Burned-in captions
Burn subtitles into video. Keep the text in the picture.
Generate subtitles from speech, review them and export a video with the captions permanently visible.
Free plan · no credit card
How it works
Add a video with speech
Generate the subtitles and review the words.
Set the permanent appearance
Choose a style, check placement and inspect hard-to-read shots.
Export and keep the source
Save the captioned video and a subtitle file if needed. Watch the saved video before publishing.
Choose burned-in text when the appearance needs to travel with the video. Choose a separate subtitle track when viewers need to control its display. You can export both from a reviewed LumaCaption transcript.
Keep the original footage and project. A typo in an exported burned-in caption requires a new video export.
- Keep your chosen appearance
- Fonts, colour and motion become part of the exported picture.
- Export a separate track too
- Download SRT or VTT for a publishing workflow that accepts subtitle tracks.
- Fix a typo without a fee
- Re-exporting an existing transcript is free and unlimited on every plan.
Already have an SRT file?
LumaCaption does not currently import SRT. If your words and timings are already done, use a subtitle-burning tool that accepts the file. There is no point retranscribing the video just to recreate it.
HandBrake supports importing text subtitles and burning them into the video. Check its subtitle documentation for supported formats and options.
Check permanent text before export
Read every name and number, then inspect contrast on the brightest and busiest shots. Check placement in the destination app so buttons or descriptions do not cover the words.
Burning captions changes the exported picture, and re-encoding the video can affect quality. A high resolution setting does not promise a lossless export.
Burned-in video or separate subtitles?
| Question | Burned-in video | SRT / VTT track |
|---|---|---|
| Can viewers turn it off? | No | In a player that supports the track |
| Does it preserve this animation? | Yes, rendered into the picture | No |
| How do you fix a typo? | Edit and export the video again | Edit the subtitle file or track |
| Can LumaCaption create it? | Yes, from speech transcription | Yes, from the same transcript |
Common questions
Can I import my own SRT?
No. LumaCaption creates a transcript from your video’s audio. For an existing SRT, use a tool that supports subtitle-file import, such as HandBrake.
Can I remove burned-in captions later?
You cannot switch them off as a separate track. Return to the original project and export a version without them.
Are burned-in subtitles the same as closed captions?
No. Burned-in text is always part of the image. Closed captions sit on a separate track that the viewer can control in a player that supports it.
