How to Add Text in Shotcut for Trendy And Bold Captions

What is Shotcut

Shotcut is a full-featured video editing program that is open source and freely available to everyone running on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. It is highly versatile concerning the video and audio formats it accepts. The user interface of the editor is relatively simple, and this makes it perfect for novices while still possessing sophisticated tools for skilled editors. Users can edit their videos and enjoy professional-looking results without the presence of watermarks or paid subscriptions.

Why should you add text to video in Shotcut

With Shotcut, users can give their videos a more professional feel through detailing emphasized key thoughts or important messages. Here are some benefits to help you understand the reasons for adding text to videos in Shotcut:

• Emphasize points

Sometimes, you want to make sure the viewer doesn't miss an important message. You can add text in Shotcut to highlight key ideas, quotes, or instructions right on the screen. This helps your audience understand the main takeaway without relying only on voice or visuals.

• Caption videos

Shotcut lets you add captions to your videos, which helps make them more accessible for viewers with hearing difficulties. Captions also improve viewer understanding in noisy environments or when watching without sound, increasing clarity, boosting retention, and making your video more search-friendly.

• Engage viewers

Adding text can help keep viewers interested by guiding them through the content. On-screen text like fun facts, pop-ups, or questions encourages interaction and makes the video feel more dynamic and engaging, improving watch time and overall audience experience.

• Polish presentation

Using text enhances the presentation of your video. It is possible to improve the structure and fluency of your video by adding titles, labels, or section headers with Shotcut. Adding text to video in Shotcut contributes to making your video look more organized and well-planned.

• Replace audio

In cases where the audio in your video is unclear or missing, you can use text to explain what's happening. Shotcut enables you to add written instructions, translations of conversations, or guides that do not speak to the viewers. This method works well for tutorials or videos that do not require a voiceover.

How to add text to a video in Shotcut

To aid you in adding fonts such as title, label, and timer into your video, Shotcut gives you an easy text overlay option. You are at liberty to apply the text to the entire clip or a particular part by splitting the video. Because of this, it is applicable in tutorials, vlogs, educational or instructional content, presentations, and even promotional videos. Here is how to add text in the Shotcut video editor:

STEP 1
1. Open your project and import the video

Launch Shotcut, create a new project, and import your video file using the "Open File" option. Drag the video into the timeline to start editing.

STEP 2
1. Choose the clip and apply a text filter

Select the clip where you want to insert text. Click on the "Filters" tab, then hit the Add a filter button and search for "Text" to see the available text overlay options in Shotcut.

STEP 3
1. Customize and export your video

Pick your preferred text style, adjust the font, size, and position of the text box. After making changes, preview the video and click "Export" to save the final result.

How to edit and resize text in Shotcut

Shotcut editing and text resizing are straightforward and helpful when the predetermined text size does not blend with the styling of the video. No matter if you are aiming for big headings or small captions, everything can be controlled with ease from the text box as well as the animated size buttons. Below are some simple steps on how to resize the font when you insert text in Shotcut:

STEP 1
1. Select the text in the preview window

Click the text box in the video preview area. Once selected, you'll see drag points on the edges for manual resizing.

STEP 2
1. Drag to resize or reposition

Use your mouse to drag the corner (usually the bottom right) of the text box to enlarge or shrink it. This helps scale the text visually to fit your scene.

STEP 3
1. Use the style tab for precise size

Go to the "Filters" tab, click "Text", and choose text filters, then open the "Style" section. Adjust the font size by sliding the size bar between 2 and 200 for exact control.

How to add text in Shotcut to a transparent layer

Adding text to a transparent layer in Shotcut lets you place text over any part of your video without affecting the original footage. This method is useful for titles, labels, or lower-thirds that float above the video. Shotcut's built-in tools make this process quick and flexible. Here's how to add over a video in Shotcut using a transparent layer:

STEP 1
1. Create a transparent text clip

Right-click on the timeline and choose "Add Video Track". Then go to "Open Other" > "Text", click "OK", and drag the preview screen into the playlist.

