Closed-Caption questions
Apr 07, 2016
By
Shel Holtz
Hi, everyone. My client has new requests on the closed-caption element of the project, and I have no idea how to go about accommodating these (or even if they're possible). A sample scene (with a single slide) is attached, showing what I've done with closed-captions. Just click the orange CC button to enable it. Here's what they're asking for now:
- They want to make sure the scrolling closed-caption is synched with the audio. For example, one note says, "Closed captioning text falls behind narration..." Is there a way to do this?
- They want the ability to turn closed-caption on and off for the entire project. That is, if they choose for it to be on, it should be on for every slide, automatically. If they choose for it to be off, it should be off, for each slide, automatically. I suspect there's a way to use variables to do this, but I'm not sure if that's right and, if it is, I don't know how.
Thanks, as always, for the assist!
13 Replies
Shel,
Use one variable to keep track of whether CC is enabled. Turn on the layer when the timeline of the slide starts if it is, and when the user clicks the CC button.
Use a variable to show the CC content, and update it at the appropriate time on the timeline.
Hi, Shel -- Thanks for your question and I see that Walt is offering you some assistance! In addition, I thought I would stop in to pass along some general Closed Captioning-related resources for your review, as well:
Thanks, Walt. I love the example you shared, but I haven't been able to figure out how you did it. I see the cc rectangles, and the corresponding triggers ("Set transcript equal to..."), but I don't see where the actual closed-caption layer is. How do you make this trigger display the closed-caption in a specific shape, size, and position at the bottom of the page?
Hi Shel
I'm awake now so maybe I can answer this for you. The CC rectangle is on a layer is on the Introduction slide - the blank rectangle holds the variable and the variable is called by the triggers at specific times on the timeline. this is where you could change the shape, size, colour if you wanted to
Ah ha! I get that. Thanks, Wendy!
Phew...I've redeemed myself - lol.
I'm still confused, I'm afraid. I'm looking at Walt's attachment and don't see where the rectangle is that appears when you preview the slide.
Click the orange CC button to show and click CC button again to hide.
Shel,
It is the same layer you used, I deleted the scrolling panel and replaced it with a black rectangle. I edited the text and put a variable reference. When a timed trigger changes the CCContent variable, the text shows on the black rectangle.
Hmmm. I'll need to study it more. I don't see any layer at all on the sample file you uploaded, Walt.
Hi Shel
the layer is called cc and is on the Introduction slide - see the first image in my post above. the layer contains a black rectangle with a text variable reference that changes according the triggers that Walt has on the base layer of the Introduction slide. He has set two cue points. The original text displays when the timeline starts, the second lot of text displays at cue point 1 and the third lot of text at cue point 2.
My confusion was my fault! I had downloaded a file from one of the links Christie had shared and kept looking at that, not the one Walt uploaded. Duh! I'm on it now! Thanks!
Too many links! ;) Glad you got it figured out Shel and thanks for the update as well.
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