Studio 21.1.1
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FRAMING & MOTION

How to reframe a landscape video for vertical delivery

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

A vertical version needs its own composition. Create the portrait timeline first, then decide how each subject and caption fits the narrower frame.

Before you begin

Select a video clip on the Edit timeline and open the Inspector.

ACTUAL RESOLVE INTERFACEView full size ↗
Cut page resolution menu with a portrait format option
Cut page resolution menu with a portrait format option Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 637. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. Duplicate the timeline and give the copy a vertical-specific name. In Timeline Settings, set a portrait frame such as 1080 × 1920.
  2. Inspect image scaling and adjust Zoom and Position for each shot instead of relying on one universal crop.
  3. For moving subjects, keyframe horizontal position or use Studio’s Smart Reframe as a starting point. Review every automatic decision.
  4. Move titles and subtitles away from important picture details and likely platform interface areas. Export a short portrait test and view it on a phone.

Check your result

The export is genuinely portrait, and the subject, graphics, and captions remain readable throughout.

If it doesn’t work as expected

Changing only the export resolution can squeeze or crop a landscape layout badly. Redesign the timeline framing before final delivery.

BUILD THE UNDERLYING SKILL

Advanced editorial workflows

Go deeper with the course’s explanations, exercises, and knowledge checks.

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Technical reference: DaVinci Resolve 21.1 Reference Manual, Blackmagic Design, September 2026. Screenshot page numbers refer to that manual. Independently written guidance; specific controls may vary by platform and build. Authorship & image credits.