Edit and format for every platform

Generated clips are raw material. The edit is where it becomes a video someone finishes watching.

What you will build

A master edit and three exports for vertical, square and landscape placements.

Figure 1. Plan the frame for the most important placement first, then adapt.

Step 1: Assemble in story order

Use your storyboard as the timeline. Trim each clip to what is needed: generated clips often have a slow start and a weak end. Aim for a cut every few seconds.

Step 2: Add what the generator cannot do well

Add in editing	Why
Titles and captions	Generated text is unreliable
Logo and exact product shots	Keeps brand details correct
Sound design and music	Many clips have none, or generic audio
Color match across clips	Clips from different generations vary

For music and sound effects, use sources whose license allows your use, and keep the license record.

Step 3: Choose the primary format

Ratio	Typical placements
9:16	TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts
1:1	Feed posts
16:9	YouTube, websites, presentations

Pick the placement that matters most and compose for it. Keep titles and faces inside a central safe area so cropping to other ratios does not cut them.

Step 4: Export and name files

2026-10-brand-launch_v1_9x16.mp4
2026-10-brand-launch_v1_1x1.mp4
2026-10-brand-launch_v1_16x9.mp4

Use a consistent name including date, project, version and ratio. Platform upload specs change; check each platform’s current requirements for file size, length and resolution before you export.

Step 5: Check on a phone

Watch the final export on a real phone with the sound off, then on. Check that captions are readable, nothing important is under interface elements, and the first 2 seconds make sense.

Worked example

An agency exported a 16:9 master and auto-cropped it to 9:16 for short-form. The product ended up cut in half. Re-composing the master with the product centered fixed all three exports at once.

Common mistakes

• Editing in 16:9 and cropping at the end.
• Unlicensed music, which platforms may mute or remove.
• Not watching it on a phone.

Checklist

• Clips trimmed, captions and logo added in the edit
• Primary format composed with a safe area
• Three exports with consistent names
• Phone check done with and without sound