Although Windows Movie Maker doesn't currently provide a special feature for adding subtitles, you can still add subtitles for movies created in Movie Maker using the Title Overlay feature. With this feature, you can adjust font size, font color and subtitle position, transition and timing for movies, videos or slideshows. This article provides detailed instructions on how to use the Title Overlay feature to add subtitles in Windows Movie Maker.
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Step 1. Import videos
Open Windows Movie Maker and click "Video" from the Import menu, located in the left column. If the video file is saved on a digital video camera, click "From digital video camera". The Import Media Items dialog box will open.
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Find a video file saved to your computer's hard disk or digital video camera and double-click it to import it into Movie Maker. The video will now appear in the collections folder, just above the editing timeline between the Tasks menu and the screen preview. The video file has been imported.
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Step 2. Change the view from "Storyboard" to "Timeline"
To adjust the position or change the timing of the subtitles for a Movie Maker project, the application window view must be set to Timeline view. Click the View tab on the menu bar and make sure Timeline is selected in the menu options. The application view setting has been set to the Timeline view.
Step 3. Insert the video file into the video editing timeline
Notice that there are now 3 editing timelines that run horizontally at the bottom of the app window and stack on top of each other. The editing timeline at the top is labeled "Video," the one below it is labeled "Audio," and the bottom editing timeline is labeled "Title Overlay." Click the video file in the Collections folder and drag it to the editing timeline labeled "Video." The video now appears in the video editing timeline.
Step 4. Enter the title overlay that will be used for the first set of subtitles
Once a title overlay is entered, this layer can be moved anywhere in the timeline. Click Titles and Credits located in the Edit menu in the left column. You will be asked where to enter the title. Select "Title on the selected clip" from the list of available options. When prompted to enter text for the title, type the first set of subtitles you want to add to the video into the blank field.
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Select the "Edit the title animation" option after the text is entered. The Title Animation menu will appear. Scroll down the list of available animations and click "Subtitles". Under "More options," click options to change the text and font color. The font format menu will now appear. From the menu, choose a simple, easy-to-read font, such as "Arial" or "Times New Roman." The selected font will now be visible in the preview screen to the right of the application window.
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Adjust the font size if necessary, with the up or down arrow located under the Font menu. The font color as well as the level of transparency and alignment can be adjusted from this menu. Try various customizations according to your needs or preferences. Click the Add Title button when you are ready to proceed. The subtitle overlay will now appear in the Title overlay editing timeline running at the bottom of the application window. The title overlay for the first set of subtitles has been included.
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Step 5. Move the first subtitle into position
Find the point in the video clip where you want the subtitle to start. Click and drag the Title overlay to any position in the editing timeline. Preview the position of the first set of subtitles by clicking the "Play timeline" arrow located above the video editing timeline on the far left side of the application window. Drag the Title overlay left or right to adjust the position of the first set of subtitles. The first set of subtitles is now in position.
Step 6. Adjust the length of the subtitle
The length of time the subtitle appears on the screen can be adjusted by dragging the edge of the Title overlay to the left to make it shorter, or to the right to make it longer. Adjust the length of the Title overlay to match the video clip. The subtitle length has been adjusted.
Step 7. Create a second set of text
Right-click on the first set of subtitles and select copy from the drop-down menu. Click in an empty space in the Title overlay editing timeline, just to the right of the first set of subtitles, and click Paste. A copy of the first set of subtitles now appears in the Title overlay editing timeline. Double click copy. The Title Overlay editing menu will open in the application window.
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Delete the text in the Title overlay text field, enter the text for the second set of subtitles and click the Add button to enter the title for the next set of subtitles. A second set of subtitles has been created and added to the Title overlay editing timeline. Adjust the position of the second set of text if needed. The second set of texts has been created.
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Step 8. Finish adding subtitles
Continue this process until all the subtitles have been added to the video, and are inserted and moved into the correct position. Save the file on your computer as a Movie Maker Project or export the file as a Windows Media Video, which can be uploaded to the Internet. All subtitles are now added to Movie Maker Video.
