Limelight
Lower Third (On-Screen Graphic)
A lower third is a text or graphic overlay placed in the bottom area of the video frame to convey names, titles, or context.
A lower third is a graphic overlay positioned in the lower portion of the video frame, named for the bottom third of the screen it typically occupies. Broadcast television popularized it to identify speakers with their name and title, and it now appears throughout online video to label people, mark chapters, or add supporting text without cluttering the main subject.
Effective lower thirds are legible and unobtrusive: they use clear type, adequate contrast, and often a subtle background bar or fade so they read cleanly over changing footage. They may animate in and out and are usually kept short so viewers can absorb them at a glance while the primary action continues above.
In screen recordings, a lower third can label the tool you are demonstrating, name the presenter, or highlight a key point. While Limelight bakes in on-screen keystrokes, cursor spotlight, and annotations rather than a dedicated lower-third template, those annotation tools let you add contextual text over your capture where it counts.
Why Limelight
- ▸Text or graphic overlay in the bottom portion of the frame.
- ▸Commonly displays names, titles, chapter labels, or context.
- ▸Kept legible and unobtrusive with clear type and good contrast.
- ▸Limelight bakes in annotations, keystrokes, and cursor spotlight for on-screen context.
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FAQ
- Why is it called a lower third?
- Because the graphic traditionally occupies the lower third of the screen, sitting below the main subject to label or add context.
- What goes in a lower third?
- Usually a person's name and title, but also chapter markers, source citations, or short contextual text supporting the main footage.
- Does Limelight add lower thirds?
- Limelight does not include a dedicated lower-third template, but its baked-in annotations let you add contextual on-screen text and callouts.