Media, text & generated visuals
Text
Display typed text, file-backed text, timers, or date/time text.
Before you start
Open the intended collection and layout. For capture or network inputs, have the device or sender available.
Where to find it
Sources > Add > Text.
Use it
- Open the scene that will contain the source.
- Choose Add in Sources.
- Select Text in Create Source.
- Enter a name and choose New.
- Choose Type.
- Enter text, select a text file, or configure timer/date fields.
- Choose Select Font....
- Set appearance and alignment.
- Use Custom Text Extents and Wrap if a fixed text area is needed.
- Choose Save and Close (or OK where shown).
- Check the source in Preview before taking it to Program.
Controls and additional tasks
Countdown/count-up use Range Seconds and Start Seconds. Timer Format and Date/Time Format control presentation; custom formats and Time Zone are available. Gradient blends two text colors. Outline improves legibility. Background and its opacity control the text box. Chatlog Mode retains the most recent lines up to Line Limit. Double-click supported slider thumbs to restore their opening values.
Control reference
| Control | Use |
|---|---|
| Font | Choose the text font. |
| Font style | Set font style for this item. |
| Size | Set the size of the selected text/tool/effect. |
| Strikeout | Turn this option on or off for this item. |
| Underline | Turn this option on or off for this item. |
| Writing System | Set writing system for this item. |
| OK | Accept the current selection/settings. |
| Cancel | Close without saving the pending edits. |
| Dynamic source | Choose the dynamic text group that supplies live text. |
| Dynamic source | Edit the selected group. |
| Dynamic source | Add a group. |
| Stretch | Choose how live text fits inside the dynamic text box. Choices: None, Fit, Fill with crop, Fill. |
| Fixed Point | Choose the anchor point used when dynamic text does not fill the box. Choices: Top, Left, Right, Bottom, Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right, Center, Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right. |
| Aspect Ratio | Choose the dynamic text box aspect ratio. |
| Box Size | Dynamic text box width in pixels for this layout. |
| Box Size | Dynamic text box height in pixels for this layout. Enabled only for Free Size. |
| Type | Choose the kind of text this source renders. Choices: Text, Countdown, Count-Up, Date Time, Stopwatch. |
| Range Seconds | Set the countdown or count-up range in seconds. Minimum: 0; Maximum: 86400. |
| Range Seconds | Countdown or count-up range in seconds. |
| Start Seconds | Set the timer start value in seconds. Minimum: 0; Maximum: 86400. |
| Start Seconds | Timer start value in seconds. |
| Timer Format | Choose how timer text is formatted. Choices: Auto, mm:ss, m:ss, hh:mm:ss, h:mm:ss, d.hh:mm:ss, ss, Custom. |
| Custom Timer | Custom timer format. |
| Date/Time Format | Choose how date and time text is formatted. Choices: d, D, f, F, g, G, M, O, R, s, t, T, u, U, Y, yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss, yyyy-MM-dd, HH:mm:ss, Custom. |
| Custom Date/Time | Custom date and time format. |
| Time Zone | Choose the time zone used by date and time text. |
| Read from file | Read source text from a local text file instead of the typed text field. |
| Text File | Local text file path used by this source. |
| Browse | Choose a local text file. |
| Text | Text rendered by this source when Read from file is off. |
| Select Font... | Open the font picker. |
| Text Color | Choose the text color. |
| Opacity | Set text opacity. Double-click to restore the value from when the dialog opened. Minimum: 0; Maximum: 100. |
| Opacity | Text opacity percentage. |
| Gradient | Blend the text color toward a gradient color. |
| Gradient Color | Choose the second color used by the text gradient. |
| Gradient Opacity | Set gradient opacity. Double-click to restore the value from when the dialog opened. Minimum: 0; Maximum: 100. |
| Gradient Opacity | Gradient opacity percentage. |
| Gradient Direction | Set gradient direction in degrees. Double-click to restore the value from when the dialog opened. Minimum: 0; Maximum: 360. |
| Gradient Direction | Gradient direction in degrees. |
| Transform | Choose whether text casing is changed before rendering. Choices: None, Uppercase, Lowercase, Title Case. |
| Horizontal Align | Choose horizontal alignment inside the text bounds. Choices: Left, Center, Right. |
| Vertical Align | Choose vertical alignment inside the text bounds. Choices: Top, Center, Bottom, Middle. |
| Vertical Text | Render characters vertically. |
| Antialiasing | Smooth text edges during rendering. |
| Background | Choose the text background color. |
| Opacity | Set background opacity. Double-click to restore the value from when the dialog opened. Minimum: 0; Maximum: 100. |
| Opacity | Background opacity percentage. |
| Enable outline | Draw an outline around the rendered text. |
| Outline Color | Choose the outline color. |
| Size | Set outline thickness. Double-click to restore the value from when the dialog opened. Minimum: 1; Maximum: 20. |
| Size | Outline thickness in pixels. |
| Opacity | Set outline opacity. Double-click to restore the value from when the dialog opened. Minimum: 0; Maximum: 100. |
| Opacity | Outline opacity percentage. |
| Chatlog Mode | Keep only the most recent lines when text updates like a chat log. |
| Line Limit | Set the maximum chatlog line count. Double-click to restore the value from when the dialog opened. Minimum: 1; Maximum: 1000. |
| Line Limit | Maximum number of chatlog lines. |
| Custom Text Extents | Use explicit text bounds instead of automatic text bounds. |
| Wrap | Wrap text inside the custom text bounds. |
| Width | Set custom text bounds width. Double-click to restore the value from when the dialog opened. Minimum: 32; Maximum: 8000. |
| Width | Custom text bounds width in pixels. |
| Height | Set custom text bounds height. Double-click to restore the value from when the dialog opened. Minimum: 32; Maximum: 8000. |
| Height | Custom text bounds height in pixels. |
| Save and Close | Save Text Source settings. Shortcut: Ctrl+S. |
| Cancel | Close without saving changes. |
Example
Create a countdown title for the opening scene.
If something is wrong
If text is cut off, increase custom extents or enable Wrap. If file text is absent, check Read from file and the selected file.
Stop or remove
Hide the source to stop showing its picture. Use its available playback/connection stop control when you need to stop the input itself. Remove the source item from the scene when it is no longer needed. Shared sources can still be used in other scenes.
Keys in this feature
| Key | Action | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl+S | Save and close | Built-in shortcut |
Related pages
Dynamic Text · Keyboard shortcuts · Menu reference · Manual contents