Mastering Animated Subtitles in Davinci Resolve: A Step-by-Step Guide
At Apex Photo Studios, we’re always on the lookout for tools that can help optimize Creators’ workflows. Recently, DaVinci Resolve released a new Animated Subtitles feature. Video editors can now bring dynamic, eye-catching captions to their videos in just a few steps. Whether you’re creating content for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or podcasts, animated subtitles boost engagement, readability, and retention.
We’ll break down the entire workflow shown in our tutorial video so you can follow along, repeat the process, and start building your own custom animated subtitles with confidence.
Step 1: Open DaVinci Resolve
Well of course, you’ll need to open the program as the first step.
Make a new project, import your video file, and drag it into the timeline. This will be the base layer for adding subtitles.
Step 2: Let Davinci Resolve Auto-Generate Subtitles
This feature is a dream come true for content creators. Gone are the days of monotonous text animation by hand. Now, Davinci will just do it for you.
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Go to Timeline > AI Tools > Create Subtitles from Audio
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Adjust your settings accordingly.
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Maintain 20-25 characters for single line subtitles
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Maintain 40-50 characters for double line subtitles.
3. The AI will automatically transcribe your audio into subtitles.
Once complete, you’ll see basic subtitle tracks on your timeline. These are not yet animated, but that’s where the magic begins.
Step 3: Add Animated Subtitle Effects
To animate your subtitles:
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Go to the Effects panel.
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Navigate to Titles > Subtitles > Animated.
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You’ll find five options to choose from. Personally, we like the versatility of “Word Highlight”
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Drag your chosen option to the “subtitle track” field on your timeline
Step 4: Customize Your Subtitle Style
Now that the animation has been applied, let’s adjust it further to your desired style:
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Open the Inspector Tab on the right side of the program.
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Select one of your subtitles in the timeline.
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Adjust any text that needs correcting under “Captions”
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Choose a preferred font (Proxima Nova is a great choice).
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Center the text if you're creating for vertical formats like TikTok or Reels.
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Adjust the font size, color, and highlight color.
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Add an outline or background for more pop and to help legibility if needed.
Step 5: Save Your Subtitle Preset for Easy Re-Applying
To save time on future projects, you can save your animated subtitle settings to your computer for easy re-application of your specific settings. To do this, you’ll:
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Select “Track” in the Inspector Tab.
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Click the wand icon right underneath the word “Track”.
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The “Fusion Workspace” will open.
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Click the first node that says “MacroTool1”, right-click, and choose Settings > Save As.
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Name your preset and hit save.
Now, you can load your saved animated subtitle settings and re-apply to future projects to maintain a consistent style!
This method is the perfect time-saver for creators who produce primarily short-form content or prefer to maintain consistent branding across multiple videos.
So, Why Use Animated Subtitles?
Animated subtitles are more than just a trend. They help your audience engagement and retention, especially on mobile-friendly platforms.
In a crowded digital space, standing out visually matters and animated subtitles can make a serious impact.
Final Thoughts
DaVinci Resolve’s Animated Subtitles are a powerful addition to your editing toolkit. With just a few clicks, you can add professional-grade motion text that syncs perfectly with your audio, engages your viewers, and enhances accessibility.
So whether you’re producing promo videos, podcast highlights, or social clips, animated subtitles can help your message hit harder.
Watch the full tutorial video below to see each step in action, and start experimenting with your own styles today.
Want more editing tips and creative tutorials? Stay connected with Apex Photo Studios—where we empower creators with the tools and skills to stand out.