Legal type

[Shane Ross]

LEGAL type? You are talking about lower thirds, right?

The basics are to make sure that they fall within TITLE SAFE (turn that option on in the Canvas). Make sure that they fall within that (even line up with it) and you;ll be fine. That is the basic universal spec.

But each network differs from that…depending on where they put their network logo bug or promo graphics whathaveyou.

But, if you are withing TITLE SAFE, than you should be good to go.

Shane

Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net

[David Roth weiss]

[Eli Mavros] “Are there universal specs for legal type placement”

Are you asking about legal type for infommercials and the like or possibly commercials for things such as pharmacuticals, cars, etc. that contain legal disclaimers an the like?

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY

[Eli Mavros]

Right on Shane, thanks…that is what I thought, but just wanted to double check. I remember once when I worked on a spot for the UK, they were very specific about this. I generally do not put the legal on the spots that I work on, as they are often conformed in a Flame or something else.

Best,
Eli

[Eli Mavros]

I am asking about the latter.

Thanks,
Eli

[Walter Biscardi]

[Eli Mavros] “Right on Shane, thanks…that is what I thought, but just wanted to double check.”

If you are editing for a specific network, you must get their specs as to where to place the lower thirds. There is one network in particular I work with that has exact pixel placements of the lower third bar, the position of the top line and the position of the bottom line. they even provide a very nice graphic overlay of the positioning grid (over 30 specs to follow on one screen). This is a news network so they have a running news ticker, running weather ticker, their logo, our lower third and some other element on screen so I have a very tight box to work within.

If this is a commercial, then simply go with title safe.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[David Roth weiss]

Eli,

You’re right to research the specific legaleese for commercial disclaimers and the like. When dealing with pharmacuticals, automobiles, and such these things are very, very specific. The U.K. has requirements that must be very different from our’s in the U.S. So, you should probably check with a definitive source to get that precise information so you’re 100% in compliance.

David

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY

[David Roth weiss]

the subject header says it all…

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Post-production Supervisor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY

[Matt Callac]

I usually go with Helveica at 17pt in livetype. I position it so that the last line of the disclaimer has the horozontal title safe line running right through the middle of it. That’s about as far down as I’ll like to push it. And I always stay between the virticle title safe. I’ve done hundreds of spots (in dozens of markets) with disclaimers this way and non of them have had to be changed
-mattyc

Raising money for Blood:Water Mission to help build wells in Africa. I’m
putting my hair on the line to raise some money.
Check it out https://rattail.callac.com

[Mike Nicholas]

Ok, I work on a fire doing finishing, and I know exactly what you’re talking about….those little legals at the bottom of the screen (usually saying something to the effect of “professional driver on a closed course” or “limited time offer, participation may vary based on availability”) are lines of text that commercials running nationally MUST have.
If you’re doing offline work, just put in the text as a place holder (within title safe, like everyone else has said), and you’ll be good. When the finishing house gets the offline, they’ll ask very specific questions to the client, who will then ask their legal department (see, lawyers affect tv too!) about what size the legals are. Your offline will be used as a guide for legal placement, and the online will usually be bit different based on network specs.

A common misconception: legals are NOT PIXEL based, they’re measured in scan lines. How do you measure scan lines? on a vector scope, usually by counting the vertical scan lines in the image. The reason point sizes are irrelevant, is because if you measure the point size of helvetica at 18, and then they change the legal to garamond 18, suddenly you’re looking at a different font size.

I deal with legals everyday, but unless you’re going straight to air from your box, don’t worry too much about legal size, just make ’em look pretty and the online editor will make sure they’re the right size and what not…

[Mike Nicholas]

oh yes, legals also don’t have a universal rule….ABC likes their legals at 22 scan lines, while NBC likes them nice and tiny at 18 scan lines…the smallest legals I’ve ever placed were 16 scanlines (used on some burger king commercials) and the biggest were 24 (used on a Pacificare ad for retirees). There are some actual laws in effect, I have the nbc code of broadcast lying around someplace, email me and I’ll see if I can send you a copy.