Platform UI overlays—buttons, captions, creator info—cover 20-30% of your vertical video frame. If you don't frame with safe zones in mind, faces get cropped, text becomes unreadable, and products disappear behind interface elements. This guide shows you exactly where to position subjects, text, and graphics so your content survives TikTok, Reels, Shorts, and aspect ratio conversion without rework.
Table of Contents
Category hub: /creator/video
Quick Start
- Open the Aspect Ratio Converter
- Upload your vertical video or source footage
- Enable the safe zone overlay (90% for action-safe, 80% for title-safe)
- Position critical content (faces, text, products) within the title-safe zone (center 80%)
- Validate that platform UI elements (buttons, captions, creator info) won't cover important elements
- Export with confidence that framing works across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts
Why Safe Zones Matter for Vertical Video
Every mobile video platform overlays UI elements on your content. TikTok places buttons on the right side, captions at the bottom, creator info at the top-left. Instagram Reels puts engagement buttons on the right and creator info at the bottom. YouTube Shorts uses similar patterns. If you frame subjects at the edges or place text in these zones, viewers see cropped faces and unreadable graphics.
Platform UI Overlays Reduce Usable Screen Space
TikTok's UI overlays cover approximately 25% of the vertical frame: right edge for engagement buttons (like, comment, share), bottom 20% for captions, top-left corner for creator info. Reels and Shorts follow similar patterns with slight variations. The only guaranteed safe space is the center 80% of the frame—anything outside this zone risks obstruction.
The Cost of Ignoring Safe Zones: Cropped Faces and Unreadable Text
Without safe zone awareness, faces get cut off by creator info overlays, product labels disappear behind buttons, and call-to-action text gets covered by captions. This reduces engagement and makes content look unprofessional. Worse, when you convert vertical content to different aspect ratios for cross-platform posting, edge-positioned elements get cropped first. Framing with safe zones prevents rework and ensures consistent quality across platforms.
Understanding Vertical Safe Zones
Broadcast and video production use two standard safe zones: action-safe (90%) and title-safe (80%). These percentages describe the center area of the frame guaranteed to display without obstruction. For vertical video, these zones become critical because mobile UI elements cover more relative screen space than traditional video overlays.
Action-Safe Zone (90% Center) — What Can Viewers See?
The action-safe zone represents the center 90% of the frame where primary subjects (faces, products, key actions) remain visible across all devices and platforms. For a standard 1080×1920 vertical video, this is approximately 972×1728 pixels centered. Position your main subject within this zone to ensure it's never cropped by UI elements or aspect ratio conversion. Use action-safe for framing decisions during filming.
Title-Safe Zone (80% Center) — Where Text Stays Readable
The title-safe zone is the center 80% of the frame where text, graphics, and critical information must be placed to guarantee readability. For 1080×1920 video, this is approximately 864×1536 pixels centered. Any text outside this zone risks being covered by captions, buttons, or creator info. All on-screen text—product labels, subtitles, CTAs, graphics—must fit within title-safe. This is the most conservative and reliable safe zone for vertical content.
Platform-Specific Exclusion Zones (TikTok vs Reels vs Shorts)
While title-safe (80%) covers most platforms, specific UI placements vary slightly. TikTok places engagement buttons 10-15% from the right edge, captions 15-20% from the bottom, creator info 10% from the top-left. Instagram Reels puts creator info at the bottom instead of top. YouTube Shorts centers captions and places buttons similarly to TikTok. Framing within the 80% title-safe zone ensures compatibility with all three platforms without per-platform adjustments.
Framing Rules for 9:16 Video
Vertical video flips traditional composition rules. Instead of wide horizontal framing, you work with narrow vertical space. Subject positioning, eye-line placement, and headroom all require different approaches than 16:9 content. Follow these rules to create professional-looking vertical compositions that work across platforms.
Subject Positioning (Center-Weight Your Composition)
Center your primary subject horizontally and vertically within the action-safe zone (90%). Unlike horizontal video where rule-of-thirds places subjects off-center, vertical video demands centered compositions because platform UI elements flank both sides and top/bottom. For single-person talking heads, position the subject's torso center-frame. For product demos, center the product with 10-15% padding on all sides. For multi-person shots, arrange subjects vertically (stacked) rather than horizontally to keep everyone in the safe zone.
