Näitetekstid

Näitetekstid is a term used in Finnish media production to refer to the on-screen display time of textual elements such as subtitles, captions, and lower-thirds. It encompasses the duration that a piece of text remains visible on the screen during a video, broadcast, or digital presentation.

The main purpose of näitetekstid is to ensure that viewers have enough time to read the text without detracting from the visual content. Display time is planned during script and timing phases with timeline-based editing and captioning software. Factors that influence the duration include the length of the text, the reading speed of the intended audience, the complexity of the language, the presence of multiple text elements on screen, and the pacing of the accompanying audio or video.

Practitioners balance legibility and pacing when setting näitetekstid. Text shown too briefly risks unreadability, especially for viewers with slower reading speeds or for languages with longer words. Text shown too long can interrupt the flow of the scene. Accessibility considerations, such as the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers or viewers watching without sound, often favor longer display times and clearer typography.

Standards and practices vary by platform, region, and broadcaster. While there are general guidelines around reading speed, line length, and number of lines per subtitle, there is no universal rule for näitetekstid. Production teams typically rely on a combination of reading-time estimates, stylistic conventions, and quality checks to determine appropriate display durations for different formats, including television, streaming, and film.