Subtitle Export as PNGs + XML

Hello FCP.co,

iam an audio engineer with a strong interest in Movie, Video, Animations & 3D.
I just got a really weird task, which iam not sure how to perform:


- iam getting SRTs
- integrate them into FCPX (iam using TitleExchange for that - works good)

- now the client wants me to export an XML (not fcpxml) with PNGs for all the Subtitles.
- So it should be one PNG for each subtitle (regardless the length of the Sub) and one XML for defining the timing of the PNGs - so the subtitles are not the written text but the respective PNG.

how can i do this? Iam on OSX 10.8.4 and FCPX 10.0.9. Also we have the newest Version of Submerge, in case this is any help.

thank you for your help.
KabeL

Belle Nuit will do what you need. Import the .srt into Belle Nuit render out the PNG files and export a FCP7 XML.

www.belle-nuit.com/Belle_Nuit_Subtitler

you got a working freeware solution for this ?

BelleNuit is the way to go, I don't think there is a freeware alternative (I work a lot with subtitles).

You could create the subtitles in Photoshop/Pixelmator if there are not too many, export each as a PNG, import the PNG in FCP7, put the subtitles in their position and export the XML.

Or to avoid all this trouble and to skip paying for a BelleNuit license, you could hire someone who has it to do this for you for a small amount of money.

Sorry - I can't think of a free way of doing what you're looking for.

You also could ask your client why in heaven's name they want to make this so complicated. Exporting subtitles as PNGs with XML really is something from the past, and I'm talking dinosaur age here

Why don't you just deliver the subtitled master straight from FCPX? We do this all the time.

And if for some reason they need a time-code accurate subtitle file with transparency just export your subtitles from the FCPX timeline as ProRes 4444 and send the file to them.

- Ronny

well iam trying EZtitles IV right now - for my purpose its perfect.
Unfortunately the Full Version i need is like 2k and iam kinda looking for a less expensive solution.

Is belle-nuit providing the same options? I contacted belle-nuit for a demo version.
What you guys think about swift / annotation edit?

ronny courtens wrote: You also could ask your client why in heaven's name they want to make this so complicated

how often did you think of this solution for your own requests and how often did you really do this i dont really have a choice here....

how often did you think of this solution for your own requests and how often did you really do this

Actually I consider this as part of my job and I always do this. If a client comes up with a specific request and I know we can give him a better working solution with less work for us and subsequently at a lower price for him I will give him that information. Then it's up to the client to make the final decision. And our clients are very happy with this way of working.

But if you really think you have no other choice without consulting your client first, then I rest my case.

- Ronny

well thanks ronny - i think you're absolutely right. its just that i started doing subtitling, so i would not consider myself an expert. i get decent deliverables tho...

when it comes to audio, i do recommendations, just like you. when it comes to movie post, i do what iam said to do. maybe in half a year i have enough knowledge in this matter, to make suggestions to my clients.

so for now... its finding a cheap solutions for this