How captions work in Moralab
A caption preset applies a complete reusable look. Custom opens the full editor for reveal, font, size, case, colors, border, shadow, punctuation, and spoken-word highlight.
For short-form content, captions are not just accessibility text. They are part of the edit, and they can make the video feel faster, clearer, or more recognizable.
2 paths
Caption presets and Custom
Moralab starts with a caption preset grid, plus a Custom option when you want to edit the full caption look by hand.
1. Caption presets
Admin-curated reusable caption looks shown as selectable cards in the series wizard. A preset applies a complete caption settings bundle.
Creates: A fast way to keep captions consistent across a series.
Best for: Creators who want a polished look without tuning every caption control.
Moralab tip: Use presets for repeatable series formats, then switch to Custom when a specific video needs more control.
Example:
- "Choose a caption preset card, then keep the same look across every episode in the series."
2. Custom
The Custom option opens the full caption editor: reveal behavior, static layout, font, style, size, case, color, border, shadow, punctuation, and spoken-word highlight.
Creates: Precise caption styling for a channel, format, or one-off video.
Best for: Brand-specific caption systems, unusual formats, and creators who want exact control.
Moralab tip: Make large visual changes in Custom, then keep them consistent so captions become part of the channel identity.
Example:
- "Use Custom to set Word by word reveal, XL size, uppercase text, border width, and a badge highlight."
3 modes
Reveal modes
The Reveal control decides how much text appears as the voice-over plays. It is the main difference between calm subtitle-style captions and fast social captions.
1. Sentence
Shows the caption line as a sentence instead of building it word by word.
Creates: A calmer, cleaner subtitle feel.
Best for: Documentary videos, slower narration, history, biographies, and serious explainers.
Moralab tip: Use Sentence when the voice-over should feel polished instead of constantly animated.
Example:
- "Two-line captions near the lower third, white text, subtle shadow, sentence reveal."
2. Word by word
Builds the caption cumulatively as the narrator speaks, adding words in order.
Creates: Momentum and retention without making the viewer read a full line too early.
Best for: Explainers, facts, tutorials, list videos, and medium-fast narration.
Moralab tip: Keep each caption segment short. Word by word works best when lines do not become crowded.
Example:
- "A clean line that adds each spoken word while the narrator explains a surprising fact."
3. One word
Shows a single current word at a time for the strongest per-word rhythm.
Creates: High-energy caption motion for short-form hooks.
Best for: Fast facts, punchy hooks, motivation, and videos designed for quick retention.
Moralab tip: Use One word when speed is the point. For dense education, it can feel too jumpy.
Example:
- "One large word appears at a time with strong outline and high contrast."
4 controls
Styling controls
Custom captions let you tune readability, emphasis, and mobile safe viewing without leaving the Moralab editor.
1. Font, size, and case
Choose the font, caption style, size from XS to XL or Custom, and text case.
Creates: Readable captions that fit the format and brand.
Best for: Mobile-first videos where captions must be readable at a glance.
Moralab tip: Bigger is usually safer for short-form video, but leave room for faces, products, and platform UI.
Example:
- "XL uppercase captions for a fast facts channel, or medium normal-case captions for a documentary format."
2. Text, border, and shadow
Set text color, border color, border width, and optional shadow so captions stay readable over busy scenes.
Creates: Contrast that survives bright, dark, and moving backgrounds.
Best for: Videos using generated imagery, AI motion, or scenes with changing light.
Moralab tip: A small border or shadow can do more for readability than a louder font.
Example:
- "White text with black border and a subtle shadow over a bright cinematic scene."
3. Highlight the spoken word
Turn spoken-word emphasis off, recolor the current word, or place it on a badge.
Creates: A karaoke-like follow-along effect for key narration.
Best for: Fast explainers, tutorials, facts, and videos watched without sound.
Moralab tip: Let the highlight color follow the video theme unless you need a specific brand color.
Example:
- "Current spoken word recolors blue, or appears on a rounded badge with custom corners."
4. Punctuation
Keep captions as written, or drop commas, full stops, and hyphens while the voice-over still reads the original punctuation.
Creates: Cleaner on-screen text without changing how the narrator speaks.
Best for: Short mobile captions where punctuation can add visual clutter.
Moralab tip: Trim punctuation for fast captions; keep it for slower sentence-style subtitles.
Example:
- "The narrator reads the full script, while captions show cleaner text with commas and periods removed."
How to choose captions.
Design for mobile
Most viewers will see the video on a small screen, so readability matters more than subtle typography.
Use emphasis sparingly
Highlight keywords, numbers, and turns in the story. If everything is emphasized, nothing is.
Respect safe areas
Keep captions away from platform buttons, usernames, descriptions, and progress controls.