Ok, as my design progresses, I have some more questions regarding text attributes. (Please remember I'm talking about the old style, Line 21 captions, and not the new HDTV captioning style).
The law governing the design of caption decoders specifies that text can be displayed "with any or all of four attributes: Color, italics, underline, and flash," and furthermore the display of color text is optional. While the verdict is still out, it appears that I might not be able to easily provide this complete functionality. That is, any random combination of all of these attributes.
That said, I know practically speaking color attributes are rarely generated in the programming source. I know that the move "Pete's Dragon" used color captions, but not many other movies or programs. If my information is incorrect, please tell me. (note that I'm talking about displaying color attributes embedded in the CC source data, and not the user's ability to change the overall text display color).
Regarding Italics, the law requires either an Italic font or a slanted, regular font. However, "the user may be given the option to select other methods of italic display as well." I'm not familiar with this - can anyone give me an example of optional display of italics that some decoders might offer? How about just displaying them in an optional, second color?
For underline and flash (at least once per second), there isn't any alternate display allowed by the law. I would be curious just how widespread the use of underlining and flashing text is in CC material? In my testing of movies and programs in the past, I can't recall seeing either, although I don't watch a lot of captioned material outside the lab. If I chose to vary from a standard, compliant decoder, and made up my own alternate display method (again, perhaps a different color) would this be distracting?
Thanks in advance for any comments.
p.s. let me point out that my product does not have to be compliant with the law on closed captioning decoders, but I want to make a best effort to be compliant if at all possible.
