Clips

Build a lower third from a shape

The everyday pattern: a rounded bar on one track and the words on another, so each can be styled and timed on its own.

Shown on A lower third over rafting on the Rogue River

After · rendered from the request below

The entry

Use it as a clip's asset, on a track above the footage.

{
  "asset": {
    "type": "shape",
    "shape": "rect",
    "color": "#0B0F0DE8",
    "radius": 0.22
  },
  "transform": {
    "size": {
      "width": "46%",
      "height": "13%"
    },
    "position": {
      "x": "30%",
      "y": "80%"
    }
  }
}

Run it

The whole request behind the render above. Paste it as it is, or swap the file for your own.

job.ts
import { createClient, outputUrl } from "@rendobar/sdk";


const rb = createClient({ apiKey: process.env.RENDOBAR_API_KEY });


const job = await rb.jobs.run({
  type: "compose",
  params: {
    schemaVersion: 1,
    output: {
      format: "mp4",
      resolution: {
        width: 960,
        height: 540
      }
    },
    timeline: {
      tracks: [
        {
          clips: [
            {
              asset: {
                type: "video",
                src: "https://cdn.rendobar.com/compose/showcase/media/river.mp4"
              },
              start: 0
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          clips: [
            {
              asset: {
                type: "shape",
                shape: "rect",
                color: "#0B0F0DE8",
                radius: 0.22
              },
              transform: {
                size: {
                  width: "46%",
                  height: "13%"
                },
                position: {
                  x: "30%",
                  y: "80%"
                }
              },
              start: 0,
              length: 6
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          clips: [
            {
              asset: {
                type: "text",
                text: "Rogue River, Oregon",
                style: {
                  font: "Inter",
                  size: 34,
                  weight: 700,
                  color: "#FFFFFF",
                  align: "left"
                }
              },
              transform: {
                position: {
                  x: "11%",
                  y: "80%"
                }
              },
              start: 0,
              length: 6
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  },
});


console.log(outputUrl(job));

Install with npm i @rendobar/sdk. jobs.run() submits and waits, so it returns the finished job in one call.

terminal
curl https://api.rendobar.com/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RENDOBAR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"type":"compose","params":{"schemaVersion":1,"output":{"format":"mp4","resolution":{"width":960,"height":540}},"timeline":{"tracks":[{"clips":[{"asset":{"type":"video","src":"https://cdn.rendobar.com/compose/showcase/media/river.mp4"},"start":0}]},{"clips":[{"asset":{"type":"shape","shape":"rect","color":"#0B0F0DE8","radius":0.22},"transform":{"size":{"width":"46%","height":"13%"},"position":{"x":"30%","y":"80%"}},"start":0,"length":6}]},{"clips":[{"asset":{"type":"text","text":"Rogue River, Oregon","style":{"font":"Inter","size":34,"weight":700,"color":"#FFFFFF","align":"left"}},"transform":{"position":{"x":"11%","y":"80%"}},"start":0,"length":6}]}]}}}'

Returns immediately with a job id. Poll GET /jobs/{id} or register a webhook rather than blocking on the request.

Questions

What does the lower third clip do in compose?

The everyday pattern: a rounded bar on one track and the words on another, so each can be styled and timed on its own.

How do I add lower third to a video with an API?

Send a compose job to the Rendobar API with this entry in the timeline: {"asset":{"type":"shape","shape":"rect","color":"#0B0F0DE8","radius":0.22},"transform":{"size":{"width":"46%","height":"13%"},"position":{"x":"30%","y":"80%"}}}. Use it as a clip's asset, on a track above the footage. The request on this page is complete and renders as shown.

Footage and sound

More in the reference

Text stroke An outline round the glyphs. White text over bright water is unreadable without one, and a 4 to 6 pixel black stroke fixes it. Text shadow A shadow behind the text. Softer than a stroke, and enough on footage that is not fighting the text. Text background A solid box behind the text. The most readable of the three, and the one that reads as a caption rather than a title. Text align Which way the lines line up, and which edge of the text sits on the clip's position. left starts there, right ends there. Text entrance An entrance. The title slides up into place while it fades in, instead of simply being there. Shape gradient Two colours instead of one makes the fill a gradient, running the way `gradient` names.

See all 77 in the effects reference →