Exported captions are too small: how do you check readability at the final display size?

Check captions at their intended display size

This applies to illegible phone captions, text disappearing on pale footage and multiple lines covering the subject. Record target device and window dimensions and sample the longest captions and most complex backgrounds. Burned-in and player-rendered text scale differently; editing a separate caption file does not repair small text already embedded in the video.

Inspect font size, line length, contrast and overlays

Inspect rendered size, spacing and margins and check whether export resizing incorrectly reduced text proportions. Compare line breaks with the original so numbers remain with units, then inspect brightness changes and overlays. Legibility on a static plain background does not establish readability throughout moving footage, and outlines do not guarantee contrast everywhere.

Reflow text while preserving required information

Reset caption layout at target size, split by meaning and control simultaneous text length, adjusting duration where needed instead of crowding tiny copy. Suitable background panels or styles can increase contrast while preserving the subject. Keep accurate wording and important conditions and numbers rather than force them into a fixed box. Recheck platform overlays after repositioning.

Review moving backgrounds and actual devices

Play the final file at intended size, inspecting long sentences, rapid changes and bright and dark scenes for sufficient reading time. Where appropriate, ask an unfamiliar viewer to read it and inspect paused characters. Acceptance requires readable, complete information, not merely parseable captions. Higher bitrate and larger frames do not fix wrong text proportions.

This article reflowed no private videos and prescribes no universal font size. Devices, distance and individual vision affect readability. Web text contrast guidance helps explain contrast but is not a platform-specific mandatory video setting. Verify caption content, timing and layout separately.