Studio 21.1.1
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TITLES & SUBTITLES

How to create a lower-third name caption

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

A lower third identifies a speaker without competing with the interview. Prioritize name hierarchy and placement over elaborate motion.

Before you begin

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

ACTUAL RESOLVE INTERFACEView full size ↗
Fusion title in the Edit timeline with Inspector controls
Fusion title in the Edit timeline with Inspector controls Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 1189. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. In the Titles library, choose a lower-third preset or place a Text title over the interview shot.
  2. Enter the person’s name and role in the appropriate fields. Keep the role shorter and visually less prominent than the name.
  3. Position the graphic clear of the face and other captions. Check safe areas and compare several shots where it will appear.
  4. Set a duration long enough to read comfortably. Play its entrance and exit, then duplicate and update the text for additional speakers.

Check your result

Names and roles are accurate, comfortably readable, and consistently placed across the film.

If it doesn’t work as expected

Preset animations can extend beyond a shortened clip’s useful reading time. If the words barely settle before exiting, lengthen the title or simplify its animation.

BUILD THE UNDERLYING SKILL

Edit with precision

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

Open module 04 →
← PREVIOUS GUIDEUse Text+ for a more flexible titleNEXT GUIDE →Fix a missing or wrong title font

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.