Note: The screenshots in this article are from Clipchamp for personal accounts. The same principles apply to Clipchamp for work.
Clipchamp automatically sets the default aspect ratio of videos to the common widescreen dimensions of 16:9.
Any 16:9 video footage you import will remain at its original aspect ratio. However, the video's dimensions will automatically adjust for media files with different aspect ratios.
For example, if you're in a 16:9 project and your first media asset is a square image of 1:1, the project will auto-adjust to 1:1. You can easily change this back to 16:9 or to another aspect ratio preset.
What aspect ratio should I choose?
To choose the right aspect ratio for your project, consider:
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Where and how you intend to use your final video.
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The videos and/or images you plan to import and edit.
Types of aspect ratios available in Clipchamp
The aspect ratio for your video will depend on the hosting platform, and the dimensions and resolution of your personal media.
Clipchamp includes presets for common aspect ratios across many video hosting services:
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Widescreen 16:9 — the most common aspect ratio. Displays clearly on most smartphones, laptops, tablets, and TV screens. Frequently used for YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook cover videos.
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Portrait 9:16 — a mobile friendly dimension. Perfect for Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories, and YouTube Shorts.
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Square 1:1 — the standard dimension for feed and carousel posts on Facebook and Instagram.
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Classic 4:3 — the classic ratio for older footage. The former standard for TV broadcasting and home video recordings. Useful for projects like digitizing VHS or Hi8 tapes.
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Social 4:5 — the taller, mobile-friendly format for social media feeds like mobile ads on Facebook.
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Vertical 2:3 — a narrower frame than the social dimensions. Popular for vertical social media videos like Facebook and Pinterest posts.
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Cinematic 21:9 — A wider theatrical field of view for films and blog banners.
How to change the aspect ratio before you start video editing
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Before you upload or select any media, hover your cursor above 16:9 aspect ratio button at the top right of the window.
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Click to open up the aspect ratio dropdown menu.
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Preview the different options by hovering your cursor above each preset.
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Select your preferred aspect ratio.
How to change the aspect ratio of an existing video
You can change the aspect ratio after you've started editing. Alternatively, you can create a copy of a video in another aspect ratio.
Note: to create a new version of a video with different dimensions (while still keeping the old version) first make a copy of the video on the editor homepage, then open the copy and follow the below steps.
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Click on the 16:9 aspect ratio button at the top right of the window.
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Hover your cursor over each aspect ratio to preview the dimensions.
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Click on your chosen ratio.
How to remove black borders/letterboxing from your video
If your video and aspect ratio don't match, black bars/borders (letterboxing) will frame your clip. Follow the steps below to remove them.
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Click on your video in the timeline so it's highlighted.
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Click on the middle fill button on the floating toolbar inside the stage. This will automatically stretch/crop your video to fill the frame and match the new aspect ratio.
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If your clip doesn't look right due to some unusual cropping, simply reposition by clicking on the video in the stage then move it around with your cursor to a new location.
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To restore the borders to your video, click on the middle fit button on the floating toolbar.
Note: there is currently no way to simultaneously set all clips to 'fit' into the frame, so it must be done individually. However, footage added to the timeline will automatically fill to your selected aspect ratio.
Frequently asked questions
What if my videos all have different aspect ratios?
You can always add videos or images of any aspect ratio to your video, no matter what you've set as your starting aspect ratio.
Letterboxing will occur for any images or video in a different aspect ratio to your overall project. To remove these black bars/borders use the crop to fill tool or rotate the clip to fit the screen.
Can I change the aspect ratio later?
It's easy to change the aspect ratio at any time during the editing process. Just select a new aspect ratio from the presets inside the editor. If you have already exported, click on the return back to editor button to select a new aspect ratio.
Note: if changing the aspect ratio for an entire video, we recommend checking each individual clip on your timeline to ensure all frames look correct.