Eye-Line Placement (Upper Third for Talking Heads)
Position the subject's eyes in the upper third of the frame, approximately 30-35% down from the top edge. This provides natural headroom while keeping the face away from top UI overlays (creator info, platform branding). For 1080×1920 video, place eyes around 600-670 pixels from the top. Avoid placing eyes in the center (looks bottom-heavy) or too high (appears cramped). Use the Aspect Ratio Converter's safe zone overlay to validate eye-line positioning during filming or editing.
Headroom in Vertical (Less Than Horizontal, But Not Zero)
Vertical framing requires less headroom than traditional 16:9 video but cutting it too tight creates claustrophobic compositions. Allow 8-12% headroom above the subject's head (approximately 150-230 pixels for 1080×1920). This balances space while maximizing frame for the subject. Too much headroom (15%+) wastes vertical space; too little (less than 5%) makes the subject appear cramped and crowds the top UI overlay zone. When in doubt, err on the side of more headroom and position eyes in the upper third.
Text Positioning Strategy
On-screen text in vertical video must navigate platform captions, UI buttons, and creator info without overlap or obstruction. Poor text placement is the most common vertical framing mistake—text at the bottom gets covered by captions, text on the right disappears behind engagement buttons, text at the top collides with creator info. Use these positioning strategies to ensure text stays readable.
On-Screen Graphic Text (Upper and Middle Thirds Only)
Place all graphic text (titles, labels, CTAs, product info) in the upper or middle third of the frame, within the title-safe zone (center 80%). Upper third text (20-40% from top) works best for headlines and primary messages. Middle third text (40-60% from top) works for supporting information or callouts. Never place text in the bottom third (60%+ from top)—this zone is reserved for platform-generated captions. Keep text horizontally centered or slightly left-of-center to avoid right-side engagement buttons.
Caption Safe Zones (Avoid Bottom 25%)
TikTok, Reels, and Shorts display auto-generated or custom captions in the bottom 15-25% of the frame. If you place on-screen text in this zone, it will overlap with captions, creating unreadable double-text. Reserve the entire bottom quarter of the frame for platform captions and avoid placing any graphic elements there. If your content requires both on-screen text and captions, position your text in the middle third and let platform captions occupy the bottom. Use the SRT Editor to customize caption positioning if needed.
Creator Info and UI Button Zones (Top and Bottom 15%)
Platform UI elements occupy predictable zones: top-left 10-15% for creator username and profile picture, top-right for timers/effects, bottom 15-20% for captions, right edge 10% for engagement buttons (like, comment, share, more). These zones are off-limits for custom graphics and text. Design your vertical content with these exclusions in mind, treating the outer 10-15% on all sides as dead space. The usable content area is the center 80% title-safe zone.
Converting with Safe Zones in Mind
Safe zones become even more critical when converting between aspect ratios. Converting 16:9 horizontal to 9:16 vertical crops or pads, potentially cutting off subjects or adding dead space. Converting square 1:1 to vertical 9:16 adds bars at top/bottom. Understanding how safe zones interact with aspect ratio conversion prevents surprises and ensures cross-platform content quality.
Shooting for Multiple Aspect Ratios (Universal Framing)
If you plan to export the same content as 16:9 horizontal, 9:16 vertical, and 1:1 square, frame your shot with "universal framing"—a centered composition where all critical elements fit within the smallest common safe zone. Imagine a square box in the center of your frame (approximately 50% of width/height). Position faces, text, and products within this box. This allows you to convert to any aspect ratio without losing important content. For more on this approach, see Pad vs Crop: How to Choose.
Using the Aspect Ratio Converter's Safe Zone Preview
The Aspect Ratio Converter includes a safe zone overlay toggle that displays action-safe (90%) and title-safe (80%) zones on your video preview. Enable this overlay before exporting to validate that subjects remain in frame and text stays readable after conversion. The preview shows exactly how cropping or padding will affect your composition, allowing you to adjust source framing or conversion settings before final export.
Validating Framing Before Export
Before exporting vertical content, validate framing with this checklist: (1) Primary subject positioned in action-safe zone (center 90%)? (2) All text positioned in title-safe zone (center 80%)? (3) Nothing critical in the top 10%, bottom 20%, or right 10% (platform UI zones)? (4) Face visible with eyes in upper third? (5) Text readable against background without relying on outer edges? If all checks pass, export with confidence. If any fail, adjust framing or reposition elements within safe zones. Use the Thumbnail Resizer to preview how different platforms will display your content.
