How to Use Lower Third Graphics in Film and TV

Lower thirds are computer-generated graphic overlays superimposed onto the lower section of a television or movie screen in order to provide additional context to the visual footage. Placing text, graphical elements, and animation in the lower third of a frame allows you to convey additional information without obstructing important visuals.

Lower thirds are also commonly called "chyrons" based on the name of the Chyron Corporation, one of the first companies to specialize in creating this type of video graphic. Most widely-used video editing software is capable of designing basic lower third titles.

In film, lower thirds are most prevalent in documentaries, where they identify the names and occupations of interview subjects. For example, cutting to an interview subject and including a lower third with the text "Jane Doe, Forensic Psychologist" eliminates the need for Jane to say her name and profession on-camera. The filmmaker could also include other identifying information, such as the city Jane lives in or her relationship to another person in the movie. Lower thirds in film can also establish location and time. For example, showing an establishing shot of a house and including the lower third "Jane Doe's residence, July 15th, 1988" clearly tells the viewer when and where this scene is taking place.

In television, lower thirds appear prominently in non-fiction programming like news broadcasts and talk shows. Lower thirds on television news broadcasts briefly summarize the story currently being discussed on-air. TV lower thirds typically contain the network's logo and can be animated with scrolling information like stock prices, news headlines, weather, and sports scores. Whereas film lower thirds are always added in post-production, live TV broadcasts use specialized equipment to add and update lower thirds onscreen in real-time.

The various elements that make up a lower third all work together to clearly and stylishly provide context to your onscreen visuals. When creating lower thirds for a client, first ask if they have a lower third template or style guide to follow. When designing your own lower thirds, make sure to take into account these components:

1. 1. Typography: Use a font that's legible and complements the tone of the content in your video. Also, make sure to keep your text brief—if you write too much, it may distract the viewer from the rest of the footage.
2. 2. Shapes and logos: Add shapes behind your text to help make it more noticeable. Use multiple shapes in the same lower third to accentuate different pieces of information. TV networks incorporate their logo into their lower thirds to make it crystal clear what channel you're watching. Incorporate your own custom logo into a personal project’s lower third if you plan to use your videos to build a brand.
3. 3. Color: Choose a color scheme that makes your text pop without drawing too much attention. Too many colors overwhelm the eye, so when in doubt fewer colors are usually better. If including a logo in your lower third, match your color scheme to the colors in the logo.
4. 4. Position and size: Make sure your lower thirds are always in the "title-safe area" so that no matter what type of television screen the viewer has, your lower thirds won't be cut off. To do this, turn on the title-safe area view in your editing software, and generally try to keep important information closer to the middle of the screen. The text size should be large enough to read without taking up too much space.
5. 5. Animation: Animated motion graphics add an extra flourish to your lower thirds. Generally, though, simple lower thirds are more effective, so consider whether animation is truly necessary in your scenario. Intro and outro lower third animation is most common, as animation occurring mid-segment is potentially distracting.

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