Format guide · Aspect ratio

9:16, 1:1, or 16:9: which clothing video aspect ratio should you choose?

Choose the placement first: 9:16 for a vertical-first frame, 1:1 for a compact square placement, or 16:9 for a horizontal canvas. Then compose for that ratio before generation instead of relying on a destructive crop afterward.

See how source images become a clothing product video

A vertical frame works when the garment remains readable from neckline to hem and important details stay away from interface overlays.

Start with the final placement

Aspect ratio is a distribution decision, not a style filter. The same garment may need different framing on a vertical short-video feed, a square product tile, or a horizontal page section. Decide where the primary version will appear before you generate it.

AI Clothes Video supports 9:16, 1:1, and 16:9 in the workspace. The three-image workflow still controls which garment views are available; changing the canvas cannot create missing product evidence.

Compare 9:16, 1:1, and 16:9

Use these as composition starting points. Platform requirements and interface overlays change, so verify the current destination before publishing rather than treating any table as permanent platform policy.

Ratio	Best starting use	Composition pressure	Check before export
9:16	Vertical-first short video and mobile viewing	Limited side space; full garments can become narrow	Keep neckline, hem, and selling detail clear of top and bottom overlays
1:1	Compact product placements and reusable social crops	Less vertical room for long garments	Confirm the full silhouette is not cut at head, sleeve, or hem
16:9	Horizontal page sections, presentations, and wider viewing	Extra side space can weaken a centered product	Use intentional negative space without shrinking the garment too far

Compose instead of cropping later

A late crop can remove cuffs, hems, a back closure, or the exact detail a shot was meant to show. It can also enlarge a low-resolution region and shift the garment away from the intended focal point.

Choose the ratio in the workspace, then inspect every source image inside that shape. If a long dress becomes too small in 16:9 or a wide pose is clipped in 9:16, adjust the planned shot rather than assuming post-production will repair it.

Keep the complete product fact for the shot inside the frame.
Leave breathing room around hems, sleeves, and moving edges.
Reserve safe space for captions, controls, or commerce overlays.
Do not place essential details at the extreme edge of the canvas.

Keep aspect ratio separate from video length

Ratio answers where and how the frame will be viewed. Length answers how many buyer questions the video needs to cover. A 9:16 video is not automatically short, and a 16:9 video does not need more shots.

Use the 8-, 16-, 24-, and 32-second decision guide for duration, then use the shot-list worksheet to confirm each segment still has identifiable source evidence.

Preview the real destination

Before publishing, test the exported video in the actual product page or platform draft. Check the mobile and desktop presentation, poster frame, captions, controls, and any interface area that may cover the garment.

If one version must serve several placements, preserve a clear central product zone. For important campaigns, generate or edit placement-specific versions instead of forcing one crop to perform every job.