The VLC Media Player is apt for loading external or custom subtitle files. The player can identify and automatically add subtitles to the videos based on the names of the files. You also have additional options for configuring the text on-screen. You can change the default font like the Arial, to Roboto, or probably something else as long as this is in the system.
You can increase the size of the font or reduce this as you prefer.
There are a number of customizations with regard to the subtitles that you can make. The text displays text that is white with a black border for the visibility, by default. You can change this color. You can modify the width and color of the outline. You also have an option for adding shadow to the text so that this blends in.
These are the ‘simple’ options that you find in ‘Subtitles/OSD’ tab of the preferences of VLC.
How to access and change the subtitle font details
- Go to ‘Tools > Preferences (CTRL + P)’
- Click on ‘Subtitles/OSD’
- Under the ‘Subtitle effects’ you find different options
Font: This is a dropdown for choosing a different font that is present in the system
Font size: You can choose between ‘Smaller’, ‘Small’, ‘Normal’, Large’, and ‘Larger’ sizes. This can increase or decrease the appearance.
Outline Thickness: You can select between ‘None’, ‘Thin’, ‘Normal’, and ‘Thick’ for visibility and blending
Text default color: You can switch to blue, red or any other color of your choice from the default white.
Outline color: The color of the outline or border that can contrast the color of the text
Add a shadow: Add some shadow to increase visibility
Add a background: You can add a dark background that is transparent. The text can be displayed on this.
- Hit ‘Save’ to keep the changes
The modifications are not visible immediately if you have a video playing. You need to stop the video and play, or else open a new one to see the changes.
Set the Subtitle Font Size Manually
If the font size (small or large) does not make the size of the text suitable as you prefer, you can input this size in the pixel also. This option is available in ‘Advanced Preferences’ and this can override the relative settings of font size. To do this
- Go to ‘Tools > Preferences’
- Click on ‘All’ under the ‘Show Settings’
- Navigate to ‘Video > Subtitle/OSD > Text Renderer’
- In the ‘Freetype2 font renderer’ you have the choice of entering the ‘Font size in pixels’.
- Hit ‘Save’
