Viraly’s video editor lets you trim, crop, filter, adjust, annotate, and enhance videos for each social media platform. Optimize your content for Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and more without needing external tools.
Opening the Video Editor
To edit a video in your post:
- Add a video to your post using the Upload button or drag-and-drop
- Click on the video thumbnail
- Select Edit or click the pencil icon
- The video editor opens with your video ready to edit
The editor displays your video in the center with editing tools in the left sidebar. Click Save Changes when you’re done.
Trim
The Trim tool lets you cut your video to the perfect length by removing unwanted portions from the beginning or end.
Timeline Controls
At the bottom of the editor, you’ll see:
- Timeline — Visual strip showing video frames with time markers
- Playhead — Drag to scrub through the video and preview different points
- Trim handles — Drag the start and end handles to set your trim points
Playback Controls
Use these controls to preview your video:
- Play/Pause — Start or stop video playback
- Mute/Unmute — Toggle audio on or off
- Split — Split the video at the current playhead position
Trimming Your Video
- Drag the left handle to set where the video should start
- Drag the right handle to set where the video should end
- Use the playhead to preview your trim points
- Click Save Changes to apply the trim
Crop
The Crop tool lets you resize and reframe your video for different platforms.
Transform Options
The top toolbar provides quick transform actions:
- Rotate left — Rotate the video 90° counter-clockwise
- Rotate right — Rotate the video 90° clockwise
- Flip horizontal — Mirror the video horizontally
- Flip vertical — Mirror the video vertically
- Crop for [Platform] — Quick access to platform-specific aspect ratios
Fine Rotation and Scale
At the bottom of the crop view:
- Rotation — Use the slider to fine-tune rotation angle
- Scale — Zoom in or out within the crop area
Drag the crop handles to adjust the crop area, or use the platform presets for optimal aspect ratios. The current dimensions are displayed (e.g., 1080 × 1920).
Filter
Apply pre-made filters to change the overall look and feel of your video. Available filters include:
| Filter | Effect |
|---|---|
| Default | Original video with no filter |
| Chrome | Cool, slightly desaturated with enhanced contrast |
| Fade | Soft, faded look with lifted blacks |
| Cold | Cool blue tones |
| Warm | Warm orange/yellow tones |
| Pastel | Soft, muted colors |
| Mono | Black and white |
| Noir | High contrast black and white |
| Stark | High contrast with desaturated colors |
| Wash | Soft, washed-out appearance |
Click a filter thumbnail to apply it to your entire video.
Finetune
Make precise adjustments to your video with these controls:
| Adjustment | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Brightness | Make the video lighter or darker overall |
| Contrast | Increase or decrease the difference between light and dark areas |
| Saturation | Adjust color intensity (lower = more gray, higher = more vivid) |
| Exposure | Simulate camera exposure adjustments |
| Temperature | Shift colors warmer (yellow/orange) or cooler (blue) |
| Gamma | Adjust midtone brightness |
| Clarity | Enhance or reduce local contrast for a sharper or softer look |
| Vignette | Add darkening around the edges of the video |
Each adjustment has a slider. Move left to decrease, right to increase. The center position (0) is the original value.
Annotate
Draw and add shapes directly on your video frames. Annotation tools include:
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Sharpie | Freehand drawing tool for sketching or highlighting |
| Eraser | Remove annotations you’ve drawn |
| Path | Draw smooth curved lines |
| Line | Draw straight lines |
| Arrow | Draw arrows to point at specific areas |
| Rectangle | Draw rectangular shapes |
| Ellipse | Draw circular or oval shapes |
| Text | Add text labels to your video |
Annotation Options
- Line color — Click the color circle to choose your annotation color
- Line width — Select Small, Medium, or Large stroke width
Note: Annotations appear as overlays on the video and are applied to all frames.
Decorate
The Decorate tab provides the same drawing tools as Annotate (Sharpie, Eraser, Path, Line, Arrow, Rectangle, Ellipse, Text) with identical color and width options. Use this for adding decorative elements to your videos.
