Video editing guide

Change a Video’s Aspect Ratio to 9:16, 1:1 or 16:9

Changing the aspect ratio changes the shape of the frame. Pick the shape for where the video will be watched, then choose whether to keep the whole picture or crop it to fill the new frame.

Pick vertical, square or landscape

9:16 is vertical for Shorts, Reels and TikTok, 1:1 is square and 16:9 is landscape. Original keeps the source shape. Choose based on where people will watch, not on the export height.

Shape and resolution are separate. The ratio sets the frame’s proportions and the export height sets a size limit. Choosing 1080p does not add detail the source does not have.

Fit the whole picture or fill the frame

Fit shows the entire source and leaves space around it when the shapes differ. Fill uses a centred crop to cover the frame, so the edges of the source are cut off. Screen recordings usually need fit; a centred speaker may suit fill.

Check the subject, any text on screen and any buttons the viewer needs. A landscape demo cropped to vertical can lose the very part that explains the action.

Change the project to 9:16 and fit the whole frame. Do not crop.

Watch subjects that move

A crop that suits the first frame can fail when someone walks toward an edge or the camera pans. Play every clip from start to finish.

Fill is always centred; it does not track people or follow a path. If the action leaves the centre, use fit or zoom only the sections where a closer frame works.

Make the project square with a centred crop. Keep the speed and sound unchanged.

Re-check titles after reshaping

Text layers are laid out in the new frame, so a long landscape title can wrap onto several lines when you go vertical. Check size, position and timing again over the footage.

Watch for text that was part of the original recording too. A crop can cut off burned-in subtitles, slide headings or product labels, and added text cannot bring them back.

Check every clip when they differ

The whole project shares one shape, but clips can have different source shapes and their own fit setting. A landscape clip next to a vertical one will show different space around it, so check the change between them.

Select the clip you mean before asking for a framing change. If the wrong clip changes, undo, select the right one and ask again.

Export the new shape

Choose the format and maximum height and keep the tab open while it encodes. The output never exceeds what your source can provide.

Watch the result at the size people will use, especially on a phone. Keep the original and a project backup so you can make another shape later without starting from an already cropped export.

Frequently asked questions

Can I turn a landscape video vertical?

Yes. Choose 9:16, then fit to keep the whole frame or fill for a centred crop that cuts off the sides.

Does changing the shape improve quality?

No. The shape changes; detail does not. The output is limited by your source and export setting.

Will the crop follow a moving person?

No. Fill is a centred crop and does not track subjects.