There are two common ways to use subtitles within Resolve:
- Exporting the subtitles as an SRT file with timecodes and subtitles.
- Importing SRT subtitles and burning the subtitles into the video.
Exporting the subtitles as SRT
File- Export – Subtitle
SRT files can also be used in VLC player, Youtube, Vimeo, and others. But not all support italics tags.
Common errors in SRT files from Resolve
- Resolve automatically break long lines, but the exported SRT lacks line break tags <br> in the exported SRT file. Check the SRT for long lines that miss line breaks, and add them.
- Subtitles are shown too short. Subtitles need to be shown for at least 1 sec and not disappear to fast.
Burning in the subtitles
Sometimes when exporting a DCP or Prores/h264/h265 I burn in the subtitles. When burning in subtitles, you will keep formatting like italics.
Converting SMPTE MXF or XML SMPTE or INTEROP XML subtitles to SRT
I use Subtitle Edit to convert MXF or XML subtitles from a DCP to SRT
Choosing “Burn into video” when exporting
When exporting the video in the delivery pane
I choose “Export Subtitle”
and choose Format: Burn into video
Burning in subtitles imported from SRT
When burning in subtitles imported from SRT files with italics in Resolve I change the subtitle formatting to DCP-style subtitle formatting
Adding the SRT file to the timeline
Drag the SRT file to the Media pool
- Right-click the timeline
- Choose timelines
- Set starting timecode to start at 0
Right-click the SRT file and choose
Insert selected subtitles to the timeline using timecode
or drag the SRT file to the correct time code for the first subtitle
Choosing a new subtitle style
Default Resolve subtitle settings
The default subtitle settings in Resolve are different from those used on DCPs. It uses bold or semi-bold 58 Open sans font, right alignment, and middle anchoring.
DCP subtitle style
- DCPs usually have subtitles with a sans-serif font like Arial.
- The color is usually white.
- The default XML font size is 42 with drop shadow in SMPTE 2014.
- Some DCPs use border/outline.
- DCPs use bottom anchoring and center alignment.
- Some film festivals recommend a font size of 38-42, and the subtitles must be at least 8 percent from the bottom edge.
More info of font size:
The DCP style font size can be 42-50 depending on how you measure it:
A 2048×858 DCP with burned in 42 XML subtitles scaled down to 1920×1080 will have the same size as Arial size 42 in a 1920×1080 Resolve project.
Arial with a font size of 50 in a 1920×1080 project will have the same size as a:
- a DCP with burned in subtitles with XML size 38 in Flat project (1998×1080)
- a DCP with burned in subtitles with XML size 42 in a Scope project (2048×858).
Change to DCP-style formatting
In the timeline in the edit pane – Select all subtitles with the mouse
In Inspector – Track
I choose:
Font: Arial Regular or Arial Nova Regular.
(or Bold to make the text easier to read)
Size: 42-50
Border/outline (Can make text easier to read, can be used with drop shadow or alone)
Stroke: Color Black. Size 1-2. Outside only
Alignment: Center
Anchor: bottom and center
Transform: Y: 80 (1920×1080 8 percent from bottom)
Drop Shadow
Offset X 2.5 Y -2.5
Blur: 4
Opacity: 92