Broadcast Writer

DTVs let the viewer select how their captions are displayed. “Captions are below the surface of the picture” is probably a TV caption settings issue.

When viewer says, “so often they are below the surface of the picture” does viewer mean that the caption text blends into the video because the text is too dimly lit or colored to show up easily over the video?

Please ask the viewer:
1. To take a picture of their TV screen when captions are “below the surface of the picture” and send it to TV station?
2. TV brand
3. TV model
4. Does the viewer use a Digital Cable Box to change channels on her TV?
5. Does the caption issue that the viewer as “below the surface of the picture” resemble any of the examples below?

The viewer may be able to resolve this caption display issue through a menu setting on their TV or on their cable box.

RECOMMENDED CAPTION SETTINGS:
TEXT SETTINGS
Text Color White
Text Opacity 100%
Text Transparency 0%

BACKGROUND SETTINGS
Background Color Black
Background Opacity 100%
Background Transparency 0%

CAPTION TEXT OPACITY SETTINGS:

Caption Text Color White and Caption Text Opacity 100% and Background Opacity 0% (No background) means captions are “almost always” bright enough to be read even without a background to provide contrast.

Caption Text Color White and Caption Text Opacity 75% and Background Opacity 0% (No background) means captions are “mostly” bright enough to be read even without a background to provide contrast.

Caption Text Color White and Caption Text Opacity 50% and Background Opacity 0% (No background) means captions are “sometimes” bright enough to be read even without a background to provide contrast.

Caption Text Color White and Caption Text Opacity 25% and Background Opacity 0% (No background) means captions are “rarely” bright enough to be read even without a background to provide contrast.

Caption Text Color Black and Caption Text Opacity 25% and Background Opacity 0% (No background) means captions are “NOT” bright enough to be read without a background to provide contrast.

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CAPTION BACKGROUND SETTINGS:

Caption Text Color White and Caption Text Opacity 100% and Background Opacity 100% (No background means captions are “almost always” bright enough to be read because opaque background creates contrast.

Caption Text Color White and Caption Text Opacity 100% and Background Opacity 0 % (No background means that there is NO background behind the captions to provide captions and so captions can blend into the video.

Caption Text Color Black and Caption Text Opacity 100% and Background Opacity 0 % (No background means that there is NO background behind the captions to provide captions and so captions can blend into the video.

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Sample: Charter DTV caption settings:
Setting Description Options
Text Settings Change the color, transparency, size and font of your Closed Captioning.
Color: Select a color for the Closed Captioning text that will appear on your TV screen.
Transparency: Select the degree to which you can see through the text, either Opaque or Semi-transparent.
Size: Choose a small, medium, or large font.
Font: Select which font style you prefer for the Closed Captioning text.
Character Edge: Choose how you want the edges of the characters to appear in Closed Captioning text.
Background Settings Change the background on which your Closed Captioning text appears. Color: Select a background color that is different than the text color.
Transparency: Select the degree to which you can see through the background.
Window Settings Select a color and transparency setting for the window or box surrounding the Closed Captioning text. Color: Select a color for the box surrounding the Closed Captioning text.
Transparency: Select the degree to which you can see through the Closed Captioning box.