Blue Ocean provides high quality subtitling services into different languages for all types of films.
Localization, Not Just Translation
Our subtitlers believe in localizing rather than merely translating a conversation: “This requires fluency in appropriate dialects and the use of culturally relevant idioms.”
Although native language subtitles are typically verbatim, translated subtitles are often paraphrased to provide the essential meaning of a dialogue within the time constraints of the on-screen video to maintain a comfortable reading rate for the viewer.
Our native subtitlers are completely fluent in the source language, and highly experienced in the art of subtitle translation. Each final subtitled work is reviewed by at least two proofreaders to ensure the highest standards of quality control.
Video or DVD Subtitling
We provide subtitles for videos and DVDs. Video subtitles are created using the most sophisticated character generators and broadcast quality VTRs. Our DVD subtitle files are compatible with all major authoring systems, including Apple, Adobe, Panasonic, Spruce, Sonic Systems, Toshiba, and Sony. We also provide professional DVD authoring services, from basic autoplay to complex multi-feature projects.
Choice of Formats and Styles
We offer both standard format translated subtitles and English language subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH). We customize subtitle styles using cutting edge technologies. Our subtitles are available in a broad range of fonts, type size and text color options as well as background, edging, drop shadow and anti-aliasing features. We also offer style guidance based on our customers’ specific programming requirements.
Types of Subtitles
Thus, subtitles are used to display a dialogue in other languages. Subtitles are also used as follows:
Same- Language Subtitling
Same Language Subtitling (SLS) refers to Synchronized Captioning of Musical Lyrics (or any text with an Audio/Video source) as a Repeated Reading activity.
Same-language captions
Same-language captions, i.e. without translation, were primarily designed to assist people who are deaf or hard of hearing. This method of subtitling is used by national television broadcasters in China and India such as Doordarshan.
SDH
"SDH" is an American acronym introduced by the DVD industry. It stands for "Subtitles for the Deaf or Hard-of-hearing". SDH refers to regular subtitles in the original language and may include important additional non-dialogue information, as well as speaker identification. This is useful when the viewer cannot otherwise visually tell who is saying what.
Subtitle Categories
Subtitles in the same language on the same footage may be classified as follows:
Hearing Impaired This refers to subtitles for people who are hearing impaired, and provides information about instrumental music or environmental sounds, e.g. the sound of a doorbell ringing or of a gunshot.
Narrative This is the most common type of subtitle. Narrative subtitles display spoken dialogues as on-screen text. These are most commonly used to translate a film from one spoken language into another language displayed as on-screen text.
Forced Forced subtitles are commonly used in films. These only appear when the characters speak a foreign or alien language, or when a sign, flag, or other text in a scene is not translated in the localization and dubbing process. In some cases, a foreign dialogue is not translated if the movie is meant to be seen from the perspective of a particular character who does not speak the language in question.
Content Content subtitles are a North American Secondary Industry (non-Hollywood, often low-budget) staple. They provide content missing from filmed action or dialogue. These films generally have low budgets, so it is often easier to overlay subtitles to provide missing information. These are most commonly used by the American company Maverick films as forced subtitles, and by the Canadian company MapleLeaf films as optional subtitles.
Content subtitles are also used at the beginning of several blockbusters (e.g. Star Wars) and at the end of some films (e.g. Gods and Generals).
Titles only These subtitles are used in dubbed programs. Titles only subtitles provide untranslated on-screen text exclusively. They are most commonly forced (see above).
Localized Localized subtitles refer to a separate subtitle track that expands references (e.g. "The sake [a Japanese Wine] was excellent as was the Wasabi") or sometimes replaces a standard subtitle track with a localized form which replaces the original dialogue with localized references (e.g. from above, "The wine was excellent as was the spicy dip").
Extended/Expanded Extended subtitles combine the standard subtitle track with the localized subtitle track. This type of subtitles originated in the early twenty-first century with Celestial DVDs. This format was subsequently used to export many releases from China, Japan, India and Taiwan. The term "Expanded Subtitle" is owned by Celestial, while Extended is used by other companies.
3D 3D subtitles combine the standard subtitle position along the X- and Y-axis of the picture frame with a third position along the Z-axis. This third position allows the subtitle to "float" in front of the 3D image. This option is available in Digital Cinema and in 3D Blu-ray releases.
