Gradient Background: Smooth Darkening Behind Subtitle Text

The gradient background is Bitcut's default subtitle background type. It adds a smooth darkening effect behind your text that fades to transparent, ensuring subtitles are always readable without covering your video with a solid box.

How It Looks

When subtitles are at the bottom of the frame (the default), the gradient anchors at the bottom edge and fades upward — fully opaque at the very bottom, gradually becoming transparent above the text. This creates a natural vignette effect that looks intentional rather than like a caption overlay.

When subtitles are at the top of the frame, the gradient automatically flips — it anchors at the top edge and fades downward. This keeps the darkest area behind the text no matter where it's positioned.

Auto-flip: You don't need to configure the gradient direction manually. It responds automatically to the subtitle position setting (top or bottom).

Visibility Timing

The gradient appears when the first subtitle word in the clip becomes visible and stays on screen until the last word disappears (plus a brief linger period). It does not flicker on and off between individual word groups — it's shown continuously for the entire subtitle sequence, providing a stable visual foundation.

Gradient Color

By default, the gradient is black, which works with virtually any video content. You can change the gradient's base color using the background color channel in subtitle settings. Dark colors (navy, dark green, deep purple) work well as alternatives to black. Lighter colors are possible but may reduce readability.

Tip: The gradient background is the best default choice for most content. It's subtle enough not to distract from the video, but provides enough contrast for text readability. Try other background types only if you have a specific visual reason.

Gradient vs. Other Background Types

  • Gradient — subtle, professional, good for most content. Doesn't obscure the video.
  • Plate — solid colored box behind each text group. Higher contrast, but covers more of the video. Use when the video has very bright or busy scenes where gradient isn't enough.
  • None — no background at all. Requires text stroke for readability. Cleanest look but depends on video content being dark or simple.

Combining with Stroke

You can enable text stroke alongside the gradient for extra readability. The gradient handles overall contrast while the stroke ensures individual characters stay crisp. This combination works well for videos that alternate between dark and bright scenes.