Examples: Good vs Bad Vertical Framing
Visual examples clarify safe zone principles better than text descriptions. Here are side-by-side comparisons of incorrect and correct vertical framing for common content types—talking heads, product demos, and tutorial overlays.
Talking-Head Framing (Face Placement Examples)
Bad: Subject positioned too high (eyes at 15% from top), face partially cropped by creator info overlay, torso extends below action-safe zone. This composition wastes top space and risks cropping the face.
Good: Eyes positioned at 30-35% from top (upper third), full face within action-safe zone, torso centered. Adequate headroom prevents cramped appearance, and entire subject fits within 90% center zone.
Product Demos (Centering Products in Safe Zones)
Bad: Product positioned off-center, label text in bottom 20% covered by captions, engagement buttons obscure product features on right side.
Good: Product centered horizontally and vertically within action-safe zone, label text in middle third (within title-safe), 10-15% padding on all sides. Product remains fully visible and labels readable across all platforms. For detailed product shots, use the Shorts Clip Finder to identify the best segments for vertical conversion.
Tutorial Overlays (Text That Survives All Platforms)
Bad: Step-by-step text placed in bottom third, covered by captions; annotations on right edge obscured by engagement buttons; title text at top collides with creator info.
Good: Title text in upper third (20-30% from top) within title-safe, step-by-step instructions in middle third (40-60% from top), all text horizontally centered. No text in bottom 25% or right 10%. Tutorial content remains legible on TikTok, Reels, and Shorts without repositioning.
Common Mistakes & Fixes
- Text in bottom 25% of frame → Move all on-screen text to upper or middle thirds (within title-safe zone) to avoid caption overlap. Reserve bottom quarter for platform-generated captions only.
- Subject positioned at edge of frame → Center subjects horizontally and vertically within the action-safe zone (90% center). Edge-positioned subjects get cropped by UI overlays or aspect ratio conversion.
- Too much or too little headroom → Allow 8-12% headroom above subject's head and position eyes in upper third (30-35% from top). This balances space without appearing cramped or wasteful.
- Ignoring right-edge UI button zone → Keep all content 10% away from right edge to avoid engagement button overlays. Center or left-of-center compositions work best for vertical video.
- Not validating with safe zone overlay → Enable safe zone preview in Aspect Ratio Converter before exporting to catch framing issues. Visual validation prevents surprises after upload.
- Using horizontal framing rules for vertical video → Vertical composition requires centered subjects, not rule-of-thirds. Platform UI overlays demand conservative framing within title-safe (80% center) for reliable results.
FAQs
- What's the difference between action-safe and title-safe zones?
- Action-safe (90% center) is where primary subjects should be positioned to remain visible across all devices. Title-safe (80% center) is the more conservative zone for text and critical information to guarantee readability. Use action-safe for subjects, title-safe for text.
- Do safe zones differ between TikTok, Reels, and Shorts?
- Platform UI elements are positioned slightly differently, but the 80% title-safe zone accounts for all three. TikTok places creator info at top-left, Reels at bottom, Shorts varies—but all respect the center 80%. Frame within title-safe and your content works everywhere.
- How much space should I leave at the bottom for captions?
- Reserve the bottom 20-25% of the frame for platform-generated captions. Never place on-screen text or graphics in this zone. Position all custom text in the upper or middle third (within title-safe) to avoid caption overlap.
- Should I frame differently for Shorts vs long-form vertical?
- Safe zone rules apply equally to short-form (Shorts, Reels, TikTok) and long-form vertical content. Both formats use similar UI overlay patterns. Frame within title-safe (80% center) regardless of video length.
- Can I use safe zones when converting horizontal to vertical?
- Yes. When converting 16:9 to 9:16 using the Aspect Ratio Converter, enable safe zone overlay to validate that horizontal content's center fits within vertical safe zones. If subjects or text fall outside vertical title-safe after conversion, adjust cropping or use padding instead. See Pad vs Crop for details.
- Where should the subject's eyes be positioned in vertical video?
- Position eyes in the upper third of the frame, approximately 30-35% down from the top edge. This provides natural headroom while keeping the face away from top UI overlays and centered within the action-safe zone.
- How do I account for safe zones when filming on set?
- Use framing guides or tape to mark the center 80% of your camera's viewfinder. Keep all subjects and important elements within this marked zone during filming. Alternatively, shoot wider than needed and reframe in post using the Aspect Ratio Converter's safe zone preview for precise positioning.