Definition
A lower third is a supplementary, temporary graphic in the lower area of the screen that adds context — most often a person's name and role — while the main footage keeps playing. In broadcast it is also called a chyron, after the Chyron Corporation whose character generators dominated newsrooms until the brand became the generic word. A good lower third has a clear hierarchy (a large primary line, a smaller secondary line), a background bar or shadow for legibility, and a short eased entrance and exit. It should stay inside the title-safe zone (roughly the inner 90% of the frame) and, in vertical 9:16 video, be repositioned higher so it clears platform UI and captions. Typical on-screen time is 4-7 seconds.
How Loopdesk Uses This
Loopdesk's speaker detection identifies who is speaking and when, so once a guest is labeled with a name and title, on-brand lower thirds can be placed automatically the first time each person speaks — timed to be readable and repositioned for vertical exports. Lower thirds, captions, and multicam layouts all key off the same understanding of who is on screen, and you direct them in plain English.
Introduce every speaker automatically
Loopdesk detects each speaker so on-brand lower thirds can be placed and timed for you, in horizontal and vertical.
Try LoopdeskFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a lower third and a caption?
A lower third identifies a person, topic, or location (like a name and title), while a caption transcribes spoken words for accessibility. They can appear at the same time, which is why placement matters so they don't collide.
How long should a lower third stay on screen?
Usually 4-7 seconds of full on-screen time — long enough to read comfortably twice — plus a short animation in and out. Fast short-form clips use quicker lower thirds.
Related Keywords
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Related Terms
Speaker Detection (Speaker Diarization)
AI's ability to identify and distinguish between different speakers in audio and video content.
Auto-Generated Captions (Auto Subtitles)
AI-powered speech-to-text technology that automatically generates synchronized captions and subtitles for video content.
Keyframe
A marker that stores a property's value at a specific point in time; two or more create animation as the software interpolates between them.
Vertical Video
Video content recorded or formatted in a 9:16 portrait aspect ratio, optimized for mobile-first platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.