These are the unsung heroes of corporate videos: Supers and Callouts. The little packets of important information flashing across the screen are call-outs. You may have seen these innumerable times but did you know these are essential elements that tie together the whole video.
Let us explore the role supers and callouts play in a video.
- Explainer Videos: These videos are packed with information, graphics, and vivid elements that attract attention. Amidst such information overload, callouts at the bottom are important for three reasons:
- – Simplification of the information
- – Condensation of the information
- – Highlighting important information
Regardless of the type of explainer video, by the very nature of it, callouts are crucial for the optimum effectiveness of such an information-packed format.
- Graphical Superiority:Have you ever wondered why a certain video seems rather off but you can’t quite put a finger on what’s not matching up? It could very well be the graphical incongruence of callouts and the video itself. Graphics are an expression of tonality in the video and there has to be a running overall theme to achieve consistency of audio-visual expression. Often when we mindlessly add any random callout straight from a template, it clashes with the carefully crafted theme and throws off the video. It becomes important to pay attention to minute details in the callouts and harmonize them with the overall video. For example, in the video below, notice how callouts compliment the video and its dominant graphical theme.
- Custom-made is effective:Needless to explain, custom-made callouts are far superior and elevate the whole video not just as a product but as a whole experience. Consider, for instance, callouts containing details and elements compatible with the industry pertaining to the video rather than a generic pop-up at the bottom. It is a time-guzzling process to create these elements but well worth the effort for these speak for themselves when they align with the video seamlessly. Case in point, the video is down below.
- Abridging the content: Summarizing the content into bite-sized pieces of information at various intervals in a video is one of the primary functions of callouts. On top of that, they help in understanding the context of the video even when watching on mute. Without callouts, a video would be incomplete and unusable in modern formats.
Though seemingly insignificant, callouts are of value in today’s video production industry. As stated above, they’re a major element that brings together the final output and shouldn’t be missed or underestimated.