Studio 21.1.1
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TITLES & SUBTITLES

How to burn subtitles into a video

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

Burned-in subtitles become visible pixels in the movie and cannot be switched off by the viewer. Keep an uncaptioned master if you will need other language versions.

Before you begin

Have a timeline ready and decide where the text should begin and end.

ACTUAL RESOLVE INTERFACEView full size ↗
Deliver subtitle settings showing a separate SRT file
Deliver subtitle settings showing a separate SRT file Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 1247. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. Proofread the subtitle track and check that the intended track is active in the timeline.
  2. On Deliver, open the subtitle export settings and enable Export Subtitle.
  3. Choose Burn into video and verify the selected subtitle track. Confirm the output resolution so the text size is evaluated correctly.
  4. Render a short captioned section, open the actual movie in another player, and check the words remain visible without loading a separate subtitle file.

Check your result

The subtitles are visible in the movie itself and match the reviewed timeline styling.

If it doesn’t work as expected

If captions are missing, confirm the subtitle export mode and active track. A separate .srt beside the movie is not evidence that text was burned into it.

BUILD THE UNDERLYING SKILL

Edit with precision

Go deeper with the course’s explanations, exercises, and knowledge checks.

Open module 04 →
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Technical reference: DaVinci Resolve 21.1 Reference Manual, Blackmagic Design, September 2026. Screenshot page numbers refer to that manual. Independently written guidance; specific controls may vary by platform and build. Authorship & image credits.