color in this menu, as well as the level of transparency and justification. Try different settings to see which one best suits your particular needs or preferences. Click the "Add Title" button when you are ready to continue. Caption overlay will now appear on the editing timeline that says "Caption Overlay" located at the bottom of the application window. You have just inserted the title overlay for the first group of subtitles.
Step 5. Snap the first subtitle into position
Find the point in the video clip where you want the captions to start. Click and drag the overlay title to any position on the video editing timeline. Preview the first set of subtitles by clicking the "Play Timeline" arrow, located above the editing timeline that says "Video" on the far left of the application window. Drag the "Title Overlay" left or right to adjust the position of the first group of subtitles. Now the first group of subtitles will be positioned.
Step 6. Set the duration of the subtitle
You can adjust the length of time the subtitle will appear on the screen by dragging the "Overlay Title" border to the left to make it shorter or to the right to make it longer. Adjust the duration of the overlay title to match your video clip. Now the duration of the subtitle will be correctly adjusted.
Step 7. Create the second group of subtitles
Right click on the first group of subtitles and select "Copy" from the drop-down menu. Click inside the empty space on the timeline called "Overlay Title" just to the right of the first set of subtitles and click "Paste." A copy of the first group of subtitles will now appear on the timeline called "Overlay Title". Double click on the copy. The "Overlay Title" edit menu will open in the application window.
Remove the text from the "Overlapping Title" text field, enter the text for the second group of subtitles, and click the "Add Title" button to insert the next group of subtitles. This will have created the second set of subtitles and added to the "Overlapping Title" timeline. Adjust the position of the second group of subtitles as necessary. Now you will have created the second group of subtitles
Step 8. Finish adding the subtitles
Continue the process as needed until all the subtitles you want to add to the video are formatted accordingly and have been inserted and moved to the correct position. Save the file to your computer as a Movie Maker project or export the file as "Windows Media Video", which is a format that you can upload to the Internet. Now you will have added all the subtitles to your Movie Maker video.
Method 2 of 3: Use iMovie
Step 1. Open iMovie
Step 2. Click on "Window"> "Titles"
Step 3. Select the option "Scrollable credits"
Drag it towards the end of your movie.
Step 4. Edit the name you have already given it, changing it to one that suits the needs of your movie
Step 5. Click "Done" to finalize the credits
Method 3 of 3: Use VideoTagger
Step 1. Download VideoTagger from ElectricHappiness.com
Step 2. Open VideoTagger and create a new file
Step 3. Add a section for each type of person involved in your movie
For example, add a "Cast" section, a "Director" section, a "Doubles" section, and so on.
- For each section, choose whether you want your credits to scroll or appear as a slide.
- For each section, choose a font that represents your movie to use for each part of the credits.
Step 4. Click "Create Movie" to create credits for your movie
Advice
- It is also a good idea to add music. However, if you plan to publicly distribute your work, check the copyright status to avoid complaints.
- Get inspired by movie credits that already exist. Write the things you notice in the standard credits, such as director, lighting, etc. Also write down humor, accolades, and quirky things you'd like to report on in your work (don't directly copy them, use those ideas just for inspiration).
- When you're done, click "Preview" to see your work.