This tutorial is an original manually prepared language version. It does not use the article live-translation service.
Quick answer
Choose the 9:16 output, then decide whether to fill the frame, contain the full landscape image or track a clear subject. Test the most difficult scene and keep important faces, products, text and subtitles inside the vertical safe area.
Use the relevant BestAI tool with one short test file or paragraph first. Confirm the result, then process a larger batch. This prevents a small setting mistake from being repeated across many clips or a long narration.
Why this tutorial matters
A landscape source contains far more horizontal information than a phone screen can show. A blind center crop can remove the second speaker, product details, captions or the action that explains the scene. Reframing is an editorial decision, not only a resize operation.
The BestAI workflow is designed around a simple rule: one active control should own one decision. When a mode overrides another setting, the conflicting control is disabled in the interface and ignored by the backend. This makes the plan shown on screen match the actual result.
Recommended starting settings
| Setting | Practical starting point |
|---|---|
| Canvas | 9:16 vertical. |
| Fill | Best for close-ups and centered subjects. |
| Contain | Best for screens, groups and wide scenery. |
| Smart Crop | Best for one clear moving face or subject. |
| Subtitle zone | Central lower region with space above platform controls. |
These values are starting points, not universal rules. Source quality, speaking style, platform, audience and the purpose of the video can require a different choice.
Step-by-step tutorial
Step 1: Classify the source shot
Separate close-ups, interviews, screen recordings, wide scenery and product shots. One crop rule rarely suits every type.
Step 2: Select the vertical output
Use 9:16 when targeting Shorts and similar vertical feeds. Keep the source resolution high enough that the crop does not become soft after enlargement.
Step 3: Choose fill, contain or Smart Crop
Fill gives the strongest full-screen look. Contain preserves all source information. Smart Crop follows a subject. Pick the mode based on what the viewer must see, not simply which preview looks largest.
Step 4: Reposition around the story
For interviews, keep the active speaker visible. For demonstrations, prioritize hands and the object. For screen recordings, preserve menus and text even if that requires contain mode.
Step 5: Add subtitles after framing
Subtitle placement should respond to the final crop. A subtitle that was safe in 16:9 may cover a face or be cut off in 9:16.
Step 6: Export and inspect on a phone
Watch the result at normal phone size. Check sharpness, subject position, text readability and whether the vertical composition feels intentional rather than accidental.
Quality-control checklist
- The correct canvas and resolution are selected.
- The main story element stays visible.
- Source text and product labels are not cropped.
- Subtitles are placed for the final vertical frame.
- The phone-size preview remains sharp and readable.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using center fill for every landscape source.
- Cropping out the person who is speaking.
- Enlarging low-resolution footage until it looks soft.
- Adding subtitles before deciding the final frame.
- Keeping a wide establishing shot too long when the subject is tiny in vertical view.
Frequently asked questions
Is 9:16 required for every Short?
YouTube can accept square or vertical Shorts, but 9:16 uses the phone screen efficiently. Choose the format that protects the content.
Why does contain mode show background space?
It preserves the entire landscape frame. The extra space is the trade-off for keeping all horizontal information visible.
Can one video use different crop modes?
Yes. Difficult scenes can be processed separately or edited so each section uses the framing that preserves its meaning.
Practical example
A travel vlog combines a centered presenter, a wide beach and a hotel-room screen recording. Use fill or Smart Crop for the presenter, contain for the screen recording and a carefully positioned crop for the beach. One global crop would either remove information or make the presenter too small.
Preserve an editable master
Keep the original landscape file and, when possible, export a clean vertical master before adding platform-specific text. This makes later versions for Shorts, Reels and other placements easier to revise. ## Final takeaway
Convert landscape footage by protecting the story, not by blindly filling the canvas. The correct crop is the one that keeps the essential subject and information visible on a phone.