Workflow guide
Names and titles that identify without interrupting
Lower thirds answer the viewer's first question — who is this, and why should I listen — in under two seconds. Bad ones cover faces, linger too long, or change style every appearance. This guide covers designing one locked template and timing it so identification feels effortless.
From the Mellius product team · Updated September 28, 2026
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- ›Match cuts to the beat
The short answer
Design one lower-third template with the name in a heavier weight and the title smaller beneath it, keep it inside title-safe margins for six to eight seconds, animate in over eight to twelve frames, hold still for reading, then animate out. Use it sparingly — only for first introductions, role changes, or locations.
Readable in two seconds
Name and role register at a glance, even on a phone at arm's length.
Never covers the subject
Text sits clear of faces, hands, captions, and platform UI overlays.
Consistent every appearance
One template, one animation, one position across the whole project or series.
Design one template and lock it
Set the name in a semibold or bold weight at a size that reads on a phone, with the role or title one step smaller and lower in contrast beneath it. A soft dark bar, gradient scrim, or subtle background box keeps text legible over bright footage — test over your brightest shot, not your darkest. Restrict yourself to brand fonts and two colors maximum; a lower third is identification, not a poster.
Build the template as a reusable graphic or preset so every appearance inherits the same spacing, animation, and safe margins, typically the lower-left or lower-center inside title-safe. In Mellius you can ask for a lower-third graphic on the timeline in words, then adjust text, timing, and placement conversationally while everything stays editable and undoable. Common mistake: a different font, color, or animation per guest, which makes a series look assembled from strangers.
- Name in heavier weight, title smaller and dimmer beneath.
- Test legibility over the brightest shot at phone distance.
- Save one reusable template per show or brand.
- Cap the design at two colors and brand fonts only.
Time entrances to speech and motion
Bring the lower third in just before or exactly as the person is introduced, animating over eight to twelve frames so it settles rather than snaps. Hold it six to eight seconds for a standard introduction — long enough to read twice, short enough to leave before it becomes wallpaper. Animate out over a similar duration and never let it sit under a shot change unless the same speaker continues.
Reserve lower thirds for genuine firsts: first appearance, role change, new location, or a title the story needs. Repeating the same card every time a speaker returns trains viewers to ignore it; a brief reappearance after a long absence is the exception. Keep the graphic clear of burned-in captions and platform buttons, raising it above the bottom UI zone on 9:16 vertical video.
- Enter on introduction, hold 6–8 seconds, animate out cleanly.
- Cut the card at shot changes unless the speaker continues.
- Raise placement above platform UI on vertical video.
- Reintroduce only after long absences, not every return.
Compare the workflows
| Method | Best fit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Static title card | Maximum control and zero render risk | Can feel flat across a long series |
| Animated preset | Fast, polished motion for weekly output | Needs restraint to avoid a template look |
| Custom motion graphic | Brand-defining shows and broadcast work | Slowest to build and revise |
A practical sequence
Put it into practice
- 01
Build the template
Lock fonts, colors, spacing, animation, and title-safe placement in one reusable graphic.
- 02
Place and time
Enter on introduction, hold six to eight seconds, and clear before shot changes.
- 03
Review small and consistent
Check legibility on a phone and confirm every appearance matches the template.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a lower third stay on screen?
Six to eight seconds suits most introductions: enough to read twice without becoming wallpaper. Complex titles with organizations can stretch toward ten seconds, while quick location tags can clear sooner. If viewers need longer, the design is probably too small or too low-contrast.
Where should lower thirds sit in the frame?
Lower-left or lower-center inside title-safe margins, clear of faces, hands, captions, and platform buttons. On 9:16 vertical video, raise the card above the bottom UI zone where likes, captions, and progress bars crowd the frame. Keep the same position for every appearance in a project.
What font and size work for lower thirds?
Use your brand's semibold or bold for the name with the title one step smaller beneath it, sized to read on a phone at arm's length. Pair it with a soft dark scrim or background box so it survives bright footage. Two colors maximum — the card identifies the speaker, it does not decorate the frame.
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Primary sources
Product capabilities change. These official references support the comparisons above.
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