<p>The answer depends on whether you want actual captions or just some text in the video. The difference is that subtitles/captions are actual streams in the video container or separate files altogether that can be turned on and off, whereas normal text in the video is part of the video stream, so it's burned in and can't be turned off (which also means the playback device/software doesn't have to support the subtitle standard that is used, so there are benefits to both methods).</p>
<h2>Captions</h2>
<p>If you want actual captions, you have very limited formatting options. The way it works is the subtitle file/stream contains only the timecodes and corresponding text for all the subtitles you create and <em>very</em> limited formatting information as well as some metadata. The appearance of the captions (i.e. font family, font size and position) is controlled by the playback device/software. This way, the captions can be optimized for different displays and controlled by user settings (for example, people with bad eyesight can set a larger font size).</p>
<p>If you want to control the display aspects of your subtitles, you can create Open Captions that are burned into the video stream. Make sure to select 'Open Captions' as the standard when you create the captions in Premiere Pro:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/AZAlc.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AZAlc.png" alt="Create captions modal in Premiere Pro 2018" /></a></p>
<p>If you create Open Captions this way, you have more control over the caption display:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/NAXAa.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/NAXAa.png" alt="Open captions settings" /></a></p>
<p>As you can see in the screenshot above (taken in Premiere Pro 2018), you can control the font size, family and style, as you asked. If you create captions this way, you can still export the captions as an individual file (File → Export → Captions…), for example to the SubRip format (.srt). However, this will again only export the timecodes and text, not the display options set by you. If you want to have different font families, sizes etc. in your video, you will have to burn the subtitles in, which you can do if you create them as Open Captions.</p>
<h2>Text in Video</h2>
<p>If you want the most control over appearance, animation etc. of your text-in-video, use Text / Graphics layers. Working with text used to be really tedious in earlier versions of Premiere, but with the new <a href="https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/essential-graphics-panel.html#CreategraphicsinPremierePro" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Graphics Workflow</a> it's rather straightforward and elegant. Take a look at <a href="https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/how-to/essential-graphics-panel.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this page</a> for an introduction. Keep in mind though that Graphics can't be exported as subtitle streams/files, so they will always be burned in the video stream.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-04-09T18:07:47.433Z
2022-10-31T14:56:25.083Z
2022-10-31T14:56:25.083Z
MoritzLost
<p>I would like to edit my subtitles in Premiere Pro (CC 2018) but can't change the fonts or size or anything like that. I did try to use open and closed captions but both didn't work. I think I miss a part in my workspace but don't know how to get it back. </p>

<p>Resetting the workspace or selecting multiple options through 'Window' did not help.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/16bdv.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/16bdv.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<premiere><closed-captioning>
Not able to edit subtitles in Premiere Pro
Summer
# Not able to edit subtitles in Premiere Pro

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-05)

I would like to edit my subtitles in Premiere Pro (CC 2018) but can't change the fonts or size or anything like that. I did try to use open and closed captions but both didn't work. I think I miss a part in my workspace but don't know how to get it back.

Resetting the workspace or selecting multiple options through 'Window' did not help.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/16bdv.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/16bdv.png)

**Tags:** premiere, closed-captioning


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-04-09. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

The answer depends on whether you want actual captions or just some text in the video. The difference is that subtitles/captions are actual streams in the video container or separate files altogether that can be turned on and off, whereas normal text in the video is part of the video stream, so it's burned in and can't be turned off (which also means the playback device/software doesn't have to support the subtitle standard that is used, so there are benefits to both methods).

## Captions

If you want actual captions, you have very limited formatting options. The way it works is the subtitle file/stream contains only the timecodes and corresponding text for all the subtitles you create and *very* limited formatting information as well as some metadata. The appearance of the captions (i.e. font family, font size and position) is controlled by the playback device/software. This way, the captions can be optimized for different displays and controlled by user settings (for example, people with bad eyesight can set a larger font size).

If you want to control the display aspects of your subtitles, you can create Open Captions that are burned into the video stream. Make sure to select 'Open Captions' as the standard when you create the captions in Premiere Pro:

[![Create captions modal in Premiere Pro 2018](https://i.sstatic.net/AZAlc.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/AZAlc.png)

If you create Open Captions this way, you have more control over the caption display:

[![Open captions settings](https://i.sstatic.net/NAXAa.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/NAXAa.png)

As you can see in the screenshot above (taken in Premiere Pro 2018), you can control the font size, family and style, as you asked. If you create captions this way, you can still export the captions as an individual file (File → Export → Captions…), for example to the SubRip format (.srt). However, this will again only export the timecodes and text, not the display options set by you. If you want to have different font families, sizes etc. in your video, you will have to burn the subtitles in, which you can do if you create them as Open Captions.

## Text in Video

If you want the most control over appearance, animation etc. of your text-in-video, use Text / Graphics layers. Working with text used to be really tedious in earlier versions of Premiere, but with the new [Graphics Workflow](https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/essential-graphics-panel.html#CreategraphicsinPremierePro) it's rather straightforward and elegant. Take a look at [this page](https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/how-to/essential-graphics-panel.html) for an introduction. Keep in mind though that Graphics can't be exported as subtitle streams/files, so they will always be burned in the video stream.


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