What are lower thirds? Tips, ideas and video examples

Although you may not know it by name, you can probably identify the use of lower thirds in video production. This is a graphic that is at the bottom of the screen to provide information about the video you are viewing.

The most common use of lower thirds is in news production, where the subject’s name and title are placed on the screen while they are being interviewed.

But this is not the only lower third application for your videos. Here we will look at some tips, ideas and video examples for design inspiration.

What are lower thirds?

Lower thirds are graphic elements that appear on the lower third of a video screen. They typically contain text and are used to display information such as the name of a person being interviewed, their job title or other relevant information.

Lower thirds can be used for all types of video content, from newscasts to interviews to documentaries and online courses, and corporate videos. They are used both in TV production as well as for marketing videos and YouTube content.

While the term lower third refers to the placement of graphic elements on the screen – they always appear in the lower third of the screen – it has also become shorthand for the context clues provided.

These elements are important for a number of reasons:

• Lower thirds provide context for the content presented on the screen. They help identify the person being interviewed, their job title or other relevant information.
• Lower thirds improve the clarity of the...