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pt_ImportSubtitles
Version: 1.3 Sign up to be notified by email when a new version of this script is posted
This script is useful if you need to embed subtitles onto video for web or tape delivery. You can import subtitles into After Effects using either the Encore Text Script or SubRip file format, then render with an alpha and import into your editing software, or use Dynamic Link to import directly into Premiere Pro.
New features in version 1.3:
- CS5.5 compatibility.
- recreates italic and bold style tags in .srt files.
- bottom alignment option.
- use vertical or paragraph style text.
- fixes some timing errors.
New features in version 1.2:
- Adds support for the SubRip subtitle file format.
- Support for RightToLeft languages.
- Vertical text alignment.
HOW TO USE:
- Create a new composition with the correct format for your output.
- Subtitles are created using the settings in the Character/Paragraph panels, so create a sample text layer first and change the font, size and alignment as required. For example, you may want the text alignment in the Paragraph panel set to “Center Text”. You can then delete the text layer.
- Run the script, choose the subtitle format, then click Import Subtitles and select the file to import.
- To change the text size or style after import, select the imported text layer and change the settings in the Character/Paragraph panels as required. Then delete the subtitle layer and use the script to import it again.
- Drag the subtitle layer to the bottom of the comp, using the Title Safe comp guides if necessary.
- Then you have the option to:
- Render the with an alpha channel, import into your editing software and put the subtitles onto your video.
- Import the video into After Effects and place under the subtitle layer, then render the result.
- With Premiere Pro you just need to save your AE project, then you can drag the subtitle comp from AE’s project panel directly into Premiere Pro’s project panel, and from there, into the edit.
Upgrade notice: If you bought pt_ImportSubtitles in the last year (between Jan 04, 2011 and Jan 03, 2012) you can receive a discount code equal to the full 100% amount of what you originally paid for it. If you bought it before Jan 4, 2011 you can get a discount code equal to 50% of what you paid. To request this discount code please go here.
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- pt_ImportSubtitles UI
Version history
- 1.3 – Jan 2012
- CS5.5 compatibility.
- recreates italic and bold style tags in .srt files.
- bottom alignment option.
- use vertical or paragraph style text.
- fixes some timing errors.
- 1.2 Support for the SubRip format, RightToLeft languages and vertical text alignment – Dec 2010
- 1.1 Added CS5 compatibility – May 2010
- 1.0 Initial release – Dec 2009
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Hi Paul,
this is an extremely useful script! Thanks for this one!
Nonetheless I encountered a particular problem:
I need to import german words (lots of ö, ü, etc)
Hi Fritz,
I haven’t tested for things like this, but I’ll look into it. Are you running AE in German? And if not, are you able to try that to see if it helps? Can I ask what version of AE and OS you’re running? Also, could you send me copy of the text file you’re having problems with (send to paul.tuersley@btinternet.com).
Worked well!
Saved me from a lot of rewritting and keyframing. Thanks a bunch!
Would it be a possible new feature to have .srt files imported as well. I use a subtitle program, Miyu, which can’t export to the Text Script Format.
Hi Eelke, it looks like it’ll be easy enough to add support for .srt files. I’ll get onto it soon.
Hi Paul,
This script is great, thanks! I have had one problem though… I added Korean subtitles to a WMV and it worked perfectly, but when I try to do the same for Spanish it doesn’t seem to like it. An anchor point appears in the middle of the composition but there are no subtitles. I’ve checked the formatting and it seems to be OK. Do you have any idea what could cause this? Also the help mentions Error Logs, where would I find these?
Thanks again, this is a really useful script!
Hi,
I’ve tried it (CS5) but for some reason it imported everything in uppercase. Checked the txt file, everything seems to be in order there.
Amit
Never mind it was my mistake
I have created a lot of subtitles in SubtitleWorkshop and now need to add them in AF.
Your script doesne recognice the srt format.
I am aware that you want a txt file, but more specificly, which format would you like me to save the sub text in?
and / or – Could you please show a systax example?
Thanks
Nevermind my previous comment – I had missed some basic stuff.
Subtitle workshop:
save as Adobe Encore
AF:
Import
Hello.
Thanks for this practical script.
However, I have a question:
there is a chance that the script was adapted to ass subtitle format?
I do have another script that imports ssa/ass files, although it’s more aimed at karaoke subtitle animation. I’ll be releasing a new update for it on here shortly, but here’s the current version:
http://www.aenhancers.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=380
Hi.:) Thanks for the reply.
I know that script, but as you say it is rather designed to karaoke, not a subtitle editing, and lines of dialogue in the film using Adobe After Effects.
I’m curious if you thought to extend the script “pt_ImportSubtitles” to other platforms, including the format of ass?
Did my pt_SSA_Animator script not import the .ASS subtitles correctly? Although designed for karaoke, there’s a good chance it will import non karaoke subtitles. If not, it’s probably easier to get it working in that script rather than adding support to this one.
I will be releasing an update to pt_ImportSubtitles shortly that adds support for the SubRip subtitle format, so I’m not against adding support for other formats if there’s demand.
Do you know if the .ASS subtitle format is commonly used for non karaoke subtitles?
This is probably pretty basic, but I’ve gotten my subtitle into after effects and I’m ready to render. You say to render with an alpha layer…….I do this and I still have the background color with the video, not transparent. I’ve tried avi and mov because I know all codecs will not do this. What am I missing?
Are you rendering it for import into an editing app? Generally you would set the Output Module in the Render Queue to RGB+Alpha, using the Straight, not Premultiplied option for best results. Or you could even just render the Alpha and use it as a matte in the editing app. If you open the render in something like Quicktime you won’t see a transparent background, so maybe that’s all you’re seeing.
