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Three source lines plus three translated lines is a capacity limit, not a requirement to fill six lines. Set font size, width, margins and background within the actual picture, then review the longest and shortest cues. Portrait output needs its own review.
Use the picture, not the player box
A letterboxed player can be larger than the visible video. Position captions relative to the picture and recheck the bottom margin after changing aspect ratio. Keep faces, product labels and existing on-screen text visible.
A translucent background improves contrast against changing imagery. Review bright and dark shots before adjusting opacity, text colour and outline. Captions that look clear against a paused black frame may fail during playback.
Give each language enough room
Set source and target line limits separately and preserve a clear hierarchy. Languages expand differently; corresponding sentences do not need to align line by line. Readers need to recognise the pair without losing meaning when captions change.
For example, preserve the deadline in ‘Please confirm the model and quantity by Friday.’ If it does not fit, review the available width or split at a meaningful boundary before shrinking the type. Removing ‘by Friday’ is a content change, not a layout fix.
Merge short cues deliberately
Rapid short captions can flicker. Review meaning, speaker, gap and the actual width of both languages before merging. Do not join different speakers, bridge discarded footage or erase a meaningful pause simply to reduce the cue count.
Local short-cue merge suggestions and model-based semantic segmentation are different operations. Inspect the proposed text and timing range before applying either. A useful merge preserves all words and stays inside footage you intend to retain.
Review the intended viewing experience
Reduce the preview to a realistic phone viewing size. Check long sentences, punctuation and numbers. Extending a caption may improve reading time but can interfere with the next speaker; restructuring the cue may be more appropriate.
Review the exported result for background, font, line count and cropping. External subtitle styling varies between players. If the translucent bilingual layout must be fixed, confirm that burned-in video is the required delivery format.
A practical comparison
| Symptom | Check first | Possible adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Crowded captions | Picture area and longest bilingual pair | Width, segmentation, line limits |
| Flickering short cues | Gap, speaker and meaning | Review merge suggestions |
| Poor contrast | Bright and complex shots | Background and outline |
| Portrait obstruction | Faces and original labels | Margins and placement |
Before you sign off
- Review the actual output aspect ratio.
- Inspect the longest source and target cues, numbers and consecutive short cues.
- Keep all conditions and information in both languages.
- Check an export as well as the editor preview.
Frequently asked questions
Are six caption lines always easier to read?
No. More lines can cover more of the picture. Choose limits for the frame, viewing distance and sentence length.
Does merging short cues translate them again?
Local merge proposals organise existing text and timing. Translation and model-based language processing are separate steps; review the bilingual result before applying it.
Scope and related product information
Scope: current Wali desktop clients for Windows and macOS. Video subtitle production requires administrator enablement and configured recognition, dedicated translation and speech resources. Availability depends on the account and version. A mobile browser is not the local video export workspace.
Examples in this guide illustrate a review method, not a customer case or a performance result. Product availability changes with version and account configuration.
Video subtitle production and translated dubbing | Wali desktop →Current clients and installation guidance →