Platform workflow
TikTok, Reels, and Shorts workflow
A practical workflow for turning screen recordings into vertical clips for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
The problem
Vertical clips fail when the crop hides the product action, subtitles cover important UI, or the recording starts too slowly for mobile viewers.
Recommended recording setup
- Decide whether the clip is a standalone tip, teaser, before/after, or repurposed moment.
- Keep the main UI action inside the center-safe area before resizing.
- Use short narration blocks that can survive captions and platform controls.
- Record enough surrounding context so vertical crops can move without cutting off the action.
Tool sequence
01
Resize for mobile
Social video resizer
Prepare platform-specific vertical versions from a wide recording.
02
Check safe areas
Safe area overlay generator
Keep buttons, subtitles, and product UI out of covered zones.
03
Create a TikTok version
Resize for TikTok
Crop and pad screen recordings for TikTok-style vertical viewing.
04
Create a Shorts version
Resize for YouTube Shorts
Prepare a vertical export that keeps the main action legible.
05
Prepare caption copy
TikTok hashtags template
Group topic, audience, and product hashtags before posting.
Export settings
- Use 9:16 for the final vertical export.
- Keep text overlays large enough for mobile playback.
- Avoid placing critical UI under captions, profile controls, or platform buttons.
- Export separate files per platform when safe areas differ.