How to Add Text Overlays to a Screen Recording

You are recording a product tutorial with six distinct steps. Without visual anchors, the viewer must rely entirely on your narration to know which step they are watching and what to focus on. If they lose track or skip ahead, they have no reference point.

A simple text overlay — "Step 3: Configure Notifications" — anchored in the corner of the screen gives the viewer immediate context. They know where they are in the tutorial, what the current section covers, and how much remains. The text serves as a visual table of contents.

Text overlays are one of the simplest post-production additions you can make, and they have an outsized impact on viewer comprehension and engagement. But most screen recording tools do not support them — you would need to import your recording into a separate video editor, add the text, set the timing, and re-export.

Text Overlays in Dina

Dina includes text layout elements directly in the timeline editor. You add text, position it, style it, and time it — all within the same application you used to record.

Adding Text

From Dina's timeline add menu, select "Text Layout." A new text element appears on the timeline at the playhead position. Type your content directly, position it on the video preview, and adjust the duration by dragging the element's edges on the timeline.

Typography Controls

Each text element gives you control over:

• Font selection — choose from available system fonts
• Font size — scale text to match the visual hierarchy
• Font weight — from light to bold, matching your brand style
• Text alignment — left, center, or right
• Color — solid fill or gradient fill for a more polished look

Text Transitions

Static text that appears and disappears abruptly looks jarring. Dina offers a library of entrance and exit transitions for text elements:

• Word Fade — each word fades in or out sequentially
• Letter Fade — individual letters appear or dissolve
• Letter Slide — letters slide in from the top or bottom
• Letter Mask — letters reveal through a directional mask
• Letter Blur — text materializes from or dissolves into a blur

These transitions add motion and polish without requiring keyframe animation skills. Select an entrance transition, an exit transition, and the text animates elegantly within its timeline segment.

Common Uses for Text Overlays

Title Cards

Begin your recording with a title card: the video's name, your name, or the topic being covered. Fade it out as the main content begins. This frames the recording as intentional content, not a quick capture.

Step Numbers

For multi-step tutorials, overlay the step number and title at the beginning of each section. Viewers who skip ahead immediately know their position in the workflow.

Feature Callouts

When demonstrating a specific feature, overlay a brief callout: "One-click filler word removal" or "Automatic cursor zoom." The text reinforces what the viewer is seeing and ensures the feature name is remembered.

Annotations

Highlight important details with positioned text: "Notice the 3x speed improvement" or "This setting must be enabled first." Annotations direct the viewer's attention to specific on-screen elements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple text overlays at different times?

Yes. Each text element is an independent item on the timeline. You can add as many as you need, each with its own position, duration, styling, and transitions. They can overlap, sequence, or appear simultaneously.

Do text overlays appear in the exported video?

Yes. Text overlays are rendered as part of the final composition. They appear at your chosen resolution and quality, embedded directly in the exported MP4 file.

Can I use gradient text for branding?

Yes. Dina supports gradient-fill text styling. Select a start color and end color, and the gradient is applied across your text element — useful for brand-aligned titles and callouts.

Guide the Viewer's Eye

A screen recording without text overlays asks the viewer to figure out what matters. A recording with well-placed text tells them. The difference is the gap between watching and understanding.

Download Dina and add the visual guidance your recordings need.