Captioning in Flash CS3
I want to highlight my favorite new feature in Flash CS3 - Flash captioning. There is a new component, named FLVPlaybackCaptioning, which works in cooperation with the FLVPlayback component to make delivering captioning in Flash really easy.
Ordinarily a Flash developer drags a FLVPlayback component onto the stage in the Flash authoring tool, sets a variety of parameters including identifying the video source, and publishes the video. The additional steps for adding captioning are to drag the FLVPlaybackCaptioning component onto the stage, reference the caption data file, choose a FLVPlayback skin that includes a captioning toggle button, and publish. The captions will appear over the video.
Beyond this basic process, there are many additional options that allow complete control over the location and appearance of the captions. The captions can appear in a separate area adjacent to the video (or where ever is deemed best) and with a variety of font characteristics including different font faces which can be embedded into the Flash movie and shown even on user's systems that don't have that particular font installed.
The captioning data file needs to be in the W3C's DFXP (Timed Text) format. There are already tools that help you create a DFXP caption file. MAGpie already supports this format, and other tools such as Captionate and HiCaption Studio have plans to support DFXP in the coming weeks and months. If you prefer to have the captioning work done for you, there are services that can deliver the DFXP file, including the Media Access Group at WGBH, Automatic Sync technologies, and Caption Colorado, and more providers are expected soon.
More information to come - let us know how you use this exciting new feature!
Comments
It's really a shame there isn't a better open-source/free option other than MAGPie for creating caption files. While I appreciate WGBH's efforts, the software is completely buggy and doesn't work very well at all. It won't read flv files or WMV - just quicktime or anything quicktime can read.
Posted by: christopher najewicz | April 19, 2007 2:45 PM
Thank you for posting about this. It's always good to spread the word. I blogged about this in my deaf-tech blog: http://www.stonedeafpilots.com/?p=18
Posted by: Kosmonaut | April 25, 2007 10:05 PM
If I read this article in AST website correctly, they offer caption timing for free within 5 minutes if providing with transcript (.TXT format works).. Otherwise, it'll take 2-4 business days to create a DFXP format file.
See: http://www.automaticsync.com/caption/flash_captions.htm
Posted by: Jason Berube | June 3, 2007 4:09 AM
So can we start building a Youtube that is accessible for all on Axistive.com. It would be a great idea having AT-devices reviews like CNet.com on Axistive.
Posted by: Dennis van der Heijden | June 28, 2007 3:54 PM
AST's CaptionSync is a for fee service, but everything else is essentially correct. I think you'll find it very afforbale compared to traditional captioning. If you don't have a verbatim text transcript, we can have it transcribed for you. Transcription induces a 2-3 business day delay or 24 hour rush transcription is also available...
Posted by: Brent Robertson | July 3, 2007 4:52 PM
What about adding a descriptive audio track to assist the visually impaired? I have read that it is supported, but have not seen any specific information.
Thanks!
Posted by: Cory Wishak | September 23, 2008 2:01 PM
Shouldn't the video default to the captions being OFF?
I'm trying to figure out a way to reverse this and make the captions OFF on load. Any ideas?
Posted by: james wachira | June 25, 2009 6:54 PM
This is configurable by the Flash author. There is a parameter called showCaptions in the component inspector - if you set this to "false" then the captions are off by default.
Posted by: Andrew Kirkpatrick | June 26, 2009 9:50 AM
When I set the parameter 'showCaptions' to false, the caption button becomes completely inactive at this point and while watching the video, i am unable to turn them back on.
Been looking online and apparently others have this problem:http://www.webmasterworld.com/flash/3384572.htm
Posted by: james wachira | June 26, 2009 5:02 PM