Subtitles and Caption Caption Formatting and Styling 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended maximum number of lines per caption frame in US broadcast standards?
- 1 line
- 2 lines (Correct answer)
- 3 lines
- 4 lines
Correct answer: 2 lines
US broadcast standards recommend a maximum of 2 lines per caption frame to ensure readability.
Question 2: Which caption font is most commonly recommended for readability in US closed captions?
- Times New Roman
- Arial or Helvetica (Correct answer)
- Courier New
- Comic Sans
Correct answer: Arial or Helvetica
Sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica are recommended for captions because they are cleaner and easier to read on screen.
Question 3: What is the standard caption text color used against a black background box in US closed captions?
- Yellow
- Green
- White (Correct answer)
- Cyan
Correct answer: White
White text on a black background box is the standard used in US closed captions for maximum contrast and readability.
Question 4: What does 'pop-on' style mean in caption formatting?
- Captions that scroll up continuously
- Captions that appear and disappear all at once (Correct answer)
- Captions that paint on word by word
- Captions that fade in gradually
Correct answer: Captions that appear and disappear all at once
Pop-on captions appear and disappear as complete units, which is the most common style for pre-recorded content.
Question 5: What is the maximum recommended character count per line in US captions according to FCC guidelines?
- 22 characters
- 32 characters (Correct answer)
- 42 characters
- 52 characters
Correct answer: 32 characters
FCC guidelines recommend a maximum of 32 characters per line to maintain readability across all screen sizes.
Question 6: Which positioning is typically preferred for subtitles and captions in standard US practice?
- Top center
- Bottom center (Correct answer)
- Right side
- Left side
Correct answer: Bottom center
Bottom center positioning is the standard placement for captions and subtitles in US practice, keeping them below the main visual content.
What is the recommended maximum number of lines per caption frame in US broadcast standards?