Since time immemorial, videos have been produced in horizontal orientation because viewing has always been on TVs and big screens. This, in addition to the fact that our eyes are in a horizontal alignment, is what has always made horizontal videos the preferred format. With the advent of smartphones, things are changing. Social media has taken the entire world by storm and is currently the most common form of communication. Most people engage on social media using their smartphones, which work best vertically. This is what has normalized and popularized vertically oriented videos. And you can start making these using an online video editor like the Promo Editor.
95% of people hold their phones vertically and prefer to view things that way without having to tilt them horizontally. Consequently, content creators, marketers, and advertisers are now adjusting their content format into vertical orientation to fit into this system. That said, you may ask yourself these questions. Which video mode is better? Horizontal or Vertical? What are the tips for making these videos? To understand the context in which each video type can be used and how to edit them, we have to first outline their characteristics:
Vertical Video
Also referred to as a portrait mode video, a vertical video by appearance is taller than it is wide. This style is used in Point of View videos; that is instructional videos that show the subject or action close-up. The subject in the video takes up the entire screen if played on a small device such as a phone. However, if you play it on a device with a larger screen, the video will only take up the middle part of the screen.
Horizontal Video
Due to our eyes’ horizontal alignment, most of the videos; especially for TV and big screens; are made in horizontal orientation. In addition, horizontal mode gives you more subjects to focus on because of the wide-angle view. Unless you are focusing on a single subject, the horizontal mode will allow you to feature more than one subject or motion.
Horizontal Vs Vertical Video Editing Using an Online Video Editor
Regardless of the online video editor, you are using, they all can help you modify your composition and focus. Consider the following comparative video editing tips for both horizontal and vertical videos:
Tip #1
When editing your horizontal video, think of what your viewer will be seeing in it and use this to edit it appropriately. If the focus is a marathon sprinter finishing a race, then you can use your online video editor to zoom in further to make him the focus. Remember, since a horizontal video is wider, consider the rule of thirds in making your composition well balanced visually. Focus on your subject when zooming in but keep him near the outer intersection at intervals so that the other runners fill up the other part. Having your subject in the middle all through can be boring and unbalanced
Vertical videos on the other hand do not have to follow the rule of thirds to look balanced. Since the focus is already on the subject due to the narrower video mode, you should use graphics and text to complement the visuals. Any online video editor can give you graphics to work with. Once you have your footage in the timeline, you can use text, emojis, stickers and graphics in the space where the subject isn’t. You can then rotate, scale and manipulate the text and graphics in a way that enhances your video.
Tip #2
Editing videos is not just about cutting, trimming, and layering, but is also about keeping your video visually interesting. For horizontal videos, the wide-angle can give you so much space to work with, so you should shift your focus while editing. However, you still need to vary your shots from time to time to break the monotony.
Vertical videos due to their point of view nature may end up dull if you use the same shot all through. With an online video editor, you can overlap shots taken from different angles to make your video more dynamic and interesting. You should however be careful not to switch shots every second as this will create confusion. Stick to pauses within your video where you can insert these shots.
Tip #3
When selecting a video editor, pick one that gives you control. This means that you should avoid those that are merely dragged and drop tools. Opt for one that encourages creativity. For example, with your horizontal shots, you may want them to fit into the social media pages format. And this is the vertical mode. With your feature-rich editing tool, you can upload your horizontal videos onto a vertical setting to convert its mode. To avoid losing quality, you could scale up the clip. This is while dragging it to fill the rest of the space in the vertical clip. You can then let the clip play in the background blurred while your main subject is in the middle.
For the vertical video clip, your online video editor can help you split the horizontal shot setting into two and insert two vertical videos. These videos should be of almost similar subjects or they should be related in a way to avoid creating contrast. Splitting the horizontal setting into two helps you avoid dragging out your vertical clip too much and interfering with the pixels. With the two split sections, you can comfortably place your vertical clips, side by side and synchronize the motion.
Final Thoughts
When leveled against each other, making a choice between horizontal videos and vertical video is not easy. Both options work well in their relevant contexts, and even better together if the editing is well executed. As a business person, social media influencer, or filmmaker, you can choose whichever suits you depending on your situation. Use the above tips to explore your creativity in the two formats.