Video
The effectiveness of Northeastern University's identity system and the communication of Northeastern’s brand depend upon maintaining standards for video as well as for Web and print communications. With video growing in importance as a tool to deliver key messages to external audiences, it is critical to maintain an experience that is recognized as part of the Northeastern University identity. This includes standardized usage of the Northeastern University logo in title slides, and standardized content and typography in lower thirds.
In addition to graphic identity standards, we strive to uphold current best practices in videography to provide our audiences with the highest quality viewer experience.
Ending Title Slide
NOTE: No opening title. Start with beginning of the video.
- Northeastern logo: Preferred version against a white background
- If appropriate to the material, use the preferred version of the college/school or graduate campus lockup against a white background.
- Aside from the provided end title slides, please do not use the university seal anywhere in the video. Also, if the name “Northeastern” appears, it must include “University.”
The end slides are available for download here. [Link to graphic identity downloads coming soon]
Lower Thirds
General
Guidelines
- Use lower thirds only for subject identification.
- Use lower-third IDs on the subject’s first speaking appearance.
- If a subheading, such as a title or department name, is too long to fit on one line, reduce the point size and run it over two lines.
- Keep text within Action/Text Safe Zone. Never let text go beyond the right or left margin.
- Lower-third IDs can be positioned on the left or right side of the frame, depending on the subject’s location.
- Identify each subject just once.
Naming
Conventions
- Use full first and last name.
- Use full name with middle name or initial upon request of the subject.
- Use full, formal title, but if it’s lengthy, use your judgment (to shorten or abbreviate) to keep the title readable in a short timeframe.
- If a staff person has more than one title, choose the title that is most pertinent to the story.
- If the subject is an alumnus or alumna of a renamed college or school, use the most current name of the college or school. Find degree codes here.
Position Examples
Right
Left
Format Examples
Alumni
Alternatively, place college/school name, spelled out, on second line.
Current Student
Degree on second line.
Professor/Staff
Position and school on second line.
Outside University
Company is bolded.
Requiring two lines
Smaller font.
Text Font and
Color
- Color: All text is white with small drop shadow
- Subject name: Helvetica Neue Bold Condensed
- Avid: size 38
- After Effects: size 75
Subject title: Helvetica Neue
- Avid: size 26
- After Effects: size 47
Red Line
- Northeastern red: Hex=CC0000; RGB=R204, G0, B0; CMYK=C 0%, M 100%, Y 90%, K 5%
Duration of
Lower Third
- Start lower third 0.5 to 1 second after cut
- We recommend that lower thirds not be extended across multiple shots. However, clip length may dictate an extension. Please ensure the lower third remains on screen long enough to read name and title.
- Minimum/maximum total duration: 4 seconds/6 seconds.
- Cross-dissolve in and out, 10 frames, centered on cut.
- Do not cross-dissolve out lower third if the shot duration is 4 seconds or shorter. Allow lower third to end on the cut.
Diagrams
- Ideal layout cross-dissolving in and cross-dissolving out over one video clip.
- When a title is up for less than 6 seconds and touches a video edit, cut the title at the edit point with no cross-dissolve.
Exports
To export videos for external viewing, please follow these general guidelines for resolution and audio.
LOW-RES output (approvals only)
MPEG-4, 360p at 5000 kbits/s, 48kHz audio
HD Upload for YouTube
H.264 .mov, 720p at 8000 kbits/s, 48kHz audio
Full HD
H.264 .mov, 1080p at 8000 kbits/s, 48kHz audio
Visitor Center
MPEG-4, 720p at 6400 kbits/s, 48kHz audio