Add Drop Shadow or Outline to Text in Kdenlive

Adding visual depth to your video titles is easy with Kdenlive’s built-in Title Clip editor. This guide provides a quick, step-by-step walkthrough on how to add both drop shadows and outlines to your text in Kdenlive, helping your titles stand out and remain readable against any background.

Step 1: Open the Title Clip Editor

1. Right-click in the Project Bin area and select Add Title Clip, or go to the top menu and select Project > Add Title Clip.
2. Click the Add Text button (the letter “T” icon) at the top of the Titler window.
3. Click anywhere on the preview canvas, type your text, and style it with your preferred font and size.

Step 2: Add an Outline to the Text

An outline (also known as a stroke) adds a solid border around your letters. 1. Click on your text in the canvas to select it. 2. Look at the Properties panel on the right side of the Titler window. 3. Locate the Outline option. 4. Increase the Outline width value (measured in pixels) to make the outline visible. 5. Click the color bar next to Outline color to open the color picker and choose the color for your border.

Step 3: Add a Drop Shadow to the Text

A drop shadow creates a duplicate, offset version of your text underneath the original to simulate depth. 1. Ensure your text element is selected. 2. In the right-hand Properties panel, locate the Shadow settings. 3. Check the box to enable the shadow if it is not already active. 4. Adjust the X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) offset values to control the direction and distance of the shadow from the text. 5. Adjust the Blur value to make the shadow edges softer or sharper. 6. Click the color box to change the shadow’s color, and use the Alpha channel (opacity) slider to adjust how transparent or dark the shadow appears.

Once you are satisfied with the look of your text, click the Create Clip (or OK) button at the bottom right to add the title to your Project Bin, where you can drag it directly onto your timeline.