Exporting subtitles as files is a crucial step in post-production, enabling seamless integration of timed text or captions with audiovideo media. When using Limecraft for subtitling or localisation, you can export the subtitles in a number of different file formats. This article describes which export formats are available and the steps you need to take to export such subtitles.

Before You Begin


Ensure that your subtitles are accurately prepared and synchronised with your video content. Limecraft's Subtitle Editor allows you to create, import, and edit subtitles efficiently. Limecraft helps you to turn spoken words in high-quality and well-formatted subtitles, assuming the spotting rules are properly configured. If necessary, please take your time to fine-tune the spotting rules.


Exporting subtitles in the appropriate format is essential for:

  • Platform Compatibility: Different platforms and media players support specific subtitle formats. Choosing the correct format ensures your subtitles display correctly across various platforms.
  • Audience Accessibility: Well-formatted subtitles enhance accessibility, making your content available to a broader audience, including those with hearing impairments or non-native speakers.
  • Professional Presentation: Properly exported subtitles contribute to the overall professionalism of your content, maintaining synchronisation and readability.


Familiarise yourself with the various subtitle file formats supported by Limecraft, such as SRT, WebVTT, EBU STL, and EBU-TT-D, to select the one that best suits your distribution needs. For more info, please refer to 'What is the Best Subtitle File Format?'


Exporting Subtitles as a File


After creating, importing, or editing subtitles using the Limecraft Subtitle Editor, you can access the export options in the right upper corner of the subtitle app. Limecraft will give you two options: 'Export as file', of 'Burn into video'. The latter is discussed in a specific article 'Exporting video with Rendered Subtitles'.

Limecraft screenshot illustrating where to find the option to export subtitles that you have just created with the subtitle editor.


Exporting Subtitles as a File

Since the latest 2024.8 update, Limecraft supports exporting of subtitles in the following formats.

  • SRT or SubRip Text: Mostly intended for online video platforms. SRT is widely supported, but is limited in layout options.
  • WebVTT: a format specified by the W3C with slightly richer functionality, but support is limited.
  • EBU STL: Originally developed for broadcast applications and supporting a wide variety of options including colours, text alignment and positioning. Also suitable for importing into Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro. For more specific info on exporting subtitles as an EBU STL file, see this expert article: Exporting Subtitles as EBU STL.
  • EBU-TT-D: the XML based successor of EBU STL, offering the widest range of layout features and metadata

Click the 'Export as file' option as shown above and select the preferred format.

Limecraft screenshot showing the subtitle export file type option in a dialogue window.

If supported by the format you selected, you can further export with color tags, e.g. to indicate speaker changes using different colours.

Additionally, you can select which timecodes you want to use. You can chose between the SMPTE time or the media time which will use the time relative to the start of the video (and start from 00:00:00:00). 

Limecraft screenshot illustrating the additional options to export subtitles with color tags and selecting the SMPTE timecode or the Media Time.

Please note that exporting with color tags and selecting the timecode are available for STL and EBU-TT-D file types only.


The exported subtitle file will be dropped in the folder that your browser uses as download space. 

If one of the above mentioned subtitle file formats is not available, please contact your production or account admin to check the settings.

Recommended reading