Special Placement for subtitles

[rosanamadalina]

Hello everyone,

I've made similar posts in the past, but this time I've had the time to really test things out and come baring more specific questions.

I'm currently trying to make a VF for a DCP, with some subtitles with specific placements. I have a srt file as a base.

I've tried doing it in DaVinci resolve, but even if I export an ass file, DOM won't assume my formatting specifications. They just come up just as if it were an srt.

Then, I did it in Aegisub, but for some reason, DOM interprets the positioning in a different way, despite the size parameter being the same as the DCP, and having used a screener as guide. All subtitles are way closer to the bottom than they should be, and it seems the off-centered ones are too much to the right (the left-positioned are not where they should be; and the right positioned are even cut off and come off the screen). The centered ones, however, have no displacement in the Y offset, only in the X. Another quirky thing is, if I manipulate the X position offset in DOM making them go "up", them the centered ones will, in fact, do that, but the right-positioned ones will do the opposite and go "down".

I did some little research, and found that exporting in DCI/SMPTE XML could be a solution. Subtitle Edit does this - and many people seem to use it - however, the mac version seems a bit limited, regarding positioning settings. However, even if I use my ass file (from aegisub) to export it in DCI/SMPTE XML just for a quick test, it turns out that despite it being imported into DOM, they don't appear. Meaning, there's no error importing, only maybe interpreting them? I cant be sure everything is good with the DCI/SMPTE XML export position/scale wise, but I figured they should still appear in some way when manipulating the scale or offset values in DOM. However, I never seem to find them. Could be my fault when exporting, honestly, I can't be sure.

DCP was made by me using DOM, from a ProRes file, and is in 3996x2160, 4K, 24 fps, in a Flat Container. Not sure if its length is relevant, but it's a feature and I can provide the specific duration, if required.
Screener was made from DOM, from the OV.
Base SRTs were given to be by the film director, and the only alterations I've made were: setting the font as Helvetica Neue, change the font size (in proportion, and using the screener for reference) and, obviously, the positioning.

Which leads me to these questions:
Is there perhaps a better subtitle export that will allow me the positioning I need, while still work on DOM?
Is there any setting that I might be overlooking when making the ass file, that might lead to it being mis-interpreted by DOM?

For reference: I'm using a Macbook Pro with the M3 chip, with the Tahoe 26.2 Mac OS; and also the 2.16.82 DOM version.

Any tips, work-flows or work-arounds will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

[Robin Erard]

Rougegorge Subtiltes can do this.
You can even pass the positionning settings to Resolve.

Best
Robin