Subtitles: Brightest white?

[numberonesuperguy]

I just saw some words on a blu-ray feature of being able to re-position subtitles.

Considering some subtitles we produce are positioned to avoid covering faces and burnt-in credits/titles (not typical movies!), I think moving them is one solution to a problem.
Another solution I think may be to make the subtitles slightly transparent. Somewhere between 'boy-racer' Vista and the more subtle Mac menus.
(I think between 75-85% alpha).

What do you think?
(be warned: I've poisoned the questions to reflect what I think!!!)

[Beta Man]

Position, Size, Font, and color should all be options... as they don't require much work, or disk capacity.

[arush5268d]

I never use subtitles.....but if I did I think it would be a good feature to be able to change where they are displayed. Or even put them in *drum rolls please....* the black boxes!

Poll needs more options, IMO.

[Deciazulado]

Well the BD authoring OP wants to know if having to chose between solid white subtitles that might partially hide what's underneath, or semi transparent ones that let you see part of the image partially through them, which would you prefer, or if you'd want to have both options offered to chose.

[arush5268d]

Well that clears it up a bit.

Given those options then I'd go with being able to choose. More often then not I'd go with semi-transparent titles but some scenes might call for brighter titles.

[aramis109]

How about "none of the above"?

I mean, subtitles that work the best currently on BD are the ones that are white with an outline of black around the edges of the letters. That way, regardless of the background they're on, they're visible. Either the black helps them show up in light areas or it fades into the background on dark areas and the white is visible.

I can tell you now that transparent would be very hard to read.

As far as positioning, that's a tough call. Personally I like them down in the black bars whenever possible. However, for those with CIH projectors, that makes for an unreadable subtitle and can even ruin the movie.

[yspkrk]

I'd prefer solid subtitles better. As for color, I think yellow is better: not too shiny and more harmonious with other colors on screen. Font should be as simple as possible: arial, myriad, etc.

[Russell_L]

Originally Posted by yspkrk

I'd prefer solid subtitles better. As for color, I think yellow is better: not too shiny and more harmonious with other colors on screen. Font should be as simple as possible: arial, myriad, etc.

I prefer yellow as well, and as much out of the picture as possible, e.g., underneath the image (in the 'black bar' area) of a 2.35:1 film. (This doesn't always happen.)

[HUNgaryBLU]

Yes I also prefer Yellow subtitle color

this VISIBLE COLOR MOST preferable for BIG STUDIO in the near future - I hope

[aramis109]

Ugh, I hate yellow subtitles. They're too jarring. As far as being able to change their position/color/opacity, this isn't possible. It's been explained in other posts as to why by Wicky and Deci and some of the others I believe, but bottom line is that it's not something that's going to occur.

[arush5268d]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Ugh, I hate yellow subtitles. They're too jarring. As far as being able to change their position/color/opacity, this isn't possible. It's been explained in other posts as to why by Wicky and Deci and some of the others I believe, but bottom line is that it's not something that's going to occur.

I think that in this case the OP was talking about him authoring some disks himself. Not sure - his post was rather confusing.

[KamiAmaya]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Position, Size, Font, and color should all be options... as they don't require much work, or disk capacity.

Yes! I got a tv that you can change all that stuff on and it's awesome...
Although I've only ever gotten the captions to work once on the darn thing