ShortForm Studio

Workflow · Stage 4 of 5

Export — getting it out the door

Five tools that live between the editor and the upload screen. They prevent the two most common upload rejections: file too big for the platform, and a thumbnail no one can read on the way past.

Tool 19 · File Size Estimator

How big will your export actually be?

Pick resolution, duration, codec, and target bitrate. Returns estimated file size in MB and whether you are inside the platform's upload limit.

Fill the fields and click estimate.

How the math works

file size ≈ bitrate × duration / 8 (with an overhead factor of 1.05 for container metadata). We add 192 kbps audio and round up. Codec efficiency matters at low bitrates — H.265 at the same Mbps is visually cleaner than H.264, but not all platforms accept it.

Limitations

  • Variable bitrate exports vary ±15% from the estimate.
  • Audio track size is approximate; music with many stems adds more.
  • Platform limits change; check the current creator docs.
Tool 20 · Bitrate Reverse Calculator

What bitrate hits the platform's upload cap?

If your file is being rejected because it's too large, this gives you the bitrate ceiling to drop to, and the visual quality cost.

Set the target size and duration.

Visual quality cost

Below 4 Mbps at 1080p you start seeing macroblocking on flat colours (sky, walls). The tool returns the bitrate plus a quality band: clean, light compression, visible compression, or blocky.

Limitations

  • High-motion footage needs more bitrate than talking-head. Treat the result as a minimum.
  • Audio bitrate is set aside here; reserve 192 kbps for stereo.
  • Some platforms re-encode anyway, so over-spec-ing the export wastes your time.
Tool 21 · Export Settings Optimizer

Preset recommendations that survive platform changes.

Pick platform and content type. Get a complete export preset with a one-line rationale per choice.

Pick platform and content type.

Why these presets work

Every platform re-encodes on upload. The goal is to give it a master that survives that re-encode without going muddy. H.264 with high bitrate is the universal compromise — quality that travels, with files that cooperate.

Limitations

  • Per-platform update cycles change the optimal ranges. Check docs for major releases.
  • Audio handling differs; the tool gives a starting AAC 192 kbps recommendation.
  • If your editor supports it, ProRes master + H.264 delivery is the most flexible archive.
Tool 22 · Cross-Platform Repurposing Map

One master → every aspect ratio.

Select what you shot and what you want to deliver. Returns the framing offsets to apply per platform and what gets cut.

Pick your source and targets.

Why the framing offsets matter

A 16:9 master cropped to 9:16 loses 73% of horizontal pixels — your subject often falls outside the new frame. Repositioning the crop on each platform (a "reframe") keeps the subject visible. The tool returns the per-platform safe subject box.

Limitations

  • It assumes a single subject. Multi-subject scenes need manual re-staging.
  • Fast horizontal motion creates motion blur at the edges of the crop — re-shoot wider if possible.
  • Some platforms use UI overlays that change the visible safe area per device.
Tool 23 · Thumbnail Text Legibility Checker

Will your thumbnail text read on a phone at 3 cm wide?

Enter your headline and see it rendered at the actual display size the platform uses, plus a contrast pass.

1 word · Aim for 1–3 words max.

Simulated at chosen platform display size.

Why this matters

Viewers decide whether to tap in roughly 0.4 seconds. A thumbnail with 6 words of text typically reads as mush at feed sizes. The optimal is 1–3 short words plus a strong facial expression.

Limitations

  • Real thumbnails vary in compression; the preview shows the ideal case.
  • Custom fonts can render differently per device — sans-serif is safest.
  • Some platforms re-crop your thumbnail into their grid; safe-zone planning is separate.

Next stage: Distribute →

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