Blu-ray Subtitles, why are they harder to read than DVD? - Blu-ray Forum

manicsounds · 01-05-2010, 06:52 AM

On many Bluray discs I have, when I turn on the subtitles, they are much harder to read than the DVD counterparts.

I've seen Sony, Warner, Criterion, Eureka, and they all use a thin white font with almost no border, making it very hard to read against white backgrounds.

Those companies had excellent subtitles on their DVDs (Sony used yellow which was annoying, but font-wise was easy ro read)

Does anyone else think this too?

VHS4Ever · 01-05-2010, 07:03 AM

It is the complete opposite for me. With blu-ray I can see and read it super clearly.

BluBonnet · 01-05-2010, 07:14 AM

To me, the blu-ray ones seem clearer as well. The high-definition actually helps make them more readable, somehow.

MOONPHASE · 01-05-2010, 07:15 AM

I see many different kinds of colors on subtitles like white, green, and yellow. I can always see them when they come on I just can't always keep up with them depending on how much the person is saying.

drtre81 · 01-05-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VHS4Ever

It is the complete opposite for me. With blu-ray I can see and read it super clearly.

This.

styl3s · 01-05-2010, 07:43 AM

I have had 0 problems, it has to be your TV/Disc or Player or something.. maybe its some settings on your TV? i know on my TV if my sharpness is turned all the way up subtitles are literally impossible to read.

try calibrating your tv?

BDestroyer8418 · 01-05-2010, 08:01 AM

I was just watching a movie the other day and the subtitles came on I was just thinking to myself that they are 100% better on BD.

Might be something on you end like someone else mentioned TV or Blu Ray player

syncguy · 01-05-2010, 08:20 AM

blu-ray subs are clearer IMO. Disney gives nice subtitles, well integrated with the picture and easy to read.

Fat and ugly black-bar subs of some DVDs give me headaches.

bttfiii · 01-05-2010, 09:50 AM

yeah BD subs are super sharp and clear with no jagged edges. i hate the DVD ones

manicsounds · 01-05-2010, 11:16 AM

Wow, unusual replies, not what I expected....
Is it just me out there that thinks this? Or as some said, my TV settings....

As I guess I should mention, I still use an SD-TV. The picture quality of the films themselves look good with no problems, but it's the subs.

Think that an SD-TV vs an HD-TV would make such a difference in how subtitles look? huh....

I guess I'll try the discs on an HD display in a store and see if they have the same look. If so, to the optometrist it is!

Reinhardt · 01-05-2010, 11:38 AM

it's funny you say this because just the other day I was thinking I need to get more foreign films so I can enjoy the super clarity of bluray subtitles...

Deciazulado · 01-05-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manicsounds

As I guess I should mention, I still use an SD-TV. The picture quality of the films themselves look good with no problems, but it's the subs.

There's your answer. The subs on a Blu-ray are made to be read clearly on a high definition display, not a low resolution TV. An exaggerated example would be: Like trying to read a book page on a 4" x 6" photograph

Grubert · 01-05-2010, 12:05 PM

You live in Tokyo and you don't have an HDTV? Blasphemy!

On topic: I absolutely adore the extra resolution on Blu-ray subtitles. They make DVD subs look like text on a ZX Spectrum.

cnowels · 01-05-2010, 12:15 PM

I certainly agree with the majority here. I have a hearing disability so I almost always watch my BD's with the subtitles on, whether they are foreign or not. Every now and then you'll get a scene with hard-to-read white subtitles on a white background, but all in all, they are SO much clearer on BD.

KingLeonidas300 · 01-05-2010, 12:25 PM

No problems here. I think they are 100% better on blu when compared to DVD.

P@t_Mtl · 01-05-2010, 12:26 PM

I adore the subs on BD, so much clearer then my DVD, its a joy.

luwanda · 01-05-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VHS4Ever

It is the complete opposite for me. With blu-ray I can see and read it super clearly.

+1, Actually, i love blu's subtitles! (altho i'd love even more if i could just understand english without them!

)

boxterduke · 01-05-2010, 01:18 PM

I still watch DVDs and after getting used to how sharp the bluray subs are, the big, jagged DVD subs are annoying to me now.

jordy475 · 01-05-2010, 02:56 PM

Yeah probably the fact that your watching on SDTV... This sort of thing happened with a few poeple I know that were playing "Dead Rising" (xbox360) on an SD TV. They has so much trouble reading stuff in the game that they had to quit playing it.

Ureh · 01-05-2010, 04:38 PM

So far I don't have any trouble reading subtitles. Even in bright snowy scenes. Are there any specific movies that have the problem you're talking about?

01-05-2010, 06:52 AM	#1
manicsounds Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Oct 2009 Location:Tokyo 4K collection:227 Blu-ray collection:4991 Blu-ray reviews: 99	Blu-ray Subtitles, why are they harder to read than DVD? On many Bluray discs I have, when I turn on the subtitles, they are much harder to read than the DVD counterparts. I've seen Sony, Warner, Criterion, Eureka, and they all use a thin white font with almost no border, making it very hard to read against white backgrounds. Those companies had excellent subtitles on their DVDs (Sony used yellow which was annoying, but font-wise was easy ro read) Does anyone else think this too?

