Convert SUB_SUBVIEWER Subtitles to PGS Format

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About SUB_SUBVIEWER

SubViewer (.sub) is one of the earliest popular subtitle formats. It is a simple, time-based text format. There have been two major versions, SubViewer 1.0 and 2.0. Version 2.0, which is more common, uses a '[region]' section to define metadata and then lists subtitles with timestamps. Its simplicity led to wide support, but it lacks any styling features.

About PGS

PGS (Presentation Graphic Stream) is an image-based subtitle format used exclusively for Blu-ray discs. Unlike text-based formats like SRT, PGS subtitles are stored as a sequence of bitmap images that are overlaid on the video. This means they can have any font, style, or color imaginable, but it also means they are not text-searchable and cannot be easily edited.

SUB_SUBVIEWER vs PGS

FeatureSUB_SUBVIEWERPGS
Styling Supportfalsetrue
Positioning Supportfalsetrue
Animation Supportfalsefalse
Learning Curvebeginnerexpert
Quality Rating35
Patent Statusfreewareproprietary
Year Introduced19992006

Frequently Asked Questions

My .sub file doesn't work. Why?

The '.sub' file extension is very generic and is used by several completely different and incompatible subtitle formats, including the text-based SubViewer and the image-based VobSub (for DVDs). If your file isn't working, it's likely because your player is expecting a different '.sub' format. Our converter can intelligently distinguish between them.

Is SubViewer still a good format to use?

For new projects, SRT is a much better choice. It's just as simple but has even wider and more reliable support across all modern platforms and players. SubViewer is mostly relevant for compatibility with older files.

Can I edit a PGS subtitle file?

No, you cannot edit the text in a PGS file directly because it's a series of images, not text. To 'edit' a PGS file, you would need to use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to convert the images back into a text-based format like SRT, edit the text, and then optionally convert it back, though this is a complex and often error-prone process.

Why do Blu-rays use image-based subtitles?

Image-based subtitles guarantee that the text will be displayed exactly as the designer intended, with specific fonts and styles, on any certified Blu-ray player. This avoids issues with players not having the correct fonts installed or not supporting certain text rendering features.

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