Start with the source dimensions
A portrait reaction clip and a widescreen product recording have different shapes. Before editing, note each source’s dimensions, the target canvas and the part of the interface that must remain legible. Avoid assuming a single crop will work for every app. The examples here are planning instructions, not actual source or exported frame comparisons.
The product recording should use an account and data you may share. A generated reaction can illustrate a mood but does not establish real customer use.
Choose how the wide screen enters the vertical frame
Fit the whole screen when the surrounding context is necessary, but check whether the control is still readable. Crop toward the relevant region when it remains possible to understand where the action occurs. Another option is to show a wider establishing view first and then cut to a closer, genuine view of the control.
Do not stretch the recording or remove conditions that change the meaning of the action. If the necessary information remains too small, re-record a closer view or split the explanation into separate scenes.
| Choice | Useful when | Risk to review |
|---|---|---|
| Fit entire screen | Context matters | Text and controls may be too small |
| Crop to feature | The action stays understandable | Important conditions may disappear |
| Establish then close up | Both context and detail matter | Extra transition needs clarity |
| Picture in picture | Both elements remain legible | One element may become too small |
Preserve a clean reaction shot
Keep the reaction’s face and intended performance visible within the target frame. Check that captions and platform interface elements do not hide the face or important app controls. A reaction should lead to a specific supported product claim; it does not need to appear simultaneously with the entire screen.
If using a picture-in-picture layout, check both elements at actual phone size. When the app becomes too small to understand, use sequential full-frame shots instead of forcing the pair into one view.
Compare the actual source and export
Save representative source frames and corresponding final frames from permissioned footage. Note what was cropped, whether the feature is legible and whether the viewer retains enough orientation. Watch the complete export on a phone and verify approved text and sensitive-data removal.
This is an editorial framing plan; it does not claim a finished edit, and it does not guarantee distribution or performance.
Copy the planning worksheet
Use this worksheet in your own notes. Fill it with verified product details and actual review observations before sharing an asset.
Reaction source dimensions: __. Screen source dimensions: __. Target frame: __. Key control: __. Crop decision: __. Phone review: __.Browse the founder guide library for the next task in your workflow.