Sticker
Add emoji stickers to your videos for extra visual appeal:
- Click the Sticker tab
- Browse the available emoji stickers
- Click a sticker to add it to your video
- Drag to position the sticker where you want it
- Use the handles to resize or rotate the sticker
You can also click Select Image to upload a custom sticker, logo, or graphic overlay.
Resize
Change the dimensions of your video:
- Click the Resize tab
- Enter your desired Width and Height in pixels
- Toggle the lock icon to maintain or unlock the aspect ratio
- Click Save Changes to apply
The current video dimensions are displayed for reference. When the aspect ratio is locked, changing one dimension automatically adjusts the other.
Setting Cover Photos
A cover photo (thumbnail) is the image viewers see before playing your video. A good cover photo can significantly increase engagement.
Selecting a Frame from Your Video
In the post composer, below your video thumbnail, you’ll see the Cover Photo section:
- Use the timeline scrubber to browse through your video
- Find the perfect frame
- The selected frame automatically becomes your cover photo
Cover Photo Requirements by Platform
| Platform | Aspect Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | Recommended for best display |
| Instagram Stories | 9:16 | Recommended for best display |
| Facebook Reels | 9:16 | Required for Reels |
| TikTok | 9:16 | Portrait videos perform best |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 or 1:1 | Shorts require vertical or square |
| 1:1, 2:3, or 9:16 | 2:3 recommended | |
| 16:9 or 1:2.4 | Professional content |
Platform Video Requirements
| Content Type | Duration | Max Size | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reels | 3s – 15 min | 300 MB | 9:16 ideal (flexible) |
| Stories | 3s – 60s | 100 MB | 9:16 ideal (flexible) |
| Feed/Carousel | 3s – 60s | 100 MB | 3:4 to 1.91:1 |
Formats: MP4, MOV | Max width: 1920px
| Content Type | Duration | Max Size | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reels | 3s – 90s | 1 GB | 9:16 required |
| Stories | 3s – 90s | 100 MB | 9:16 recommended |
| Video Posts | 3s – 240 min | 1 GB | Any |
Formats: MP4, MOV | Min resolution (Reels): 540x960px
TikTok
| Max Size | Resolution Range | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| 4 GB | 360×360 to 4096x4096px | MP4, WebM, MOV |
Note: Duration limits vary based on your TikTok creator account type.
YouTube Shorts
| Duration | Aspect Ratio | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3 minutes | 9:16 or 1:1 only | MP4, MOV, WebM |
Important: Shorts must be exactly 9:16 (vertical) or 1:1 (square) aspect ratio.
| Duration | Max Size | Aspect Ratios |
|---|---|---|
| 4s – 15 min | 2 GB | 1:1, 2:3, or 9:16 |
Formats: MP4, MOV
| Duration | File Size | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| 3s – 30 min | 75 KB – 500 MB | MP4, MOV |
X (Twitter)
| Duration | Aspect Ratio | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| 1s – 140s | 1:3 to 3:1 | MP4, MOV |
Threads
| Duration | Max Size | Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 1s – 5 min | 1 GB | 9:16 recommended (flexible) |
Formats: MP4, MOV only
Bluesky
| Duration | Max Size | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| 1s – 60s | 50 MB | MP4, MOV |
Mastodon
| Max Size | Formats |
|---|---|
| 99 MB | MP4, MOV |
Tips for Best Results
- Shoot in 9:16 for short-form: If creating Reels, TikToks, or Shorts, record in vertical format from the start
- Trim the beginning: Remove slow starts to hook viewers immediately
- Choose an engaging cover: Pick a frame with clear visuals and action to encourage clicks
- Don’t over-filter: Subtle adjustments often look more professional than heavy filters
- Check duration limits: Each platform has different maximum lengths—Viraly will warn you if exceeded
- Mind the file size: Compress large videos before uploading if they exceed platform limits
- Preview before posting: Always check the preview to ensure your video displays correctly