How to Add Text in Kdenlive - A Complete Beginner's Guide

What is Kdenlive: A general overview

Kdenlive is a free nonlinear video editor based on the MLT framework and it lets you create professional-quality videos on Linux, Windows, and macOS. It lets you cut, trim, and add to video clips without spending a dime. Kdenlive is built on the MLT framework and supports many media formats using FFmpeg. There are dozens of built-in effects, text, transitions and audio tools to help you create your projects. Kdenlive is a powerful open-source editor that will get you going right away.

Key features of Kdenlive

• Built-in 2D title editor

Kdenlive allows you to create titles, captions, or scrolling credits within the application itself. Use system fonts, adjust spacing and customize the look. For a simple animation, add a typewriter or scrolling effects. This is perfect for adding professional text to your videos.

• Support for any format

Almost any audio or video file can be imported into Kdenlive directly. Since FFmpeg is integrated, there is no need to reencode. Kdenlive can edit if FFmpeg can read it. This saves you time and you can skip unnecessary conversions.

• Professional 3-point editing

Use 3-point editing for fast, precise cuts. You just set in and out points in a clip and choose where it sits on the timeline. It will look at the way you selected your editing mode—insert or overwrite. This is efficient and good for structured workflows.

• Fully customizable interface

You can switch the workspace according to your editing phase. You can choose widgets, change layouts, and save different setups for editing, either color grading or audio work. The keyboard shortcuts can even be personalized for a seamless and efficient workflow.

• Vector animation with Glaxnimate

Using Glaxnimate integration, you can animate SVG graphics for maps, icons or infographics. This tool allows you to add dynamic visuals to your Kdenlive without having to leave it. It lets you stay within one software environment while getting creative freedom.

• Wide range of effects and filters

You have dozens of video and audio effects to choose from to refine your edits. You can apply color correction, blur, sharpen, or any other creative filter. You also have access to powerful transformation tools.

How to add text to video in Kdenlive: Step by step

STEP 1
1. Open Kdenlive and add text

Start by launching Kdenlive on your system. Once open, go to the "Project" tab in the top menu. From there, click "Add Title Clip." This opens the text editor, where you can start designing your video text.

STEP 2
1. Type and edit text

Click anywhere inside the video preview window to begin typing your custom message. You can personalize your text using the built-in editor. Choose the font, adjust the size and style, and apply spacing that fits your design. Change the color to match your video's theme. After you finish editing, click "Create Title" to save the title clip.

STEP 3
1. Overlay video title

Now, drag the saved title clip from the project bin and drop it onto the timeline. Place it exactly where you want the text to appear in your video. You can move it across different tracks and extend or shorten its duration by dragging its edges on the timeline.

STEP 4
1. Download the video

When everything looks good, return to the "Project" tab and choose "Render Project". In the render dialog, select your preferred resolution and video format. Pick a destination folder for saving the file. Finally, hit "Render to File" to export your video with the added text.

While Kdenlive lets you add text, you may face slow response times and stability issues, especially on Windows. Its output options and text features are also quite limited. If you want smoother performance, more text templates, and advanced customization, CapCut is a better choice. Let's explore how you can add text to video using CapCut down below.

CapCut: A better alternative for text features in video editing

CapCut is a feature-rich video editing tool that offers powerful text features for creating professional-looking videos. You can easily add text, customize fonts, colors, and sizes, and apply stunning text animations. It also provides text templates, effects, and the ability to add auto captions, making your videos more engaging and accessible. With CapCut, you get an intuitive platform that streamlines video creation. Ready to elevate your editing? Download CapCut for free and start adding text to your video today!

Key features

• Auto captions: CapCut's auto caption generator allows you to automatically generate captions for your videos.
• Text animations: There are many text animations you can choose from to add dynamic effects to your text.
• Text templates: CapCut offers a variety of pre-designed text templates, making it easy to add professional text with minimal effort.
• Text effects and styles: Apply different effects and styles, like shadows and outlines, to make your text stand out.
• Custom fonts and colors: Personalize your text with custom text fonts and colors that align with your brand or creative vision.

