How to Get a Vertical Cut: Ask at the Start, Not the End
Requesting a vertical 9:16 cut at the start of your edit submission eliminates unnecessary revision cycles and gets both formats delivered in a single turnaround.
Transcript
Hello. So I'm gonna talk about how to get a vertical cut from a original video edit. So ask ask at the start and now at the end, and this is why. So, always it's always best to ask, especially from your original cut that you have or original piece of content that you're submitting to put in your vertical cut request, which is your social media cut request. So, I'm gonna go in and share my screen here. As you could see, I have everything built out. It has all we have all the information crafting your clip, all this all the details at the very bottom in the additional notes and file section. I've added, please also deliver a nine by sixteen vertical version, crop to center on the speaker, adjust lower thirds for vertical layout. This is perfect to let the team know that, hey. We're gonna build out a new instance with that social media piece, and we're gonna link it back to our our version here. So if we click let's create, and that's gonna go into edit. There's a second way of doing this, and this is a post. So if you were to already have something edited. So if we go to this tab, we could see that I have duplicated raw media here. So I'm gonna duplicate raw media from your original video here. This is just a test. We're gonna duplicate. And as you could see, it'll it'll pop up a new instance, which is a raw material, raw video here from the original product. And then we're gonna go to Media Studio, and this is where we can put in our information to request edit. And then for this one, we're just going to repopulate everything here and then just make sure that it is in portrait. So same information as last time. You can link everything back to your original link from your original video. So if you were to go back to this one and share that link, we're gonna copy that link and then share it back to this tab. And then make sure that we have everything correct in here and then submit. That's gonna stick it back into, you know, ensuring that that goes in for a vertical vertical edit cut. So that's a way to do it post, making sure that you're getting that post if you have something that's already created and you didn't ask during your original cut. As you could see, it's a little bit longer to request something post. So that's why it's always good to ask for these during your first edit with your first cut of that video. But hopefully hopefully this helps.
Overview
This short training video from David Dabney explains the most efficient way to receive a vertical 9:16 version of a video alongside the standard horizontal cut. The video walks through two distinct workflows: the preferred method of requesting vertical delivery upfront in the original edit submission, and the fallback method when the horizontal version is already complete. Both approaches are covered step by step to help users avoid common mistakes that create unnecessary work for editors and extend turnaround times.
What Is This?
A vertical cut is a reformatted version of a video optimised for 9:16 portrait orientation — the native format for mobile-first platforms such as Instagram Reels, TikTok, and LinkedIn short-form video — requiring crop adjustments and repositioned lower thirds to suit the taller frame.
What You'll Learn
- Understand why requesting a vertical cut at submission time is the preferred workflow
- Add the correct note in the Additional Notes field to trigger dual-format delivery
- Recognise how both horizontal and vertical versions are returned as separate video cards from a single submission
- Identify when and how to use the Duplicate Raw option from the three-dot menu on a completed video card
- Configure a new Media Studio instance with Portrait orientation for the fallback workflow
- Link the original finished video in Additional Notes as a style reference for the vertical edit
Key Insights
- Adding one line to your Additional Notes field — 'Please also deliver a 9:16 vertical version — crop to speaker, adjust lower thirds for vertical layout' — is all it takes to receive both formats in a single turnaround window.
- Requesting a vertical cut after the fact requires a separate duplicate-and-resubmit cycle, doubling the time investment for a result that could have been achieved upfront.
- The Duplicate Raw option lives in the three-dot menu on the video card itself, not inside Media Studio — a detail that prevents confusion when using the fallback workflow.
- Selecting Portrait orientation in a new Media Studio instance and referencing the original finished video ensures editors have the context they need to match the established style.
Deep Dive
When you know you need a vertical version of a video, the single most effective thing you can do is say so before the edit begins. In the original edit request, navigate to the Additional Notes field and include the instruction: 'Please also deliver a 9:16 vertical version — crop to speaker, adjust lower thirds for vertical layout.' This one addition signals to the editing team that both a horizontal and a vertical output are expected, allowing them to plan the session accordingly. The result is two separate video cards — one for each format — returned to you within the same turnaround window as a single submission.
The reason this upfront approach matters goes beyond convenience. When a vertical cut is requested after the horizontal is already delivered, the platform requires a separate workflow: the user must locate the completed video card, open the three-dot menu, select Duplicate Raw, and then create an entirely new Media Studio instance. That instance needs to be configured with Portrait orientation selected, and the original finished video must be linked in the Additional Notes field so editors can use it as a style reference. Each of these steps adds time — both for the person submitting and for the editing team processing a fresh request.
The fallback workflow is not wrong; it exists precisely for situations where the need for vertical content arises after the fact. But understanding the cost of that path — a full additional submission cycle — makes the case for upfront planning clear. If there is any possibility that a piece of content will be used on mobile-first platforms or in short-form contexts, flagging vertical delivery at the time of the original request is always the more efficient choice.
Building this habit into your standard submission process reduces revision cycles, shortens total delivery time, and keeps the relationship between requesters and editors straightforward. A single note at the start of the workflow does the work of an entire follow-up submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly do I add the vertical cut request in my submission?
The request goes in the Additional Notes field of your original edit submission. Include the exact phrasing: 'Please also deliver a 9:16 vertical version — crop to speaker, adjust lower thirds for vertical layout.' This ensures the editing team understands both the format requirement and the specific adjustments needed.
What happens if I already have a completed horizontal video and need to add a vertical version?
Use the three-dot menu on the completed video card — not inside Media Studio — and select Duplicate Raw to initiate a new submission. In the new Media Studio instance, select Portrait orientation and include a link to the original finished video in the Additional Notes field as a style reference for the editor.
Will both the horizontal and vertical versions appear as separate video cards?
Yes. When the vertical version is requested upfront in the original submission, editors deliver both formats as separate video cards within the same turnaround window. This keeps your content organised and clearly distinguishes each format for distribution purposes.
Related Topics
Editors working with short-form content should also explore how to structure edit requests for social cutdowns and how to use style references effectively within Media Studio submissions. Understanding platform-specific aspect ratio requirements — including square 1:1 formats alongside 9:16 — is a natural next step for teams building a multi-format content distribution workflow.
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