You spend time on your captions, you export, you post, and then you see it: the last line is hidden behind the post caption, or a button sits right on top of a word. This happens to almost every creator once.
The area where text stays visible and readable is called the safe zone. This short guide explains it and how to use it.
What the safe zone is
Short-video apps draw their own interface on top of your video. There are buttons on the right side, the account name and caption at the bottom, and a bar at the top. Each app lays these out a little differently, and it changes over time.
The safe zone is the part of the screen that none of that covers. If your text stays inside it, it is visible in every app and on every phone size.
What usually gets covered
- The bottom area, where the post caption, the sound name and the account name sit.
- The right edge, where the like, comment and share buttons are.
- The top bar, on some apps.
Exact sizes differ by app and phone, so do not trust a number you find in an old article. The safest method is to check it yourself.
How to place captions safely
- Keep text away from the very bottom. Place it in the lower middle, above the area the app covers.
- Keep text away from the right edge, and leave some space on both sides so it does not touch the edge of the screen.
- Keep lines short, so they stay in the middle and do not run across the screen.
- Check the result on a real phone before you post.
Test on your own phone
Upload the video as a private or draft post. Open it the way a viewer would and look at where the buttons and caption fall. Adjust and export again if something is covered.
Use the guide in the editor
In CapsField you can turn on the safe zone guide while you edit. It draws the areas to avoid over your video, so you can place your captions above them and move them with the mouse or your finger. You can move a whole caption or a single word, and resize it.
One layout, many platforms
If you post the same video on Reels, TikTok and Shorts, place your captions so they work on all three. A position in the lower middle, with a margin on the sides, is usually fine for all of them.
Try it
Open your video in CapsField, turn on the safe zone guide and place your captions where nothing covers them. It is free to try.
