A chyron is a small caption or text that appears on the bottom of a television or video screen, typically used to identify the individuals or subjects that are currently on screen or to provide additional information about the content being shown.
Chyron is also used as a name of software that is used to create, edit and playout these captions.
Examples of common uses of chyrons include displaying the names of news anchors and guests during interviews, identifying locations during newscasts, and providing translations during foreign-language programming.
To write a chyron, one must be familiar with the software used to create it, and should consider factors such as font, size, and color to ensure that the chyron is legible and visually appealing.
What Is A Chyron?
A Chyron is a device used in television and video production to superimpose text over a video image.
It is typically used to display the names of people being interviewed, the title of a segment or program, or other information related to the video.
Chyron can also be used to create lower thirds, which are graphics that appear at the bottom of the screen and provide information such as the name and title of a person being interviewed or the location of a story.
Chyron is also the company that first developed this technology and it’s now a brand name.
Chyron Examples
A chyron is a caption or title superimposed over the lower part of a television or video image, typically used to identify the person speaking or to provide additional information about the scene or content being shown. Examples of chyron text include:
The name and title of a news anchor or reporter on a news program
The location and date of a live event, such as a sports game or political rally
The title or topic of a segment or segment series, such as “Breaking News” or “Weather Update”
The Twitter handle or social media account of a guest or commentator appearing on a show
The ticker or scrolling text providing stock prices, weather updates, or other information at the bottom of the screen
Chyrons can also include graphic elements like logos, pictures, and background colors.
Chyron Overlays Explained
A chyron overlay is a feature that allows for the insertion of a chyron on top of a live video feed. This can be used to add captions, titles, or other information to the video in real-time.
Chyron overlays are typically controlled by a separate operator who uses specialized software to create and place the chyron on the video
. The operator can control the size, position, font, and color of the chyron, and can also update the text or graphic elements as needed.
Chyron overlays are commonly used in live news broadcasts, sports events, and other live programming.
They can also be used in recorded video content, such as adding captions to a video podcast or creating a title sequence for a video production.
Some advanced Chyron overlays also allow for integration with external data sources like RSS feeds, social media platforms, and live data feeds for stock prices, sports scores, or weather updates.
This makes it possible to display real-time information on the screen automatically
Overall, Chyron overlays provide a powerful tool for adding context and information to live video content, and can be an essential element of professional video production.
What Do Chyrons Look Like?
Chyrons typically have a simple and clean design to make them easy to read and understand quickly.
They often include text and graphics, and may include additional information like date, time, location and name of the person speaking on the video.
Chyrons are usually placed in a specific area of the video frame, such as the lower third or the upper third of the screen, in order to not interfere with the main content of the video.
They may be semi-transparent or use a colored background to make the text more visible against the video content.
The font size and style is usually chosen to be easily readable on a variety of screens and at a distance.
The text color is usually chosen to be highly contrasting with the background and other colors on the screen to improve readability.
Some examples of what a chyron may look like:
A news chyron might include the name of the anchor and the news channel’s logo in the upper left corner, and the headline of the story in the center of the screen.
A sports chyron might show the score, teams playing, time remaining, and possibly a graphic of the sport or teams
A live event chyron might show the name of the event, the location, and the date in the upper left corner, and the names of the presenters or performers in the center of the screen
A financial chyron might show the stock prices and stock symbols or quotes in scrolling ticker format along the bottom of the screen
Overall, Chyrons are designed to be quickly readable, provide relevant information, and not to distract the viewer from the main video content.
Chyron Meaning In Graphics
A chyron is a lower third graphic used in television and video production to display the name and title of a person or a short text message, usually in the form of a caption or a subtitle, on the screen.
It is typically used to provide additional information or context to the viewer, such as the name of a person being interviewed, the location of a news event, or a headline.
The chyron is named after the company that first created and marketed the device in the 1970s, Chyron Corporation.
Nowadays, the term is commonly used to refer to any lower third graphic, regardless of the specific hardware or software used to create it.
Chyron is also known as “supers”, “crawls”, “tickers” and “scrolling text” that are used to display information such as news headlines, stock market data, sports scores, weather information and other important messages.
They are widely used in news, sports and live event broadcasting, and can also be found in movies, music videos, and other video productions.
Chyron Screenplay Format
The Chyron screenplay format is a specific layout for displaying on-screen text in a screenplay, typically used for news broadcasts, television shows, and other programming that includes on-screen graphics and text.
It involves using specific formatting and notation to indicate when and where text should appear on screen, as well as any visual or animation effects that should be used.
This format is typically used in conjunction with traditional screenplay formatting, and is often handled by a separate department or individual during the production process.
Chyrons In Screenplay Example
In a traditional screenplay format, Chyrons would be indicated in the script as follows:
INT. NEWSROOM – DAY
The anchors sit behind the desk, a giant screen displaying the Chyron “BREAKING NEWS” in the background.
ANCHOR 1
Good evening, and welcome to the 6 o’clock news. I’m Anchor 1.
ANCHOR 2
And I’m Anchor 2.
The Chyron changes to “PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION UPDATE”
ANCHOR 1
Our top story tonight, the presidential election is still too close to call.
ANCHOR 2
That’s right, the Chyron changes to “ELECTION RESULTS: 49% – 49%” as the anchors speak.
ANCHOR 1
As the votes continue to be tallied, both candidates are urging their supporters to stay patient.
As the camera cuts to footage of the candidates giving speeches, the Chyron displays “CANDIDATE 1: WE WILL PREVAIL” and “CANDIDATE 2: EVERY VOTE COUNTS”.
It’s important to note that the above example is a fictional one and the format and the way the chyrons are written can vary from show to show and from production to production.
Chyron Screenplay Example – Blackkklansman
How Hitchcock Uses On-Screen Text
Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense, often used on-screen text in his films to convey information to the audience in a subtle and unobtrusive way.
He would use text to introduce characters, provide background information, and even to advance the plot.
This technique is known as “title cards” and was commonly used in the early days of cinema before the advent of synchronized sound.
Hitchcock used this technique in films such as “Psycho” and “Vertigo” to provide a sense of mystery and intrigue, and to keep the audience engaged and guessing.
What Is a Chyron – Wrapping Up
A Chyron is a device used to superimpose text or graphics over a video image. It is most commonly used in television news broadcasts, live events and sports to display captions, headlines, or other information.
The name “Chyron” comes from the company that first manufactured the device in the 1970s. Chyron machines are controlled by operators who input the text and graphics to be displayed, and can be used to display information such as the names of speakers or the score of a game.
It can also be used to display lower third graphics, which are graphics that appear at the bottom third of the screen to identify speakers or present additional information
