How to Add Text to Videos on macOS

Adding text to videos can be an excellent way to make them more engaging, informative, or just for fun. Whether it’s for subtitles, annotations, or titles, text can serve as a great tool to convey additional information to your viewers.

If you’re a Mac user, you have access to several easy-to-use tools that can help you do this. In this post, we will discuss using iMovie, QuickTime Player, and third-party applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and Kapwing to add text to videos.

Using iMovie

iMovie is a powerful video editing tool that comes pre-installed on all Macs. It offers a range of features to add and customize text in videos.

1. Launch iMovie and create a new project.
2. Import the video to which you want to add text.
3. Drag the video onto the timeline.
4. Click on the “Titles” tab on the top menu. You will see various text styles.
5. Drag your chosen text style onto the timeline where you want the text to appear.
6. Click on the text in the viewer and type in your desired text.
7. You can adjust the duration, font, size, color, and position of the text as desired.
8. Once done, click on “File” > “Share” > “File” to export your edited video.

Using QuickTime Player

QuickTime Player is the default video player on macOS. While it doesn’t natively support adding text to videos, you can use it in combination with other built-in macOS tools like Keynote to achieve this.

1. Create a new slide in Keynote and add your text to it.
2. Save this slide as an image file.
3. Open the image file in QuickTime Player and export it as a movie file.
4. Open your video file and the text movie file in QuickTime Player.
5. Copy the text movie and paste it onto the video at the desired point.
6. Save your edited video.

Please note this method may not produce professional-grade results. It’s best for simple text overlays.

Using Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is a professional video editing software with advanced text editing tools.

1. Import your video into a new project in Premiere Pro.
2. Drag the video onto the timeline.
3. Click on the “Type Tool” (T) in the tool panel.
4. Click on the video in the Program Monitor where you want the text to appear.
5. Type your desired text and use the “Effect Controls” panel to adjust font, size, color, position, and other text properties.
6. Save and export your edited video.

Using Kapwing

Kapwing is a user-friendly online video editing tool that makes adding text to videos a breeze.

1. Visit the Kapwing website and choose “Start editing.”
2. Upload your video.
3. Click on “Text” in the top bar.
4. Type your desired text and adjust its properties using the right-hand sidebar.
5. Click “Done” and “Export Video” once you’re satisfied with your edits.
6. Download your edited video.

Adding text to videos can significantly enhance their value and effectiveness. With the above tools at your disposal on your Mac, you can start creating engaging and informative videos with ease.