Horizontal, vertical, or square: choose the right ratio from the start

The question about video ratios often comes late, after filming is completed. At that point, you may discover that the vertical version cannot be used for event screens, or that the horizontal version uploaded to Reels leaves two black bars at the top and bottom, looking amateurish. Sinh Vũ does not see this as a post-production error, but as a sign that the ratio was not finalized during the planning stage.

Ratio according to where the video lives

Each platform has its own display method, and the error rate is high for thumbnail videos, which may be cropped or have black borders. Sinh Vũ uses a simple rule: identify the target channel first, then follow with the aspect ratio.

• 9:16 (vertical full screen): used for Reels, Stories, TikTok, YouTube Shorts. This ratio takes up the entire phone screen, ideal when you want viewers to see nothing but the video.
• 16:9 (horizontal): used for long YouTube videos, embedded videos on websites, conference screens, or TVs. This is the standard ratio for horizontal spaces.
• 4:5 (medium vertical): used for feed ads on Meta. Takes up more vertical space than square formats while still displaying correctly on computers, not being cropped like 9:16.
• 1:1 (square): still usable in some feed positions or when content needs to display evenly across all devices without relying on vertical or horizontal orientation.

Safe zone: the often overlooked area

The interface of platforms places buttons, account names, captions, and navigation bars over the video. If text or logos are placed in this area, important content will be obscured without any warning.

Meta recommends leaving space at the top and bottom of the frame for Reels and Stories. The bottom area is particularly prone to being obscured as it is where the interface displays interaction buttons and account names. Specific numbers may change with each interface update, so check the latest specs of each platform before each campaign. Safety principle: keep the subject, title, and call-to-action in the middle of the frame.

Should you go back?

The answer depends on two things: the resolution of the original and how the subject is framed during the shoot.

• If filming in 4K with the subject centered in the frame: no need to reshoot, cropping from the original will maintain sharpness and composition for the vertical version.
• If filming in Full HD (1080p) horizontally and then needing a vertical 9:16 version: it will require significant enlargement, resulting in a blurry outcome that is not suitable for professional advertising.
• If the subject stands too close to the left or right edge, cropping vertically will cut off the subject even if the resolution is sufficient.

In brief: resolution buys flexibility in cropping, while composition within the frame cannot be reclaimed after filming.

The ratio is a production decision, not a post-production decision. Making a mistake at the start means paying the price at the end.

Practical experience, Sinh Vũ Studio

Common errors and how to avoid them

• Posting horizontal versions on Reels: Short videos with two black bars on the top and bottom, resulting in reduced engagement as they do not occupy the full screen.
• Set the logo or title too close to the top or bottom edge: it may be obscured by the platform interface, preventing customers from seeing the brand.
• Assuming a universal ratio works everywhere: There is no one-size-fits-all ratio. 9:16 is good for vertical but will have black bars on the sides when viewed horizontally on YouTube.
• Decisions on ratios after post-production: at that point, very little can be adjusted, which wastes additional time and money.

Sinh Vũ's viewpoint

In Sinh Vũ's process, proportions are finalized at the storyboard stage, not at the file export stage. For a key product package, Sinh Vũ defaults to delivering a horizontal version along with a vertical version for social media from a single production run. For campaign packages, all aspect ratios are delivered along with usage guidelines for each channel.

This approach is not an additional service but a calculation from the start: placing the subject in the right area, shooting at sufficient resolution, and leaving safe margins. This way, you won't have to pay for reshoots just to change the frame for a new channel.