{"id":13819,"date":"2021-02-26T21:05:29","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T21:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bunnystudio.com\/blog\/?p=13819"},"modified":"2025-10-08T12:47:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T12:47:07","slug":"when-is-captioning-mandatory-rules-of-the-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bunnystudio.com\/blog\/when-is-captioning-mandatory-rules-of-the-game\/","title":{"rendered":"When is Captioning Mandatory? Rules of the Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

Captioning is not always mandatory, but a lot of viewers love having them on screen.<\/p>\n

Captions are applied in TV, movies, video streaming services, and video games – allowing the audience to closely follow what is happening on the screen.<\/p>\n

Captioning remains an absolutely necessary addition to your video content<\/a> \u2013 and in some cases, mandatory.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

They are particularly helpful for audiences that are hard of hearing.<\/p>\n

In this article, you will learn why and when captioning is mandatory, and how to apply it to your videos.<\/p>\n

Types of Captions<\/h2>\n

When we say captions, we don\u2019t mean the catchy quotes that you put under your Instagram uploads. Captions, in this case, are time-synchronized texts that transcribe the audio file on a video track.<\/p>\n

There are multiple methods of captioning, but first, let’s outline the differences between captions and subtitles.<\/p>\n

Captions vs Subtitles<\/h3>\n

Are they the same thing?<\/p>\n

On some level, ‘captions’<\/em> is just another way to say ‘subtitles<\/em>.’ However, the two concepts are slightly different.<\/p>\n

Captions are transcription texts; subtitles<\/a> are translations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This means that while captioning is mainly to benefit those who cannot hear the audio, subtitles are made for audiences that cannot understand the language.<\/p>\n

Open Captioning<\/h3>\n

This is one of the oldest forms of captioning.<\/p>\n

Open captions come already added (burnt) on the video file and cannot be turned off, and they are mostly applicable where the close captioning feature is not accessible.<\/p>\n

Why Use Open Captioning?<\/h4>\n

With open captions, your audience doesn\u2019t have to figure out how to turn the captions on and off.<\/p>\n

Captions that are permanently burnt into the video are also great for social media videos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On platforms such as Facebook, a lot of viewers watch their videos on silent. Open captions will immediately pop up on the screen and keep the attention of the viewer.<\/p>\n

The Downside of Open Captions<\/h4>\n

Since they are permanently burnt onto the video, open captions can be restricting as well as distracting.<\/p>\n

In as much as they are helpful (and mandatory for audiences with hearing loss), some viewers might want to watch their content without captions.<\/p>\n

Open captions are also tied to the quality of the video.<\/p>\n

If the original video quality is poor, then the captions might be difficult to see and read.<\/p>\n

When to Use Open Captioning<\/h4>\n

It is best to use open captions when captioning is mandatory. When making or presenting content to people who have a hearing disability, open captioning is the only way to go.<\/p>\n

These permanent captions are also handy when playing videos in an outdoor setting.<\/p>\n

Cinemas and foreign films often include open captions to further engage their audiences.<\/p>\n

And who says captions are just for videos?<\/p>\n

Want to provide additional information concerning your meme or gif? Use open captions to fully communicate your message to your audience.<\/p>\n

\"when<\/p>\n

Closed Captioning<\/h3>\n

This type of captioning allows the viewer to turn the text on and off. In this context, therefore, the viewer is in charge of whether they get to see the captions or not.<\/p>\n

Why Use Closed Captions?<\/h4>\n

The flexibility of closed captions makes them appealing to most viewers. The viewer has the option to turn the subtitles off if they become too distracting.<\/p>\n

Closed captions are also easier to edit and re-upload.<\/p>\n

These captions exist in a separate file and can be stored in multiple formats as well as played in different forms of media.<\/p>\n

With open captions, changing something means uploading the video file all over again.<\/p>\n

Where to use Closed Captions<\/h4>\n

Closed captions have a wider use case compared to open captions.<\/p>\n

The best example is YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Facebook videos, streaming services like Netflix<\/a>, T.V programs, and video games also use closed captioning techniques<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are two types of closed captioning:<\/p>\n

Online Captioning<\/h4>\n

Also called real-time captioning, this technique is particularly useful in live broadcasts.<\/p>\n

The captions are generated as the footage is aired. Sporting events or any live programs on TV all rely on real-time captioning.<\/p>\n

Online captioning employs of use of ASR (Automatic Speech Reorganization) software to convert audio into text, hence saving a lot of time and effort.<\/p>\n

However, ASR tends to have a high error margin, so always check the output for any incomprehensible phrases.<\/p>\n

Off-line Captioning<\/h4>\n

This technique involved adding captions on video footage while it is being recorded. Prime TV programs and educational media use this captioning method.<\/p>\n

Offline captioning is much more efficient than online captioning because there is enough time to embed the text into the video.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Captioning Styles<\/h3>\n

Roll-Up<\/h4>\n

This style of captioning is synchronized and verbatim<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In roll-up captioning, every speaker is identified on the text.<\/p>\n

It works like this:<\/p>\n

The text moves from the bottom to the top of the screen (or vice-versa), and as new text appears at the top, the bottom text disappears.<\/p>\n

Pop-On<\/h4>\n

The text appears on the screen, remains for several seconds then disappears.<\/p>\n

Paint-On<\/h4>\n

The words move from left to right and appear to be painted on the screen.<\/p>\n

When Is Captioning Mandatory?<\/h2>\n

Captioning is mandatory depending on the following factors:<\/p>\n