AI filmmaking glossary
Lower third
Last updated: November 2, 2026
Definition
A lower third is an on-screen graphic placed in the bottom third of the frame that names a person, a place or a time, such as a character name and role. It identifies without interrupting the shot, and in a finished edit it sits above the picture as its own text layer rather than being baked into the footage.
How it works in FXI Studio
In the FXI workflow, lower thirds go on last, after the color grade. Grade the picture first in Edit Bay, then add the name card on a text track, so the grade never tints the type and a regrade never means retyping every card.
Keeping the card off the generated shot also keeps the footage clean: the same shot can run with or without it. In a vertical micro-drama, keep it out of the cold open.
Where to go next
Put the term to work
Start free with 65 credits, no card required.