If you’re a person who regularly watches the news, you’ve run into something called a “lower third.” And, hey, if the news isn’t your thing right now (and who could blame you), you’ve still probably seen this graphical element in other settings.
Today, this text and graphics are staples of the television screen. You cannot imagine a television news program running without some kind of information supporting the news throughout its telecast in the form of scrolling text along the bottom.
This visual element of text and graphics is called the “graphic overlay,” and this particular type of overlay is called the “lower third.”
Let’s dive deeper into it.
What does “Lower Third” mean?
George Clooney discusses his first appearance on Broadway portraying legendary CBS News anchor Edward R. Murrow.
Credit: CBS
The bottom section mentioned here corresponds to the white area in the provided image where logos and additional news information are displayed. To put it more straightforwardly, this refers to the lower part of the television screen.
However, for greater precision, let us articulate it using more refined terminology.
The lower third (often referred to as “L3” in technical terms, or simply “supers” in scripts and “chyrons”) is a type of broadcast graphics—combining both text and images—that supports the main visual content typically found at the bottom section of your TV screen.
Nevertheless, the phrase “third” should be interpreted loosely since it isn’t an absolute guideline. The graphic overlay may extend slightly above or below one-third of the screen. It largely depends on how you want it presented. However, typically, it remains mostly within the lower portion of the frame, approximately the bottom third.
Where Do We Usually View Lower Thirds?
Although our focus was primarily on understanding L3s within the realm of news broadcasts, these systems are certainly not limited to TV journalism alone. In fact, they are prevalent in many areas.
Films and Broadcast Television
‘Gangs of New York’
Credit: Miramax Films
In movies, a lower third or subtitle can serve multiple purposes: they might introduce new characters, offer details about the timeframe, setting, specific dates, or even just indicate what time of day it is… additionally, these elements often display subtitles for dialogue.
Interviews and Documentaries
‘The Defiant Ones’
Credit: Netflix
As you might have guessed, the primary purpose of L3s in interviews and documentaries is to provide a speaker’s name and job title, in addition to providing the audience with other contextual information.
Social Media
Content on video-hosting and sharing platforms, like YouTube, Twitch, and Vimeo, use the lower thirds to provide instructions to the viewers to like and subscribe.
Online Events
Online events, like webinars and live streams, utilize lower thirds to introduce participants, give event information, provide context, highlight topics/segments/key points, show polls and surveys, show social media feeds, provide real-time updates, display branding and live metrics, promote calls to action, credit contributors, as well as highlight sponsors and partners. And it does all this without interrupting the flow of the presentation.
Interactive content
‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’
Credit: Netflix
The latest addition is interactive media, such as Netflix’s.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
(2018). Here, lower thirds serve as clickable choices for the audience.
Ways to Create Lower Thirds
You have the option to design your own lower thirds by utilizing video editing tools such as Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve. These applications offer adjustable templates where you can insert personalized details, or alternatively, you could employ an application like Adobe After Effects to craft your very own animated designs.
Whatever you choose, make sure that the graphics are consistent across your project and are in an area of the screen that will be visible across platforms.
The Design Strategy of Lower Thirds
Since the primary task of the L3s is to provide supporting information, the primary objective of a good design strategy mut be to let that information come across coherently.
The second aim (though not at all lesser in importance) is undoubtedly to maintain a tidy and well-presented appearance.
In essence, an effective design approach encompasses readability, simplicity, and visual appeal without detracting from the primary video content, ensuring that it conveys only pertinent details.
Successful Lower-Third Design Prioritizes Specific Components:
Minimalism
Premium video content typically adopts a simplistic style. Thus, an effective design strategy steers clear of cluttering the area with superfluous text and visuals.
Typography
Lower thirds employ typefaces that are easy to read and consistent with the brand’s style. It’s best to opt for straightforward and simple fonts rather than overly decorative, intricate, or curly options.
Color Theme
A lower third employs contrasting colors with respect to the backdrop to ensure clear visibility without detracting from the primary content.
Appropriate Placement
A lower third must be positioned so that it does not interfere with the primary video content.
Consistency
The graphics keep a uniform style across the entire duration of the material. The L3s theme ought to build upon the main video content’s aesthetic.
Prioritizing Content
The graphic organizes information based on priority. For instance, the speaker’s name and title appear more prominently, with further specifics following thereafter.
Before You Sign Off…
Keep in mind that the main purpose of a lower third is to provide pertinent details that complement the principal content. By employing an effective design approach, you can produce L3s that appear sophisticated while still being practical.