To add text in Premiere Pro, move the playhead to where the title should appear, select the Type tool and click in the Program Monitor to type. Right-click the text and choose Edit Properties to change the font, color and outline. Save the look as a style to reuse it.
Adding a title to a video in Premiere Pro takes less than a minute once you know that the Type tool works directly on the picture. The real skill is styling it so it's readable and consistent across the whole edit. Here's the quick method, how to restyle the text, how to save a look so every title matches, and the difference between titles and captions.
Add a title
- Get your sequence ready and decide where in the timeline the title should appear. Move the playhead there.
- Select the Type tool from the toolbar.
- Click in the Program Monitor (the preview window) and type your title.
- Right-click the title in the Program Monitor and choose Edit Properties. The Properties panel opens.
From the Properties panel you can customise fonts, colours, outlines, alignment and other styling options. That's it for the basic method. If you're used to older versions, note this is the current way of working, with the Type tool and the Properties panel.
What you can change in the Properties panel
| Property | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fill | Colours the text with any colour you choose |
| Stroke | Adds an outer, inner or centre outline, or several strokes |
| Shadow | Adds one or more shadows, which helps text stand out |
| Mask with Text | Makes text act as a mask, revealing the video underneath only inside the letters |
Make text readable
- Contrast first. White text with a soft shadow or a thin dark outline survives most backgrounds.
- Keep it short. Viewers can read a short phrase in a second or two. A paragraph needs to stay up much longer.
- Stay inside the safe area. Keep important words away from the edges of the frame, where they can be cut off on some screens.
- Hold it long enough. A good rule is to read it out loud twice, then add a little extra time.
Save a text style so every title matches
If you add several titles, don't restyle each one. Create a style once and reuse it. Adobe explains that styles let you define text properties such as font, colour and size, then apply the same style across multiple layers in different graphics in your timeline.
- Style one title the way you want it.
- Select the plus icon at the upper-right corner of the Track style menu and choose Create style.
- Name the style and save it.
- Choose where to save it: Save to Project links the text layer to the style and puts it in the dropdown, while Save to Local styles keeps it in a folder you can reuse in future projects.
One detail from Adobe's page is worth knowing: only Text and Appearance are text styles. Some other parameters in the panel aren't stored as part of a style, so check the result when you apply it to a new title.
Titles or captions?
People mix these up. A title is text you place and style yourself, such as a name, a heading or a call to action. Captions are timed text that follow the dialogue. They have their own workflow: import media with Automatic Transcription selected, switch to the Captions and Graphics workspace and choose Captions, then Create captions from transcript. My guide to adding captions in Premiere Pro covers that in full.
Fix common text problems
- The text appears on the wrong clip. Check where the playhead is before you type.
- Can't find the text again. Click it in the Program Monitor, or find it on the timeline.
- It looks different after export. Preview the sequence at full resolution before you render.
- It won't match the other titles. Apply your saved style instead of copying values by hand.
Use text to make video more watchable
Lots of people watch with the sound off, so text carries the message. A short title in the first seconds tells viewers what the video is about, and on-screen labels help them follow along. If you plan to publish regularly, a consistent style makes your videos recognisable. My notes on caption strategy and video views go into why, and how to pick video editing software compares the options.
A quick example: a lower third
A common title is the name and job label that appears at the bottom of the screen when someone starts speaking. Place the playhead where the speaker first appears, use the Type tool to write their name, then edit the properties to set a clear font, a fill colour and a soft shadow. Drag the text to the lower part of the frame and shorten or lengthen its clip on the timeline so it stays up for a few seconds. Save it as a style, and every lower third in the video will match. It's a small touch that makes an interview feel finished.
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Habits that save time later
- Name your styles clearly, for example 'lower third' and 'headline', so you can find them in a hurry.
- Keep text on its own track above the video so it's easy to select and move.
- Check the title on a phone-sized preview, because small screens expose weak contrast.
- Save a project copy before you do a big round of text changes, so you can go back if you don't like them.
My verdict
Use the Type tool in the Program Monitor, restyle in the Properties panel and save the look as a style. Keep text short and high-contrast, and use the captions workflow for spoken words.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add text in Premiere Pro?
Select the Type tool, click in the Program Monitor and type. Right-click the text and choose Edit Properties to style it.
How do I change the font and colour of text?
Right-click the text in the Program Monitor, choose Edit Properties and use the Properties panel.
How do I save a text style?
Select the plus icon in the Track style menu, choose Create style, name it, and save to the project or to local styles.
What does Mask with Text do?
It makes the text act as a mask so the underlying video or graphics show only inside the letters.
Is adding text the same as adding captions?
No. Titles are text you place and style. Captions are timed text created from a transcript of the dialogue.
