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Editing and Placements

Editing UGC for different placements

Plan, crop, caption and review UGC versions for different placements without obscuring the product or changing the approved message.

Library Desk · · 5 min read

Edit each placement from the approved source footage, then review the exported version in the format where it will appear. A video that works in one feed may lose its product shot, captions or a qualification when cropped or covered by another placement’s controls. Approval of one version does not automatically cover every cut.

Make a placement plan before editing

For each destination, record the intended orientation, buyer question, essential product shot, claim and desired action. Check current specifications for the actual ad format and campaign before setting an export preset. Rules and preview options differ within a platform.

TikTok recommends 9:16 for non-Spark auction in-feed ads and also lists horizontal and square options. Google recommends vertical video assets for YouTube Shorts ads. The same crop may still work differently in those placements because their controls and calls to action occupy different parts of the screen.

Decision / Record for each placement

Frame
Orientation and the product area that must remain visible
Message
The buyer question and evidence the cut will show
Text
Captions, qualifications and space around them
Sound
Whether the message remains clear without audio
Rights
The approved file, edits, channel and period of use
Review
Who approves the exported version

Placement Plan Checklist

  • FrameConfirm orientation and ensure product area remains visible
  • MessageIdentify buyer question and evidence shown in the cut
  • TextEnsure captions, qualifications, and spacing are preserved
  • SoundVerify message clarity without audio
  • RightsDocument approved file, edits, channel, and usage period
  • ReviewAssign approver for exported version

Check format specifications before export

TikTok Non-Spark ads list minimum dimensions of 540 × 960 px for vertical 9:16, 960 × 540 px for horizontal 16:9 and 640 × 640 px for square 1:1. Maximum duration is 10 minutes, file limit 500 MB and minimum bitrate 516 kbps.

Check caption rules as well as frame dimensions. TikTok Non-Spark captions display in white, use a uniform font that cannot be customised, and support no clickable links, @ symbols or hashtags. Spark Ad captions are extracted from organic video captions, with a maximum of four displayed lines, including emojis.

TikTok’s safe-zone size depends on video dimensions, caption length and any additional formats used. Select the matching safe-zone file before finalising the placement; if the ad uses anchors, TikTok provides safe-zone files specifically for ads with anchors.

YouTube Shorts video assets must be uploaded to YouTube and can be set as public or unlisted. In multi-format Video view and Video reach campaigns, Google automatically optimises delivery across selected formats; individual assets cannot be restricted to serve only in Shorts in that setup.

Check how accompanying text will appear on the destination. YouTube Shorts descriptions are limited to 90 characters; text overflowing one line on mobile or two lines on desktop and TV will be truncated. The displayed character count also depends on the viewer’s device settings and language.

Protect the product and the meaning

Start with the widest usable source shot. Follow the product through the action: an opening frame can look safe even when the item later moves beneath an interface element. If a tight crop removes part of a demonstration, use a wider shot or another layout.

Treat words and pictures as one claim. A shorter cut may need a product variant, setup step, wait time or limitation to keep its result accurate. Australian Consumer Law applies to social media advertising, and statements made on social media must be true and accurate. Review the opening and closing frames as carefully as the middle.

The ACCC says it can require businesses to back up claims made on social media and may investigate or take compliance or enforcement action over false or misleading social media advertising. Keep the support for a claim available when adapting the asset, so the approved version and its placement-specific edits can be checked against the same evidence.

Key Compliance & Accessibility Guidelines

ACCC Enforcement Power
Can require businesses to back up claims made on social media
Australian Consumer Law
All social media advertising must be truthful and accurate
Accessibility Standard
Captions must synchronise with speech and non-speech audio
Copyright Consideration
Ensure licensing covers derivative uses across placements

Make captions for the destination

Caption speech and meaningful audio. Keep text clear of the product and the destination’s controls, with sufficient size and contrast against changing backgrounds. Read the export at phone size and normal playback speed. If a line disappears too quickly, adjust its timing or shorten non-essential wording without changing the meaning.

If the destination supports a separate caption track, check how its player displays it. Open captions remain visible; closed captions can be shown or hidden in a supporting player. Burned-in captions may need different positioning for each export.

The W3C describes captions as synchronised text for speech and non-speech audio needed to understand media. They support people who are Deaf or cannot hear the audio, as well as people who process written information more easily than audio.

Where suitable for the player, a separate caption file can also support an interactive transcript: some players highlight phrases as they are spoken and let viewers select text to jump to that point. The W3C also recommends a separate caption file describing visual information for optimum accessibility.

Review each version

Keep the approved source and its derivatives under related asset identifiers. Record changes to crop, duration, captions, sound, call to action and claims. If the agreement covers only a finished file or specified uses, resolve permission before using a derivative.

Review the exported file on a phone and use a placement preview where one is available. A preview may differ from the live view or may be unavailable for a campaign type. Approve the actual version intended for use, and keep the source intact so corrections can be made from the best available file.

Editing UGC for Different Placements – Step-by-Step

  1. Start with source footageUse widest usable shot from approved source material
  2. Define placement requirementsRecord orientation, product visibility, claim, action, captions, sound, rights, and review process
  3. Check format specsVerify dimensions, duration, file size, caption rules, and safe zones per platform
  4. Protect product and meaningMaintain accuracy of claims; retain supporting evidence; avoid misleading cuts
  5. Create destination-specific captionsEnsure readability, contrast, timing, and accessibility; use separate caption files where possible
  6. Review each exported versionTest on mobile device; use preview tools; approve final version; preserve original source

In this guide

  1. Reframing vertical UGC without cutting off the productKeep the product visible through a vertical UGC edit by tracking its movement, choosing a workable crop and checking the final phone view.
  2. Designing captions that remain readable on a phoneDesign UGC captions for a phone by checking accuracy, timing, contrast, product visibility and placement controls in the final export.
  3. Creating shorter edits from a single approved videoTurn one approved UGC video into shorter cuts while keeping the product action, qualifications and permissions intact.
  4. Removing platform watermarks from a licensed source fileHandle a platform watermark in licensed UGC by finding the clean source, checking edit rights and reviewing the new export for its exact placement.

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