01-05-2010, 08:20 AM	#8
syncguy Blu-ray Guru Member since:Mar 2008	blu-ray subs are clearer IMO. Disney gives nice subtitles, well integrated with the picture and easy to read. Fat and ugly black-bar subs of some DVDs give me headaches. Last edited by syncguy; 01-05-2010 at 08:32 AM.

01-05-2010, 12:05 PM	#13
Grubert Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jan 2006 Blu-ray collection:573 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:2	You live in Tokyo and you don't have an HDTV? Blasphemy! On topic: I absolutely adore the extra resolution on Blu-ray subtitles. They make DVD subs look like text on a ZX Spectrum. Last edited by Grubert; 01-05-2010 at 12:08 PM.

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01-05-2010, 07:03 AM	#2
VHS4Ever Senior Member Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray collection:224 Blu-ray reviews:61 Trading Score:16	It is the complete opposite for me. With blu-ray I can see and read it super clearly.

01-05-2010, 07:14 AM	#3
BluBonnet Blu-ray King Top contributor Member since:Oct 2009 Trading Score:1	To me, the blu-ray ones seem clearer as well. The high-definition actually helps make them more readable, somehow.

01-05-2010, 07:15 AM	#4
MOONPHASE Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:Jun 2007 Location:California 4K collection:8 Blu-ray collection:520 DVD collection:820 Blu-ray reviews:18 Trading Score:29	I see many different kinds of colors on subtitles like white, green, and yellow. I can always see them when they come on I just can't always keep up with them depending on how much the person is saying.

01-05-2010, 07:43 AM	#6
styl3s Senior Member Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Knoxville, TN Blu-ray collection:62 DVD collection:17 Digital collection:169 Trading Score:7	I have had 0 problems, it has to be your TV/Disc or Player or something.. maybe its some settings on your TV? i know on my TV if my sharpness is turned all the way up subtitles are literally impossible to read. try calibrating your tv?

01-05-2010, 08:01 AM	#7
BDestroyer8418 Power Member Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Chicago,IL 4K collection:728 Blu-ray collection:3254 DVD collection:3 Digital collection:427 iTunes collection:13 Trading Score:231	I was just watching a movie the other day and the subtitles came on I was just thinking to myself that they are 100% better on BD. Might be something on you end like someone else mentioned TV or Blu Ray player

01-05-2010, 09:50 AM	#9
bttfiii Senior Member Member since:Dec 2009 Blu-ray reviews:10	yeah BD subs are super sharp and clear with no jagged edges. i hate the DVD ones

01-05-2010, 11:16 AM	#10
manicsounds Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Oct 2009 Location:Tokyo 4K collection:227 Blu-ray collection:4991 Blu-ray reviews: 99	Wow, unusual replies, not what I expected.... Is it just me out there that thinks this? Or as some said, my TV settings.... As I guess I should mention, I still use an SD-TV. The picture quality of the films themselves look good with no problems, but it's the subs. Think that an SD-TV vs an HD-TV would make such a difference in how subtitles look? huh.... I guess I'll try the discs on an HD display in a store and see if they have the same look. If so, to the optometrist it is!

01-05-2010, 11:38 AM	#11
Reinhardt Member Member since:Dec 2009 Blu-ray collection:150 Blu-ray reviews:1	it's funny you say this because just the other day I was thinking I need to get more foreign films so I can enjoy the super clarity of bluray subtitles...

01-05-2010, 12:15 PM	#14
cnowels Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Chesapeake, VA Blu-ray collection:154	I certainly agree with the majority here. I have a hearing disability so I almost always watch my BD's with the subtitles on, whether they are foreign or not. Every now and then you'll get a scene with hard-to-read white subtitles on a white background, but all in all, they are SO much clearer on BD.

01-05-2010, 12:25 PM	#15
KingLeonidas300 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Arizona Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray collection:654 Blu-ray reviews: 64 Trading Score:40	No problems here. I think they are 100% better on blu when compared to DVD.

01-05-2010, 12:26 PM	#16
P@t_Mtl Blu-ray Duke Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Montreal Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:452 DVD collection:513 Trading Score:3	I adore the subs on BD, so much clearer then my DVD, its a joy.

01-05-2010, 01:18 PM	#18
boxterduke Power Member Member since:May 2009 Location:The Fissure of Woe Blu-ray collection:193 DVD collection:70 Trading Score:8	I still watch DVDs and after getting used to how sharp the bluray subs are, the big, jagged DVD subs are annoying to me now.

01-05-2010, 02:56 PM	#19
jordy475 Senior Member Member since:Aug 2009 Location:Tennessee Blu-ray collection:282 DVD collection:1 Trading Score:30	Yeah probably the fact that your watching on SDTV... This sort of thing happened with a few poeple I know that were playing "Dead Rising" (xbox360) on an SD TV. They has so much trouble reading stuff in the game that they had to quit playing it.

01-05-2010, 04:38 PM	#20
Ureh Senior Member Member since:Dec 2009 Blu-ray collection:42 Trading Score:4	So far I don't have any trouble reading subtitles. Even in bright snowy scenes. Are there any specific movies that have the problem you're talking about?

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