Instagram video format: prepare one story for more than one screen
A historical IGTV format announcement is not a reliable production spec. Build an adaptable source file and test the current placement.
A historical IGTV format announcement is not a reliable production spec. Build an adaptable source file and test the current placement.
Protect the main subject
Before editing, decide what the viewer must see: a face, a demonstration or text. Keep a high-quality master and plan safe areas for different crops. A horizontal source may work for some placements and fail badly in others. Preview the exact post in the current app rather than relying on old format tables.
Make the video understandable
Add accurate captions and avoid placing essential information only in small on-screen text. Check contrast, reading time and the crop on a phone. If an image or graphic carries meaning, provide that information in the caption or another accessible form. W3C guidance on text alternatives is a useful starting point for associated images.
Review rights and destination
Confirm music, footage and likeness permissions. Check the destination link and call to action in the actual account. Preserve the editable master and record the approved export. After posting, compare completion and useful actions in context, not just play count.
Make the next move clear
Use this sequence as a starting point, then adapt it to your audience and account.
A maker films a wide workbench demonstration. The editor keeps a clean master, makes a vertical cut focused on the hands and tool, checks subtitles on a small phone and posts only after rights and crop review.
Instagram products and aspect-ratio rules can change; verify the current in-app preview before committing a campaign.
Verify the current platform.
Product features can change by account, country and time. Check the official source and the current app before acting.