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The Ubiquity of Captions in Everyday Life

Almost everyone has used captions at one time or another, whether they are hearing impaired or not. Think about it – how many times have you read captions in a restaurant or at the gym? Closed captions are used everywhere.

After doing my own personal survey, I realized that most people don’t have a good understanding of the basic types of captions.

Sure, everyone is familiar with captions to some extent, but many people don’t understand the different types and uses of captions or why creators set them up the way they do.

So if you’ve ever wondered why captions follow a certain format, or if you want to show off your superior captioning knowledge at your next company picnic, keep reading.

Closed Captioning vs Subtitles: Key Differences

What Are Closed Captions?

Developers created closed captions for the deaf and hard-of-hearing audience to read along with the TV program they are watching.

This technology enables the system to encode captions into the video signal and transmit them to the viewer’s home.

A “decoder” chip installed in the TV set (or set-top box) enables captions to be turned on or off.

Closed captions typically appear as white text on a black background and can appear in various areas of the screen.

This technology has existed for many years and now applies to almost all broadcast TV programs.

What Are Subtitles?

On the other hand, creators designed subtitles to translate foreign languages for viewers.

Producers typically display them in various font and color combinations, often without a black background.

Unlike closed captions, subtitles do not encode into the video signal and viewers cannot toggle them on or off using a decoder.

The advent of DVDs and Blu-rays slightly changed this, allowing viewers to turn subtitles on or off via the menu.

These formats often provide subtitles in multiple languages, expanding accessibility for diverse audiences.

Types of Closed Captioning Techniques

Roll-Up Captioning

Roll-up captioning displays text line by line as it scrolls up the screen.

Typically, the screen displays two or three lines of text at a time, positioning them at the top or bottom.

Producers commonly use this style for live broadcasts and simple post-production content.

Roll-up captions are economical and quicker to produce but can be harder to follow, especially during rapid speaker changes or when sound effects occur.

Pop-On Captioning

Pop-on captioning is a more descriptive and user-friendly method.

Text “pops” on and off the screen in sync with audio.

It typically consists of two or three lines carefully placed to avoid obstructing faces or graphics.

Pop-on captions include sound effect descriptions and speaker identification, making them easier to read and understand.

However, they are more time-intensive and costly to produce, which can be a challenge for smaller broadcasters.

Why Both Captions and Subtitles Matter

Regardless of the method used, captioning is a valuable tool for accessibility and engagement.

Whether viewers need closed captions for hearing impairments or subtitles for language translation, these technologies enhance the viewing experience for everyone.

Note on Caption Standards

The descriptions above refer to CEA-608 Line 21 closed captions.

This article does not explore the more advanced features available with CEA-708 captions for ATSC digital streams.