Adding Date Overlays to Progress Videos
Show the passage of time by adding automatic date stamps to each frame, sourced from file metadata or custom labels.
Date overlays transform a sequence of images into a visual timeline. They help viewers understand how much time has passed between frames and add a layer of context that makes progress videos significantly more compelling.
Enabling Date Overlays
Open the overlay settings panel in Motion Studio and toggle on date overlays. If your images contain EXIF metadata with date information, Motion Studio reads it automatically and stamps each frame with the correct date.
Choosing a Display Format
Select the format that best fits your audience. Options include date-only (Jan 15, 2025), date and time (Jan 15, 2025 3:45 PM), and relative time (Day 1, Day 45, Day 180). You can also define a custom format string for full control.
Positioning and Styling
Place the overlay in any corner of the frame. Adjust font size, text color, and background opacity to ensure the stamp is readable against your images without being distracting. A semi-transparent dark background behind white text works well in most cases.
Manual Date Entry
If your images don't have EXIF data — for example, scanned photos or screenshots — you can manually enter dates for each frame or import a CSV file mapping frame numbers to dates.
Best Use Cases
Date overlays are especially effective for construction progress (show clients the timeline of the build), renovation projects (before, during, and after with clear dates), garden and plant growth (seasonal change over months), art creation (document the creative process), and fitness transformations (visual proof of progress over time).
Tips for Professional Results
Use a consistent date format throughout the entire sequence. If some frames have EXIF dates and others don't, fill in the gaps manually to avoid blank stamps. Consider using relative day counts for projects where exact dates are less important than the elapsed time.