Lower Thirds: What They Are and How to Add Them
A lower third is the name and title that appears in the bottom part of the screen while someone speaks: “Ana Souza, Founder.” It tells the viewer who is talking without stopping the video to say it. The name comes from where it sits, in the lower third of the frame.
In Cut Express you add one by asking Claude. You say who it is, what to write and when. Claude places the plate, the accent bar and the slide-in, and you get the MP4 back in your chat. You can see real renders, with the prompts that made them, on the home page.
Why do lower thirds matter?
Picture an interview where the guest starts talking and nobody on screen says who they are. Viewers who missed the intro, or who arrived from a clip, spend the first minute guessing. Some of them never find out and leave.
A lower third answers your viewer’s first question (who is this, and why should you listen to them?) in two seconds, because the name and role are on screen before the point is made. In podcasts, panels and testimonials, it’s often the difference between a stranger and a source.
What goes in a lower third?
Keep it to two lines:
- Title line: the name, larger and bolder.
- Subtitle line: the role, company, or why they’re qualified to speak. Shorter is better.
Other common uses:
| Use | Title line | Subtitle line |
|---|---|---|
| Interview guest | Name | Role, company |
| Location | City or venue | Date or event |
| Topic marker | Chapter name | Step 2 of 4 |
| Social handle | @handle | Platform |
| Source | Study or report name | Year |
Where should a lower third sit, and for how long?
- Placement: left-aligned near the bottom is the classic spot. In a vertical video, keep it above the area where the platform’s buttons and caption text sit, and away from your own captions.
- Timing: bring it in a second or two after the person starts speaking and hold it for about 4 to 6 seconds, enough to read twice.
- Once per person: show it the first time someone appears. Repeat only after a long gap.
- Contrast: a dark plate behind light text reads over any footage.
How do I add a lower third with Claude?
- Upload the clip in the Cut Express panel in your chat. First time? See connect Cut Express to Claude.
- Tell Claude the text and the moment: who, what to write, when they start talking. If you’re not sure of the moment, ask Claude to transcribe the clip first so it can find it.
- Pick a look, or let Claude match your captions. Font, plate colour and opacity, accent colour, left or centre.
- Render and adjust. “Hold it a second longer,” “move it up,” “accent in yellow.”
Add a lower third when the guest first speaks: “Ana Souza” and “Founder, Northwind Studio”. Left-aligned, dark plate at 70%, yellow accent bar, slide in from the left, fade out after 5 seconds.
Claude writes a lower third with the title, subtitle, plate and accent bar. The plate sizes itself to the longer line. It enters with a slide or fade and leaves with a fade. You can have up to ten in one video.
For a fully animated version (a line that draws on, a name that types in), Claude can build it as a motion graphic instead. See motion graphics for YouTube.
How do lower thirds work with captions?
Both sit at the bottom by default, so one has to move. The usual fixes:
- Captions in the middle of the frame for the few seconds the lower third is on.
- Captions lower, lower third higher, with clear space between them.
- No captions on the line where the person says their own name.
Ask Claude for whichever you prefer. Captions come from the transcript, so they keep their timing wherever they move. See captions for Reels and word-by-word captions.
Which videos need lower thirds?
- Podcast clips turned into Shorts, where every clip needs the guest’s name again.
- Interviews and testimonials, often cut with jump cuts on the words.
- Event recaps with several speakers.
- Tutorials with chapters, using the lower third as a topic marker.
- YouTube videos that skip a long intro and show the channel name this way. See YouTube intro maker.
For the rest of the edit, see video editing tips.
FAQ
Is a lower third the same as a caption?
No. A caption shows what is said. A lower third shows who is saying it, or where.
Can I use my own font?
You can pick from 83 fonts in the catalog. Custom font uploads aren’t supported yet.
Can I add a logo next to it?
Yes. Upload the logo as a photo and Claude places it as an overlay. See how to add a logo to a video.
Does it cost credits?
No. Lower thirds are part of the render. Only voices, sound effects and transcripts use credits.
Try it on your own footage
Upload an interview clip and tell Claude who’s speaking.
14 days free, then $19/month. Cancel before day 14 and you pay nothing.