Aspect ratio

What is Aspect ratio?

Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between a video's width and its height, expressed as two numbers separated by a colon, such as 16:9, 1:1, or 9:16. For short-form social video, the ratio you choose determines whether your content fills a phone screen or appears with black bars on the sides or top.

Aspect ratios by platform

When you'd use it

1. 1When choosing which platform to publish a video on and need to match its native format.
2. 2When a video shot in landscape needs to be repurposed for a vertical-first feed.
3. 3When placing text or graphics and need to know how much horizontal space is available.
4. 4When a video appears letterboxed or pillarboxed on a specific platform and you want to fix it.
5. 5When briefing an editor or motion designer on output specs.

Example

A brand films a product demo with a mirrorless camera in 16:9 at 1920x1080. When the editor exports and posts the file directly to TikTok, the platform displays it with black bars on both sides, giving the video a desktop-video feel in a vertical feed. Re-exporting at 1080x1920 (9:16), cropped to keep the product centered, removes the bars and fills the viewer's screen.

Use cases

1. 1Exporting the same clip in 9:16 for Reels and 1:1 for feed posts.
2. 2Reframing a 16:9 interview to 9:16 so the speaker fills the vertical frame.
3. 3Checking a template's aspect ratio before dropping in brand footage.

FAQ

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