The Best Subtitle Colors and the Ones to Avoid

Imagine watching a video where the subtitles blend into the background or cause eye strain—that’s something you want to avoid.

By understanding the best practices for subtitle colors, you can make sure your content is accessible, professional, and easy to follow.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about selecting the best subtitle colors for your videos.

Precautions When Choosing Subtitle Colors

The choice of subtitle color is more decisive than you think. Here are some specific things to keep in mind when picking subtitle colors :

• ‍Contrast and Readability: Make sure your subtitle color contrasts well with the background. You want your subtitles to be easy to read without straining the viewer’s eyes. High-contrast combinations, such as white text with a black outline, are a good choice because they work well on both light and dark backgrounds. If your video has a lot of changing backgrounds, use a color combination that includes an outline or border to keep the text clear and readable at all times.‍
• Consistency: Keep your subtitle color consistent throughout the video. Avoid switching between colors unless you have a specific reason, such as indicating different speakers or highlighting certain dialogues.‍
• Accessibility: Always consider accessibility when choosing subtitle colors. Some viewers have visual impairments, including color blindness. For example, red and green are often hard for colorblind viewers to distinguish, so it's better to avoid these combinations. Instead, choose high-contrast colors that work for everyone, like yellow text with a black outline.‍
• Testing Across Devices: Test your subtitles on different devices and screen sizes to make sure they are easy to read. A subtitle color that looks fine on a computer screen might be hard to read on a smartphone. Check how your subtitles look on phones, tablets, and TVs to ensure they stay clear and legible for all viewers.

Top 5 Color Combinations for Subtitles

Choosing the right color combination for your subtitles can make a big difference in ensuring your audience can read and understand your content comfortably. Below are the top five color combinations that work best for readability, accessibility, and overall viewer experience.

1. White Text with Black Outline:

This is one of the most popular choices for subtitles, and for a good reason. White text with a black outline offers high contrast and remains legible on both light and dark backgrounds. Whether your video switches between bright and dark scenes, this combination will keep your subtitles clear and easy to read without adjustment.

2. Yellow Text with Black Outline:

Yellow with a black outline is another excellent choice, particularly if you want to make sure your subtitles stand out against darker backgrounds. Yellow is bright enough to catch attention, and the black outline ensures it remains clear even if the background changes. This color combination is frequently used for accessibility as it maintains high visibility, making it easier for people with visual impairments to follow along.

3. Black Text on Light Background:

When your video has consistently light backgrounds, using black text within a light, semi-transparent box works very well. The boxed background helps keep the text clear and separated from any on-screen elements.

4. Light Gray Text with Dark Outline:

If you’re looking for something a little softer that still remains highly readable, light gray text with a dark outline can be an excellent option. This provides a subtle look without compromising readability.

5. White Text with Dark Shadows:

This is a great choice when your video has varied backgrounds and you need to make sure the subtitles are always easy to see. The black shadow keeps the white text clear without completely blocking the visuals behind it. This combination is ideal for videos with a lot of action or changing scenes, as it provides reliable contrast while still blending well with the visuals.

Subtitle Colors to Avoid

When it comes to choosing subtitle colors, there are some combinations that can cause issues for readability and accessibility :

1. Neon Colors:

Neon colors, such as bright green, pink, or blue, may seem eye-catching, but they are generally a poor choice for subtitles. These colors can strain viewers' eyes, especially during longer videos. Neon shades can also be difficult to read when the background color is bright or constantly changing, making it harder for viewers to focus on the actual content.

2. Red and Green Combinations:

Red and green are particularly problematic for colorblind viewers. A significant portion of the population has some form of color blindness, and these colors are often hard to distinguish from one another. Using red or green for subtitles, especially in combination with each other, can make your content inaccessible to a lot of viewers. It’s best to avoid these colors entirely when creating subtitles.

3. Colors Matching the Background:

Avoid using colors that blend into the background. For instance, using white text on a light background or black text on a dark background can make the subtitles almost invisible. If your video has scenes with similar colors to your subtitle text, it’s important to either add an outline or choose a color that contrasts strongly to make sure your subtitles are readable no matter what is happening in the scene.

4. Overly Bright or Overly Dark Colors:

Colors that are too bright, like vivid yellow without an outline, can cause eye fatigue for viewers, especially when used over bright scenes. On the other hand, overly dark colors, like dark blue or deep red, can blend into darker backgrounds and become difficult to see. It’s crucial to strike a balance by choosing colors that are neither too bright nor too dark to ensure consistent readability.

5. Pure White Without an Outline:

While white is generally a good choice for subtitles, pure white without any outline or background can become a problem if your video has bright or white scenes. In these instances, the text can easily get lost against the visuals, making it unreadable. Adding an outline or using a semi-transparent box can help keep white text readable, no matter the background.

Checksub: Format Your Subtitles in Any Way You Want

If you’re looking for a straightforward way to format and customize the style of your subtitles, Checksub has you covered :

• ‍Generate Subtitles: First, use Checksub’s advanced speech-to-text technology to automatically generate subtitles for your video. This tool makes it easy to transcribe and translate your video into multiple languages with high accuracy. The automated process saves you time, allowing you to focus more on refining your subtitles to match your vision.‍
• Customize Subtitles: Checksub offers a wide range of customization options to make your subtitles match the tone and style of your video. You can select fonts that fit your content, adjust the font size, and choose colors that ensure your subtitles are visible and complement your video. If you’re working with varying backgrounds, you can also add outlines or shadow effects to improve visibility. Additionally, Checksub lets you reposition your subtitles on the screen, so you can place them at the top, bottom, or anywhere that doesn’t obstruct important visuals.‍
• Ready-Made Style Templates: If you want to maintain a consistent look across your video without spending too much time on customization, Checksub also provides ready-made style templates. These templates allow you to apply a professional and uniform appearance to your subtitles with just a few clicks. The templates are designed to ensure your subtitles remain readable, visually appealing, and appropriate for your content.‍

Want to easily format and customize your subtitles ? Try Checksub for free.

You can also test any subtitle color with our Checksub extension that enables you to customize your YouTube subtitles.