Video quality

Video quality, compression and framing guides

Start with the source, framing and destination. Reducing the file size comes later. Compare the same section at the same displayed size so a smaller preview does not hide damage to text or detail.

A close view of a laptop screen and trackpad during creative work
Video quality8 min read

Smaller screen recordings. Sharper text.

Keep interface details legible by solving framing and scaling before squeezing the bitrate.

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A smartphone standing on a wooden surface in warm evening light
Video quality6 min read

Why WhatsApp makes your videos blurry

Understand what happens between your camera roll and the chat, and choose the right way to send a video.

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A creative editing workspace with several monitors and a laptop
Editing workflow6 min read

A clean crop for videos with baked-in bars

Tell player letterboxing from actual black pixels, calculate a proportional crop, and check the whole clip before enlarging the remaining image.

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A person working with video on two screens in a dark editing room
Editing workflow6 min read

Reframe an interview for a vertical screen

Plan a 9:16 crop shot by shot, keep eyelines and gestures readable, and avoid an auto-reframe that constantly drifts between faces.

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Five smartphones arranged on a gray surface
DaVinci Resolve6 min read

Take phone HDR through a clean SDR workflow

Identify the input transfer function, apply one controlled HDR-to-SDR transform, and verify the exported Rec.709 file through re-import.

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Two people reviewing a project on a laptop
Creator basics6 min read

30 or 60 fps? Start with the movement.

Choose a frame rate for the action and your delivery workflow, rather than treating a bigger number as better.

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A person working with video on two screens in a dark editing room
CapCut7 min read

CapCut captions that leave room for the story

Generate a useful first draft, repair the wording, and design captions that survive a real phone screen.

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Tools for this workflow