How to Convert A Horizontal Video to Vertical

How you present your video content matters today more than ever. Did you know that 94% of smartphone users hold their phones vertically when consuming content? So, your audience might miss your message entirely if your videos are in horizontal mode.

This post covers why you should convert for horizontal videos and how to do so.

Why Should You Convert Horizontal Videos to Vertical

A vertical video is a video that's taller than it is wide, perfect for mobile screens. Think about the trending videos on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat – they're all vertical.

Take National Geographic, for instance. They're crushing it on Instagram Reels, serving up epic adventures and cute critters with vertical videos.

But vertical videos don’t just look cool; they take up serious real estate on your phone screen. In a sea of endless scrolling, they're the ones that make your audience stop and pay attention.

So, whether showcasing products, giving a sneak peek behind the scenes, or dropping quick knowledge tips, vertical videos are your best friend.

Right now, video content is marketing gold. It's a whopping 1200% more successful than other content. So, if you're not hopping on the vertical video train, you're missing out big time.

Which Is Best for Social Media - Vertical or Horizontal Videos?

Social media usage is skyrocketing, with most people spending 80% of their time on social platforms via mobile devices. People stay on their phones for nearly 3 hours and 20 minutes daily, compared to just 40 minutes on their computers.

Since your audience will consume most smartphone content, the question is whether your video should be horizontal or vertical.

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter ditched the black borders on vertical videos back in 2017. They realized that people prefer watching vertical content on social media. So, instead of seeing vertical as a flaw, these platforms made updates to improve it.

When people watch live videos, they naturally hold their phones vertically. It's just easier to engage with reactions and comments that way. Facebook even tweaked its mobile News Feed to show more of each vertical video, keeping users hooked on the platform.

Instagram jumped on the vertical bandwagon, too. In 2015, Snapchat found that full-screen vertical video ads had completion rates 9 times higher than horizontal ones. Their research showed that vertical ads grabbed 2 times more visual attention than other platforms. So, they encouraged businesses to use vertical videos.

How to Make Your Horizontal Videos Vertical 

You don't have to worry if you made a horizontal video and now need to change it to a vertical one.

There are three main ways to turn your horizontal videos into vertical format.

Cropping and Resizing

Cropping and resizing is the most common method for converting horizontal videos to vertical. First, import your video into editing software like Hipclip.AI and use the crop tool to adjust the frame size.

This process is simple. While you may lose some of the original video content quality with other editing software, Hipclip.AI preserves your video quality.

Rotating and Adding Background

Rotate the video by 90 degrees, but this will leave black bars on the top and bottom. To address this, you can add a background blur or image to fill the empty space. 

This preserves the original content. However, it may require additional editing and can affect the overall outlook.

Reframing While Recording

If you plan to shoot a new video, consider framing it vertically from the start. So when you visit the studio or your content creation location, switch to vertical mode before recording.

This ensures you don't need serious editing since the video will naturally suit vertical platforms. 

Choosing the Right Method for Your Content

Consider how important it is to retain the original content. If cropping cuts out crucial parts, explore rotation or reframing. Think about the platform on which you'll be sharing the video.

Some platforms have specific aspect ratio requirements.

By understanding these methods and their pros and cons, you can choose the best approach to convert your horizontal videos to a vertical format.

How To Switch From Horizontal to Vertical Using Hipclip.AI 

Hipclip.AI is an excellent tool for easily converting your horizontal videos to vertical mode. Here's how you can do it:

Upload Your Video

Head over to https://www.hipclip.ai/ and click the "Upload" button.

You can upload your video from your computer, cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox, or even directly from a YouTube URL. 

Choose the "Resize" Option 

Once your video uploads, you'll see a preview screen with various editing options on the right. Select the "Resize" tab. 

Resize for Vertical Format 

Hipclip offers several options for resizing:

• Choose a preset size for vertical platforms like TikTok (1080x1920 pixels).
• Enter specific width and height values for a more tailored approach. 

Maintain Aspect Ratio (optional)

Select the "Maintain aspect ratio" option to avoid stretching or squishing your video while resizing. This is crucial if you are adapting your horizontal videos to vertical format. 

Fine-tune With Cropping (optional)

Click on the "Crop" tab if you want to adjust the framing further. Hipclip allows you to crop to various aspect ratios or manually drag the corners for more precision.

Export Your Video

Once you're happy with the resizing and cropping outcome, click the "Export" button. Hipclip offers different export options, allowing you to choose the quality and format that suits your needs. 

Go Vertical With Hipclip.AI Today!

Easily convert your horizontal videos to vertical format with Hipclip.AI.

This user-friendly tool lets you resize and crop your videos in seconds, ensuring they're perfectly optimized for mobile viewing.

Get started today for free.