Export for TikTok and Reels
Make a 9:16 vertical graphic for TikTok, Reels, or Shorts, and drop the MP4 straight into CapCut — with an honest note on the vertical scaling quirk.
This tutorial covers making a vertical graphic for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts, and moving it into CapCut to finish your edit.
| Goal | Export a 9:16 vertical branded graphic for TikTok / Reels / Shorts. |
| Expected result | A 1080 × 1920, 30 fps MP4 (H.264 / AVC, VP9 fallback) in your Downloads. |
| Required plan | Any plan — the Free tier can make and export every template; paid plans lift the export, resolution and watermark limits. |
| Required assets | None — text is enough. Optionally your logo. |
| Estimated time | About 3 minutes. |
| Suggested next tutorial | Export for YouTube |
#Overview
TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts all use a 9:16 vertical frame at 1080 × 1920. HeyMotion has a preset for exactly that, so you can build and export a vertical graphic without leaving the studio.
#Before You Begin
Export with a Chromium browser (Google Chrome (desktop), Edge, Brave, or Arc); Safari and Firefox may not encode video. No account needed.
#Step-by-Step Instructions
#1. Switch to 9:16
Open the dimension menu above the preview and choose 9:16 (1080 × 1920). The preview reshapes to a tall frame.
#2. Mind the vertical scaling quirk
HeyMotion was built 16:9-first. Today, the 9:16 preset renders the 1920 × 1080 composition scaled and centered in the tall frame rather than re-laying-out for vertical. Some templates "fit width" so content sizes up sensibly, but you may see the design centered with space above and below. This is a known limitation — see Canvas Sizes and Aspect Ratios. The export still comes out at the correct 1080 × 1920, so it uploads and plays correctly.
#3. Choose vertical-friendly content
Because content currently centers, pick templates whose focus is a single centered element — Big counter, a Quote card, a Definition card, or an overlay like a Lower-third tag. Keep the key message in the middle band of the frame.
#4. Add your content and set the clip length
Fill in the fields with your real text, apply your brand, and set Clip length (seconds) to the duration you need.
#5. Export
Click ⬇ Export MP4. The 1080 × 1920 file downloads to your browser's Downloads folder as <template-id>-<timestamp>.mp4.
#6. Drop it into CapCut
Import the MP4 into CapCut and place it on your vertical timeline. See Use in CapCut.
Keep important text out of the bottom and right edges — TikTok and Reels put captions, buttons, and the creator handle there. Leave those zones clear.
#Best Practices
Center your key content, leave the platform's UI zones clear, and set your brand once so every vertical graphic matches. If a template looks too small centered in the tall frame, try one designed around a single bold element.
#Common Mistakes
Expecting the vertical export to fill edge-to-edge like a purpose-built vertical layout — today it centers the 16:9 composition, so plan for that. And, as always, exporting from Safari or Firefox may fail; use Chrome.
#Related Articles
See Export an MP4 for full export detail, Use in CapCut to finish your edit, and Canvas Sizes and Aspect Ratios for the scaling explanation.