How to add text into a video in CapCut - step-by-stepImport a video

STEP 1
1. Import a video

Start by opening CapCut and creating a new project. Click on the "Import" button to upload your video files. Once your video is uploaded, drag it to the timeline. This is where you'll edit your video and add text.

STEP 2
1. Add text to the video

Next, click on the "Text" option to add a text box to your video. Type in the message you want to display. You can customize the text by adjusting the font, color, size, and transparency. Position the text where you want it on the screen. You can also apply animations to make the text more dynamic. If you're looking for pre-made styles, CapCut also offers various text templates, which you can easily apply with a single click.

STEP 3
1. Export and share your text video

Once you're happy with your text edits, it's time to export your video. Go to the export settings and customize options like resolution, bitrate, and frame rate. After adjusting the settings, click "Export." You can then share your video directly to platforms like TikTok, YouTube, or save it locally to your device.

Which one should you pick, Kdenlive or CapCut

Use case scenarios where you can add text over video

• Social media content creation

When creating social media content, adding text to your videos helps emphasize key messages. Use text for calls to action like "Link in bio" or "Swipe up" to drive engagement. Captions and animated text also enhance accessibility and increase viewer retention. Platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and Facebook Stories thrive on attention-grabbing text that keeps viewers engaged, even without sound.

• Educational and tutorial videos

Text overlays are perfect for educational content. You can use text to clarify steps, highlight important instructions, or define key terms. This not only makes your video more informative but also enhances retention. Adding text helps learners follow along, especially in explainer videos, online courses, and how-to guides. Text increases accessibility for those who prefer reading alongside listening.

• Marketing and promotional videos

In marketing, text quickly delivers your message. You can highlight product features, taglines, or sale announcements. Adding text makes your message clear, even with muted audio. It boosts viewer retention and encourages conversions, making it an essential tool in ads and promotional videos.

• News and informational videos

Text in news videos provides crucial context, like headlines or location/time references. It enables silent viewing with on-screen summaries, making it ideal for social news clips and breaking updates. This format ensures that your audience stays informed, even without audio.

• Event recaps and vlogs

In event recaps or vlogs, text overlays add context to raw footage. You can display event names, dates, or locations to enhance storytelling. This technique is widely used in travel vlogs, concert highlights, and sports recaps to provide important details while keeping the viewer engaged.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kdenlive add text can enhance your videos by providing clarity and context. However, Kdenlive's limited text features and slower performance may make it challenging for beginners. For a more efficient, feature-rich experience, CapCut is the ideal choice. CapCut offers a wide range of text options, including text animations, templates, and auto captions, making it easier to create professional videos. Whether you're editing social media content, educational tutorials, or marketing videos, CapCut provides all the tools you need to add dynamic text quickly. Download CapCut for free and elevate your text video editing today!

FAQs

1
1. How long will it take to add text to a single video clip in Kdenlive?

Adding text to a video clip in Kdenlive can take just a few minutes. Once you've created your title clip, it's a matter of customizing your text, adjusting font styles, and overlaying it onto the timeline. The process is quick if you're familiar with the software, but beginners may take a little longer to learn the layout.

2
1. How to animate individual letters in Kdenlive text?

To animate individual letters in Kdenlive, you'll need to manually create separate text clips for each letter. You can then apply different animations or keyframes to each clip, making them move independently. This requires a bit more work, but it gives you full control over each letter's animation.

3
1. Does Kdenlive handle multilingual text overlays?

Yes, Kdenlive supports multilingual text overlays. You can easily add text in different languages by selecting the appropriate font and ensuring the text encoding supports special characters, like accents or symbols, making it ideal for multilingual projects. If you want to add text in multiple languages at once, CapCut bilingual captions feature can meet this need.