diff --git a/docs/cinematic-quality-rules.md b/docs/cinematic-quality-rules.md
index 47d2f3a..ad0603a 100644
--- a/docs/cinematic-quality-rules.md
+++ b/docs/cinematic-quality-rules.md
@@ -51,9 +51,11 @@ Legend: ✅ implemented · ⏳ planned (see `cinematic-highlight-poc-plan.md` P5
   per-shot push-in (sub-segment splitting would reset the zoom); needs a time-varying `setpts` or a push-in
   that spans sub-segments. The crossfade already softens the *cut* into the payoff.
 
-## R7 — Overlays: bold, animated, synced ⏳ (P5.12)
-- Title/label text scaled to the frame, with an entrance (scale/fade) timed to the musical/edit accent — not
-  small static text dropped on screen.
+## R7 — Overlays: bold, animated, synced ✅
+- **Rule:** captions are large (fontsize 84), thick-outlined + drop-shadowed for legibility on any background,
+  with a snappy entrance (0.18 s alpha punch + 34 px rise-up over 0.22 s) and a soft ease-out. `drawTextFilter`.
+- **Ties to Tier 2 (R9):** the vision director produces the caption *text* ("STRIKE"); R7 makes it *land*. The
+  overlay is placed on the payoff beat, so it's timed to the musical/edit accent. Verified on bowling.
 
 ## R8 — Music sync: climax on the payoff ⏳ (P5.13)
 - **Measure:** the payoff beat's timeline position.
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/example/videoclips/editing/HighlightFfmpegRenderer.java b/src/main/java/org/example/videoclips/editing/HighlightFfmpegRenderer.java
index a9f7758..2d33f29 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/example/videoclips/editing/HighlightFfmpegRenderer.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/example/videoclips/editing/HighlightFfmpegRenderer.java
@@ -953,15 +953,16 @@ public class HighlightFfmpegRenderer {
     private String drawTextFilter(TextOverlay overlay) {
         String start = Double.toString(overlay.timelineStartSeconds());
         String end = Double.toString(overlay.timelineEndSeconds());
-        // Smooth alpha fade: ramp up over the first 0.4 s, hold, ramp down over the last 0.4 s.
-        String alpha = "if(lt(t\\," + start + "+0.4)\\,(t-" + start + ")/0.4\\,"
-                + "if(lt(t\\," + end + "-0.4)\\,1\\,(" + end + "-t)/0.4))";
-        // Premium caption: refined size, soft drop shadow, thin subtle border for legibility.
-        return ("drawtext=text='%s':x=%s:y=%s:fontsize=48:fontcolor=white"
-                + ":shadowcolor=black@0.55:shadowx=2:shadowy=2:borderw=1:bordercolor=black@0.35"
+        // Snappy entrance timed to the beat: alpha punches in over 0.18 s, holds, eases out over 0.35 s.
+        String alpha = "if(lt(t\\," + start + "+0.18)\\,(t-" + start + ")/0.18\\,"
+                + "if(lt(t\\," + end + "-0.35)\\,1\\,max(0\\,(" + end + "-t)/0.35)))";
+        // Rise-up entrance: start 34 px below the resting position and ease up over 0.22 s.
+        String y = "(" + overlayY(overlay.placement()) + ")+34*(1-min(1\\,(t-" + start + ")/0.22))";
+        // Bold cinematic caption: large, thick outline + strong drop shadow so it reads on any background.
+        return ("drawtext=text='%s':x=%s:y=%s:fontsize=84:fontcolor=white"
+                + ":shadowcolor=black@0.7:shadowx=3:shadowy=3:borderw=4:bordercolor=black@0.6"
                 + ":alpha='%s':enable='between(t\\,%s\\,%s)'")
-                .formatted(escapeDrawText(overlay.text()), overlayX(overlay.placement()),
-                        overlayY(overlay.placement()), alpha, start, end);
+                .formatted(escapeDrawText(overlay.text()), overlayX(overlay.placement()), y, alpha, start, end);
     }
 
     private String overlayX(String placement) {
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/example/videoclips/editing/HighlightFfmpegRendererTest.java b/src/test/java/org/example/videoclips/editing/HighlightFfmpegRendererTest.java
index c2ad5b2..2d1e7cb 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/example/videoclips/editing/HighlightFfmpegRendererTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/example/videoclips/editing/HighlightFfmpegRendererTest.java
@@ -105,9 +105,11 @@ class HighlightFfmpegRendererTest {
 
         assertThat(filter)
                 .contains("drawtext=text='First light.'")
-                .contains("fontsize=48")
-                .contains("shadowcolor=black@0.55:shadowx=2:shadowy=2")
-                .contains("alpha='if(lt(t\\,0.5+0.4)")
+                .contains("fontsize=84")                                  // bold
+                .contains("borderw=4:bordercolor=black@0.6")              // thick outline
+                .contains("shadowcolor=black@0.7:shadowx=3:shadowy=3")    // strong shadow
+                .contains("alpha='if(lt(t\\,0.5+0.18)")                   // snappy 0.18s punch-in
+                .contains("34*(1-min(1\\,(t-0.5)/0.22))")                 // rise-up entrance animation
                 .contains("enable='between(t\\,0.5\\,3.0)'");
     }