Do you pay much attention to typesetting?

[Hentailover]

All I need from subtitles is to be able to understand what is being said. In case with Japanese I don't really care that much for the quality, how much is left untranslated for the sake of being cool or whatever, because I notice the difference (I can almost comfortably watch without any subs whatsoever at this points. But I prefer with them, just in case I might miss something important)
What I need is it to be readable and quick. over-time meeting the criteria completely. But that's Japanese.
In case of some languages I have 0% understanding of I would be affected by flaws more.
As far as flashy typesetting goes... Don't care either way. There is one? Neat. There isn't? I won't even notice it's absence.

I used to watch Tv-Nihon for some time, but then moved on Over-time and I only noticed that something is missing when I watched a clip with Tvn subs on youtube with special effects. Otherwise it's completely inconsequential to my experience.

 

[KingRanger]

From TV Tropes and their article on "fan dumb":

The Perfectionist: Like the Purist, the Perfectionist believes there is only one way to do things. However, whereas the Purist is hung up on a particular period, the Perfectionist is consumed with a particular way of enjoying the product; there is only one correct way to play this game, or listen to this music, or watch this film, and that's his way.

Every time the subject of fansub preferences comes up it's only a matter of time until someone lands slap bang into this definition :anime:

I will agree with this on the TSing thing. That's a matter of preference. Translation is another matter. Leaving words untranslated goes against the very idea of a translation.. Yeah that sounds redundant, but it's true.

 

[LaZerwolfX]

From TV Tropes and their article on "fan dumb":

The Perfectionist: Like the Purist, the Perfectionist believes there is only one way to do things. However, whereas the Purist is hung up on a particular period, the Perfectionist is consumed with a particular way of enjoying the product; there is only one correct way to play this game, or listen to this music, or watch this film, and that's his way.

Every time the subject of fansub preferences comes up it's only a matter of time until someone lands slap bang into this definition :anime:

This. This is why even though we disagree on plenty of topics i always enjoy discussions with you TokuPrime, cuz ya get it. So basically what im trying to say is that i dont care what those Jewish nuns say; cuz you're badass. *fist bump*

 

[Lynxara]

A discussion about typesetting is not necessarily a matter of taste. You can make typesetting decisions that are just completely wrong in functional terms.

Here's an example: I DLed a fansub once that used a transparent font. It had a thin dark black outline, and apparently the typesetter thought you could read the subs using the outline, while still seeing what was happening "behind" the letters.

That guy? That guy was just wrong. The font was completely unreadable unless you paused at every line. You could see onscreen images moving behind the letters, which distracted the eye from the thin outline you needed to recognize the words.

Because people told that guy, "hey, you're full of crap," he was able to concede the point and reissue the release with a readable font. If he had simply dismissed his critics as perfectionist fun-haters, then the transparent font would've stayed and his group's subs would've remained useless.

Yes, people do tend to get pointlessly defensive about their sub preferences in these threads. Yes, people tend to confuse "I hate this" with "this is objectively wrong." Conversations like this can still serve a very useful purpose, though.

 

[Black Ranger RX]

As long as subtitles are readable I really couldn't give a hippies.

What is typesetting anyway?

 

[Lynxara]

Picking the fonts for digital subtitles, and doing any special animations that will be part of the subs. If subs need to be moved around, say to reflect onscreen text or to do signs, that's also the typesetter's job.

 

[jackhunter]

I watched a subbed show which was initially inspired by a book.For this reason, the typesetting had been made to make subs look like hand-written letters.That was a bit confusing, but at least i saw a reason behind it.

I think Tn have put colors in the past, to point out the fact super sentai are colorful fantasy show.And characters have colored suits, monsters/bots have tons of colors too,etc.

But i agree with the idea understanding is primordial and that typesetting(s priority is to reach that goal.