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Captioning Standards and Best Practices

Best Practices

Align text left
Use Sans Serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica, or Verdana)
22 pt font
No more than 32 characters per line
Font color and background must pass AA Color Contrast Ratio (large text=14pt and larger)
Do not use color as the only way to convey meaning

WCAG2 Captioning Standards

Provide downloadable transcripts (WCAG 2.0 SC 1.2.1)
Captions (Prerecorded) are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media, except when the media is a media alternative for text and is clearly labeled as such WCAG 2.0 SC 1.2.2
Captions must have audio description (for prerecorded media) WCAG 2.0 SC1.2.3: Note: audio description is only necessary if there is key visual information that is not conveyed by the existing audio.
Audio description of pre-recorded synchronized media WCAG 2.0 SC 1.2.5, (anything that satisfies 1.2.5 also satisfies 1.2.3)
Requirements: Audio description provided for visual content of synchronized media. If video is only “a talking head,” it can just have a text transcript, but only if no important visual is also present. In all cases, the alternatives must be provided along with the original content. For example, provide a link to the transcript right after the media player or link.
- Note: Encourage content creators to be mindful when writing scripts to include all the information for the speaker such as, "As the slide demonstrates, rental costs in the East Bay grew by 15% this year." See WCAG 2.0's Understanding SC 1.2.5: "if all of the information in the video track is already provided in the audio track, no audio description is necessary."

Examples of Failures:

Text alternatives that are not actually alternatives (i.e. provided text is not descriptive)
Text alternatives that are inaccurate or incomplete
Captions omitting dialogue or important sound effects
Captions do not present all the information
Synchronized media provided as alternative to text is not labeled as such

Speaker Identification Options (available on 3Play)

3Play Speaker Identification Support Page

Numbered: Label as SPEAKER 1: SPEAKER 2: SPEAKER 3: according to when they chronologically appear in the file.
Classroom: Label as PROFESSOR: and STUDENT: All student interaction will be collectively labeled as STUDENT.
Interview: Label as INTERVIEWER: and SUBJECT: For multiple interviewers or subjects use INTERVIEWER 1: INTERVIEWER 2: SUBJECT 1: SUBJECT 2:
Presentation: Label as PRESENTER: and AUDIENCE: All audience interaction will be collectively labeled as AUDIENCE:
Focus Group: Use MODERATOR: for moderation, and MALE SPEAKER:, and FEMALE SPEAKER: for all participants.

Acceptable YouTube Caption Format Options:

Basic: SRT (SubRip) (no styling available. OK for Talking Heads)
Advanced: SCC (Scenarist Closed Caption), integrates well with 3Play and YouTube to meet listed best practices below
YouTube Captioning Support Page
"How To" video: Adding caption files to YouTube

Resources

autoEdit 2 (Free text based video editing)

Section 508 Reference Guide 1194.24 Video and Multimedia Products 1194.24(c)

"All training and informational video and multimedia productions which support the agency's mission, regardless of format, that contain speech or other audio information necessary for the comprehension of the content, shall be open or closed captioned."

A video or multimedia presentation must include captions if it satisfies these four conditions:

It supports the agency's mission.
It is for training or information purposes.
It is a production (e.g., it is not simply raw video footage).
It includes audio that is essential for understanding the presentation.
Multimedia productions in this section of the law include software presentations such as PowerPoint.