To confirm your comp does indeed have transparency, either click the checkboard icon at the bottom of the comp window or set the RGB pulldown to show the comp’s alpha.
Ok I got it to work if I used uncompressed avi. Is there any file type or codec that allows rgb + alpha and creates a smaller file?
For Quicktime, the Animation codec at best quality gives lossless compression. I don’t know about AVIs. I’d suggest asking about that on a general AE forum.
What a usefull script!
However I have a proportional problem with the texts, after watching your tutorial and check all the text propierties, I can’t fix the an error that when I send my subtitles composition to Premiere Pro, one of the subtitles lines become bigger than the other, there any kind of solution?!
I really thank your help!
Ok, I forget to write that I’m using Helvetica font.
Thanks.
Has anyone else had problems with text quality when importing subtitles into Premiere Pro using dynamic link?
I’ve been in touch with Johan about this off list, and it appears to be related to quality settings in Premiere Pro (CS4 in this case).
You rock guys
Hi Paul
Great script!
I was just wondering (as some of my subtitles are rather long), if it was possible to have them automatically wrap onto a second line if a partiicular subtitle was wider than the composition? Or is it just a case of me having to manully add the line breaks where needed. Not a problem if so, just wondered if there’s a trick I don’t know about?
Hi Chris, At the moment you will have to add the line breaks manually. I’m working on an update that may help with this and will send you a test copy. Paul
Hi Paul,
Thank’s for this great script, very useful indeed.
Anyway, I have a problem with the position of the subtitles:
I’m using After FX CS4, importing .srt files. Don’t know why but the reference position is always the upper line of the subtitle, whether it is a 2 line subtitle or just 1 line. I’ve centered them, and adjusted to the bottom of the screen, and what happens is that the 2nd line of the 2 lines subtitles disappear… or hidden outside the comp’s size.
Let me know if you can help me with this.
Hi Paul,
Nice scripts, but I have a few problems. It seems that it doesn’t work with CS 5.5 (AE 10.5), did you try it already ? It would be useful because of the TC possibility in the new version. Something more important to me is (in AE CS 5 then) when I import a subtitle text file, the text layer doesn’t come at the right Time Code (which is starting at 01:00:00:00 for reel 1, 02:00:00:00 for reel 2, etc.), I offset it, but I still have some in/out small errors, that are always 1 frame (too early or too late, at the in or out point of the text). This can be a problem if the text is there’s just a cut somewhere around there… Is this understandable ? I’m working at 25 fr/sec, can the problem come because of that ? I can send you a small text subtitle example if necesaary…
Thanks in advance !
Hi again,
Also I realise I need a “bottom” option in the Vertical Align fonction… Is this possible ?
Thanks…
Hi Paul,
Looking more for the problem of in/out error, I realize that the keyframes positions are correct. They are at the correct Time code, following my subtitle file, but hte text is appearing 1 frame too early or staying one frame too late. If I move the keyframe, and make it comme back at the same position, the error is gone…
But I can not verify and move manually all the keyframes, or I will turn crazy. Hope this can help to fix the problem. Thanks.
Hi, there seems to be problems with the AE5.5 version – importer wont work
Hope there will be update for this
Paul,
I’d like to use your script and send you 1 or 2 bucks, but is this script also working for Win AE and Premiere 5.5?
Maybe all these scripts are working doesn’t matter if on OS or Win, I just don’t know. Sorry.
thanks!
just installed your script and unforunately it won’t work for CS5.5
The subs simply won’t pop up in the comp timeline when imported…
The script doent work in AE 5.5 please, can you fix it?
Thank you
DANI
Hey man I just downloaded the script. It comes up fine but it wont import the .txt file. Any suggestions im using cs5.5 on a mac.
Sorry about this. The script isn’t currently compatible with CS5.5, but I’m working on an update that should be out soon.
when will the script be updated please?
i should have checked compatibility with CS 5.5 before buying it…
my fault
Hi Paul. Thanx for the script. Now that you are working again with the script can you make it understand tag for italics etc or even SubStaionAlpha?
Hi Georgios. I have another script that reads subtitles from SubStationAlpha files, but it doesn’t read the formatting which may be what you were asking for: http://aescripts.com/pt_ssakaraokeanimator/
Scripting doesn’t have much support for setting text styles like italics, especially when you may want to combine regular, italics or bold on the same line. It’s not 100% impossible, but it would involve some tricky workarounds.
I’d recommend filing a feature request for scripting to be able to set Bold, Italic, etc, and be able to set different styles for different characters on the same line of text:
http://www.adobe.com/go/wish
Hi Paul,
This looks great. Just need to check before I buy – does it work for PCs?
Hi Rob, yes it works with both Mac and Windows versions of After Effects, as do most, if not all, the scripts on aescripts.com.
Thanks for the speedy reply, Paul.
Hi Paul,
Great script and has saved me many hours.
I’m trying to import an Arabic translation. I can get the unicode text file reading right to left and it imports correctly though some of the characters aren’t joining properly or have slightly different characters. When I use the Arabic text import script it comes in fine so I know it’s not a font issue. Any suggestions as I have a good couple of hours worth of video to subtitle and I really don’t want to have to do it line by line..!
Hi Andy, the ArabicText script is specifically designed to import Arabic text correctly, while ImportSubtitles isn’t. It would require a collaboration between myself and the author of ArabicText to get this working in ImportSubtitles as I’m not familiar with the problem it solves. You’re only the second person who has asked about this, and I can look into it, but I’m afraid it won’t happen any time soon.
Hi Paul,
Great work on this script, it’s extremely useful!
There is one feature I really need, and that is the addition of vertical alignment ‘bottom’. It’s the standard for subtitles here in The Netherlands. I would be happy to donate a few euros if you add this feature because then I can really start using it. Of course the 5.5 update would also be welcome.