Horizontal2Vertical

Crop vs pad for vertical video

The fastest way to make better Shorts from widescreen footage is to choose the right framing mode before you export. Crop and pad solve different problems.

Choose crop when

  • The subject is centered or easy to re-center.
  • You want a native full-screen vertical look.
  • Extra background detail on the left and right is not important.

Choose pad when

  • You need the full frame to remain visible.
  • The clip is a screen recording, gameplay scene, or wide composition.
  • You would rather add titles in the padding area than lose picture information.

Practical rule

If losing horizontal edges would reduce comprehension, pad. If the core story still reads clearly after a tighter crop, crop. You can then use text overlays to restore context for viewers watching without sound.