On-screen text graphic in the lower portion of frame — displays name, title, or context information. Added in post, not captured in production.
In the lower part of the frame — usually starting around two-thirds of the way down — we place text overlays to immediately inform viewers: Who is speaking? What is their title, their role? The lower third is the standard tool for this, and it's never placed randomly. It must be legible without stifling the action. This means: the font must be large enough, have sufficient contrast with the image behind it, and usually include a background shape (bar, box, semi-transparent area) — otherwise, it will be swallowed by the action and look amateurish.
In practice, the lower third isn't created during shooting. The Director of Photography doesn't worry about it — that's for editing and graphics. But we already think about it on set: Do we ensure that the lower part of the frame isn't 100% filled with visual elements? Is there space there for a legible overlay? When shooting interviews or statements, we consciously position subjects so that the subtitle area remains clear. An interview setup with the person in the upper third of the frame, but with open space below, works perfectly — the lower third then won't clash with shoulders or background details.
In the edit, it becomes concrete: fade-in and fade-out speed (0.5–1.5 seconds, depending on the editing pace), readability duration (rule of thumb: 3–5 seconds for short names, longer for functional descriptions). Multiple lower thirds in succession — for example, in a documentary style with different interviewees — need rhythm. We stagger them temporally, not sequentially. Cuts that are too fast with changing lower thirds feel rushed; cuts that are too slow feel awkward.
Typical design: white or colored text on a dark bar (or inverted), often with an accent color or logo element. Some productions use fonts that match the branding. But all good lower thirds share one rule: they are functional, not decorative. They serve the viewer, not the graphic designer's vanity. Anyone who has to search for a long time for information hidden in 8-point font in the top right corner doesn't experience the typographic element — they experience disrespect.