This article summarizes the edits made to the Netflix timed text style guides during this update cycle.
Please refer to the change logs on each of the TTSGs for more details on each edit. Languages are listed below and each TTSG is linked out.
Timing guidelines
The introduction has been slightly re-worded to make it clearer that these guidelines apply to content in any and all frame rates. The guidelines use 24fps parameters to illustrate the points it contains. If working at higher frame rates, continue to use the same principle (e.g. if the guidelines state a "half second gap" or similar, which may mean 12 frames, 30 frames etc. depending on frame rate of the content) or the same parameters (e.g. ensuring that the minimum frame gap is 2 frames for all content).
All Languages
The TTSGs for all languages which use italics have now been updated to clarify how to handle scenarios where a voice is heard through a mic or loudspeaker but the speaker is seen in the scene, e.g. someone giving a speech on stage. Italics are not required for these scenarios and the following guideline should be followed for all titles going forward.
[use italics for] Dialogue that is heard through electronic media (e.g. phone, device, television, computer, loudspeaker, AI, AI assistants, voice of a GPS, other digital devices, non-sentient robots, robotic voices, etc.) if the speaker is not physically present in the scene. For instance, if a character speaks into a microphone and their voice is heard through a loudspeaker but they are physically present, italics are not needed. Use good judgement when applying italics, ensuring there is consistency throughout the film or series.
Please note that Dutch already has a different approach for italics for electronic media and voices, and, as such, this rule was not applied to the Dutch TTSG.
Individual Languages
There have also been changes to the following TTSGs. Please refer to the change log at the bottom of each article to see more details about the changes:
- Arabic
- Basque
- Catalan
- Chinese (Simplified)
- Filipino
- Finnish
- Galician
- Japanese
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Russian
- Swedish
- Turkish