Each example is a complete POST /v1/renders body with a video background and a text overlay. Only fields that differ from their defaults are shown (font_family: "Inter", text_color: "#ffffff", text_align: "center" are all defaults). See the element field reference for every default.
duration is required on text elements. Omitting it produces a zero-length window — the text will not appear in the render. The API returns 422 if duration is missing.
| Field | Purpose |
|---|
time, duration | When the text appears and disappears (time + duration = hide) |
x, y | Position on the frame — percentage strings ("50%") or pixel values (960) |
width | Optional wrap width (defaults to "100%") |
x and y refer to the center anchor of the text box.
Minimal text
The required fields on a text element are text and duration. Centered on frame; visible from 1 s to 5 s.
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"duration": 10,
"elements": [
{
"type": "video",
"id": "vid1",
"source_url": "https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4",
"time": 0,
"in_point": 0,
"out_point": 10
},
{
"type": "text",
"id": "t1",
"text": "Hello World",
"font_size": 72,
"time": 1,
"duration": 4,
"x": "50%",
"y": "50%"
}
]
}
Stroke (outline only, no fill)
Glyph outline with no fill — set stroke: true together with stroke_color and stroke_width. Top-center; visible from 0.5 s to 4.5 s.
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"duration": 10,
"elements": [
{
"type": "video",
"id": "vid1",
"source_url": "https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4",
"time": 0,
"in_point": 0,
"out_point": 10
},
{
"type": "text",
"id": "t1",
"text": "OUTLINE",
"font_size": 96,
"time": 0.5,
"duration": 4,
"x": "50%",
"y": "15%",
"stroke_color": "#0070f3",
"stroke_width": 4,
"stroke": true
}
]
}
Fill + stroke
White text with a colored stroke and fill — set stroke_color and stroke_width without stroke: true. Lower-third; visible from 2 s to 7 s.
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"duration": 10,
"elements": [
{
"type": "video",
"id": "vid1",
"source_url": "https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4",
"time": 0,
"in_point": 0,
"out_point": 10
},
{
"type": "text",
"id": "t1",
"text": "FILL + STROKE",
"font_size": 96,
"time": 2,
"duration": 5,
"x": "50%",
"y": "80%",
"stroke_color": "#00ff41",
"stroke_width": 4
}
]
}
Background
Solid color box behind the full text block. Bottom-center; visible from 1 s to 5 s.
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"duration": 10,
"elements": [
{
"type": "video",
"id": "vid1",
"source_url": "https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4",
"time": 0,
"in_point": 0,
"out_point": 10
},
{
"type": "text",
"id": "t1",
"text": "BACKGROUND",
"font_size": 72,
"time": 1,
"duration": 4,
"x": "50%",
"y": "75%",
"background_color": "#0070f3",
"background": true
}
]
}
Drop shadow
Text with a built-in drop shadow. Upper-center; visible from 0.5 s to 5.5 s.
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"duration": 10,
"elements": [
{
"type": "video",
"id": "vid1",
"source_url": "https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4",
"time": 0,
"in_point": 0,
"out_point": 10
},
{
"type": "text",
"id": "t1",
"text": "SHADOW",
"font_size": 96,
"time": 0.5,
"duration": 5,
"x": "50%",
"y": "40%",
"shadow": true
}
]
}
Font controls
Bold italic with custom letter spacing and line height. Left-aligned block on the left edge; visible from 2 s to 8 s.
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"duration": 10,
"elements": [
{
"type": "video",
"id": "vid1",
"source_url": "https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4",
"time": 0,
"in_point": 0,
"out_point": 10
},
{
"type": "text",
"id": "t1",
"text": "Typography",
"font_family": "Montserrat",
"font_size": 64,
"font_weight": 700,
"font_style": "bolditalic",
"tracking": 0.05,
"leading": 1.4,
"time": 2,
"duration": 6,
"x": "12%",
"y": "50%",
"width": "40%",
"text_align": "left"
}
]
}
Stroke
Custom outline around each glyph. Both stroke_color and stroke_width must be set. Slightly below center; visible from 1 s to 4 s.
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"duration": 10,
"elements": [
{
"type": "video",
"id": "vid1",
"source_url": "https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4",
"time": 0,
"in_point": 0,
"out_point": 10
},
{
"type": "text",
"id": "t1",
"text": "STROKE",
"font_size": 96,
"time": 1,
"duration": 3,
"x": "50%",
"y": "55%",
"stroke_color": "#ff0000",
"stroke_width": 4
}
]
}
Rotation
Tilted text using z_rotation. Offset to the lower-left; visible from 3 s to 8 s.
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"duration": 10,
"elements": [
{
"type": "video",
"id": "vid1",
"source_url": "https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4",
"time": 0,
"in_point": 0,
"out_point": 10
},
{
"type": "text",
"id": "t1",
"text": "TILTED",
"font_size": 72,
"time": 3,
"duration": 5,
"x": "30%",
"y": "70%",
"z_rotation": "-5°"
}
]
}
Shorthand animation preset
Use the animation_preset string for renderer animation presets like typewriter. Bottom-center caption bar; visible from 0 s to 6 s.
{
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080,
"duration": 10,
"elements": [
{
"type": "video",
"id": "vid1",
"source_url": "https://cdn.example.com/clip.mp4",
"time": 0,
"in_point": 0,
"out_point": 10
},
{
"type": "text",
"id": "t1",
"text": "Lorem Ipsum",
"font_family": "IBM Plex Mono",
"font_size": 48,
"time": 0,
"duration": 6,
"x": "50%",
"y": "85%",
"width": "80%",
"text_color": "#00ff41",
"stroke_color": "#00ff41",
"stroke_width": 3,
"animation_preset": "typewriter"
}
]
}
