How to edit Reels and Shorts: vertical video

Step 1

Set up a format for both platforms

Create your project in 9:16 from the start: it's the vertical format that works for both Reels and Shorts. Instagram accepts Reels with an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16, at least 30 FPS and a resolution of at least 720 pixels. YouTube only counts a video as a Short if it's square or vertical: a horizontal 16:9 video always becomes a regular video. If your footage was shot horizontally:

• •in CapCut, select the clip, click Crop and pick 9:16;
• •check that faces, text or the product are still in frame after cropping;
• •in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, make a separate vertical sequence or timeline instead of reworking the horizontal one.

Step 2

Fit the length

YouTube Shorts run up to 3 minutes. Instagram lets you record and edit Reels up to 20 minutes, but reels over 3 minutes aren't recommended to new audiences. For a first clip, aim much shorter: the shorter the video, the easier it is to hold attention to the end.

• •one idea, one clip: don't try to fit a whole case study;
• •cut everything that doesn't move the story, even pretty shots;
• •watch the edit with the sound off: if it's unclear, improve the on-screen text.

💡 Make two versions of the same clip, 15 and 30 seconds. See which one your friends watch to the end, and learn to cut more boldly.

Step 3

The first seconds and rhythm

People scroll past short videos instantly, so the first frame has to answer "what's this about" right away. For design clips, showing the result first works best: the finished screen, logo or illustration, then the process.

• •start with the ending or the most striking moment, not a greeting;
• •change the shot every few seconds: a zoom, a new angle, the next stage of work;
• •put cuts on the beat if there's music: the clip will feel faster.

Step 4

Text, captions and music

The clip should make sense with the sound off, so repeat the key idea as on-screen text. Keep text closer to the center of the frame: the platforms show the caption, buttons and profile name on top of the video. Be careful with music:

• •on YouTube, a Short over 1 minute with an active Content ID claim is blocked globally;
• •most songs from the Shorts audio library can be used for up to 90 seconds in a 3-minute Short, some only for 60 or 30;
• •music from the YouTube Audio Library is free and won't receive Content ID claims.

💡 Always proofread auto-generated captions: speech recognition slips on names, app names and terms.

Step 5

Cover, upload and your first mini project

For a Reels cover, Instagram recommends 420 x 654 pixels (a 1:1.55 ratio), and you can't edit it after uploading for now. To always upload reels at the highest quality, turn on Upload at highest quality: profile > menu > Media quality (uploads take longer). On YouTube from a computer, open YouTube Studio, click CREATE > Upload videos and pick a vertical or square file up to 3 minutes long. Final exercise: a 20–30-second before-and-after clip about your project, with captions.

💡 Share the clip in the community before posting and ask for feedback on the first 3 seconds: do they make you want to keep watching?