STEP 2
1. Edit the text using filters

Double-click the new playlist item, open the "Filters" tab, and use the text box to enter and style your text as needed.

STEP 3
1. Place the text layer on the timeline

Go back to the playlist and drag the edited text item onto the new video track. This adds your styled text as a transparent overlay above your footage.

Pros and cons of adding text in Shotcut

An alternative easy and free way to add text to videos: CapCut

The CapCut desktop video editor is a free application that is extremely easy to use, which means even casual users and beginners can make use of it. It is almost effortless to put text on videos with CapCut. It takes a matter of minutes or seconds. With CapCut, you can add, style, or animate text, and all this without the need to go into different menus.

Key features

Here are some of the additional features available in CapCut desktop video editor that would assist you add text to the video in an effortless yet artistic fashion:

• A variety of trending text styles

Choose from modern fonts, animated text, and popular layouts that match trending social media styles, perfect for creating stylish reels and short videos.

• Easily add text and captions

Drag-and-drop tools let you place and adjust captions quickly, making it easy to add subtitles for tutorials, interviews, and other content with fast editing needs.

• AI-driven font generator

Get smart font suggestions based on your video content with a versatile AI font generator, saving you valuable time and effort on design decisions.

• Instant text-to-speech conversion

Convert AI text to voice, useful for explainer videos, tutorials, or silent content where narration is needed quickly.

• Library of diverse text effects

Apply animated effects like typewriter, glitch, or bounce to make your text more engaging, stylish, and dynamic, giving your videos a professional look.

How to add text to your videos in CapCut

In order to begin using CapCut, navigate to the official website to download its desktop version. You can also click on the download button below to start the process. Follow the multiple prompts during installation and get the editor up and running on your PC.

STEP 1
1. Import the video

Start by opening the CapCut desktop app. Click on “Import” to upload your video, or drag it into the workspace. Place it on the timeline to begin editing.

STEP 2
1. Add text to the video

Go to the "Text" and click the "+" icon to add default text to your video. Then, select the "Effects" to add various text styles and animations. Here, you can enter your script or key points and customize the text by adjusting its size, alignment, and color.

You can also click "AI generated" to convert your idea into various text templates—perfect for creating catchy headlines, subtitles, or captions instantly. Once you're satisfied, drag the text on the timeline to set when and where it appears in your video.

STEP 3
1. Export and share

When your video is ready in CapCut, click “Export,” adjust the resolution and format settings, then press “Export” again to save or use “Share” to post on social media like TikTok and YouTube.

Conclusion

Learning how to add text in Shotcut is a simple way to make your videos clearer and more engaging. You can highlight key points, add captions, and improve the overall presentation with easy text tools. Whether you're making tutorials, vlogs, or project videos, using text helps viewers follow along better. For those looking for an even easier tool with built-in templates and effects, the CapCut desktop video editor is a great choice for quick and creative video editing.

FAQs

1
1. What are the limitations of adding text in Shotcut regarding font support?

As for text, Shotcut can use any font that is present in the system as TrueType or OpenType fonts. However, it may not support some complex fonts like Devanagari or PostScript fully, which depict incompatible displays. Some fonts also have limitations on their sizing or styling. For more advanced options, including compatibility, consider using the CapCut desktop video editor.

2
1. Can I add text in Shotcut to fit around a shape or object in the video?

Yes, you can use the Mask filter in Shotcut to create simple shapes like rectangles or ellipses, and then position your text accordingly. The process can be a bit tedious for more intricate designs or dynamic content. For more complex text shaping and easier workflows, the CapCut desktop video editor provides intuitive tools to achieve similar effects quickly and with greater ease.

3
1. Which Shotcut keyboard shortcuts improve editing efficiency?

Shotcut, like any good editing software, has an array of keyboard shortcuts aimed at increasing one's productivity when editing. In this case, it includes saving (Ctrl + S), undoing an action (Ctrl + Z), and playing and pausing (spacebar). Having streamlined text editing features alongside video editing would improve the experience, so check out the CapCut desktop video editor for added flexibility.