Export vertical video for Shorts, Reels and TikTok

A loop that looks great in the studio can still look wrong on a phone if the export settings are off. This guide covers the choices that matter when you export a bouncing-ball video for vertical platforms such as YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and TikTok. Platform requirements change, so treat the numbers below as a starting point and check each platform's current guidance before you publish.

Aspect ratio: start with 9:16

Vertical platforms are built around 9:16, the shape of a phone held upright. Pick it as your default in the export options. Bounceloop also offers 1:1 and 16:9, which suit feeds and widescreen players, but a 9:16 export will fill the phone screen on all three platforms.

Resolution and frame rate

You can export at up to 4K (2160p) on Creator Pro, at 30 or 60 frames per second, within your plan's limits. Some practical advice:

• 1080 × 1920 is the usual target. It is sharp on phones and exports quickly.
• 60 fps makes fast motion smoother, which helps busy modes with many balls. 30 fps is fine for slow, calm loops and gives smaller files.
• Higher is not always better. Platforms recompress what you upload, and a very large file does not guarantee a better result.

Keep the action out of the edges

On a phone, the interface covers the top and bottom of the video and a column on one side. Captions, buttons and the username all sit there. Keep the ring, the ball and any title in the central area of the frame, and avoid putting anything important close to the edges.

Length

Match the length to the payoff. If the ending arrives at twelve seconds, a thirty-second export is eighteen seconds of padding. Every platform has its own limits and recommendations for short videos, so check them before you decide. A short clip that loops cleanly is often a good fit.

Formats and what happens if an export fails

Bounceloop renders the video frame by frame in your browser and mixes the audio separately, so results are consistent even on a slower computer, though slower devices take longer. MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio is used where your browser supports it. Otherwise it falls back to WebM, which is real-time and can be less smooth.

If an export fails:

• Use a current desktop version of Chrome, Edge or another browser with WebCodecs.
• Close other heavy tabs and try again.
• Try a lower resolution or frame rate.

The exporting guide has the full list.

Watermarks

Free exports carry a Bounceloop watermark. Paid plans remove it, and Creator Pro can add your own. See pricing for what each plan includes.

Pre-upload checklist

• The ratio is 9:16 and the main action is in the centre.
• You watched the whole export once with sound and once without.
• The notes line up with the bounces.
• Any backing track is audio you have the right to publish.
• The first second has something to look at. Seven tips for keeping viewers watching covers this.

When you are happy, upload it, and keep the seed and settings so you can recreate the same loop later. Need a starting point? Read how to make a bouncing-ball video, start to finish.