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How To Use Premiere Pro Auto-Reframe For Shorts

ShortsFireDecember 21, 20250 views
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Why Auto-Reframe Is Perfect For Shorts Creators

If you create for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, or Instagram Reels, you probably face the same problem all the time:

You have a solid horizontal video
But you need a vertical version
And you need it fast

Premiere Pro's Auto-Reframe solves that exact problem.

Instead of manually keyframing your crop for every clip, Auto-Reframe tracks the action and keeps your subject in frame automatically. Used well, it can turn one horizontal video into a whole batch of vertical Shorts with very little extra work.

This guide will walk you through:

  • How Auto-Reframe actually works
  • The cleanest workflow for Shorts
  • The right settings for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Reels
  • Common mistakes and how to fix them

All inside Premiere Pro, no extra plugins needed.

Step 1: Start With The Right Source Footage

Auto-Reframe is smart, but it’s not magic. Your results depend heavily on the footage you feed it.

You’ll get the best Shorts when:

  • The subject is clear and easy to track
    • Person in the center
    • Strong contrast with the background
  • There isn’t too much chaos
    • Limited fast cuts
    • One main subject or object to follow
  • You’re not constantly zooming or panning already
    • Auto-Reframe adds its own motion
    • Too much camera movement on top of that looks messy

If you know you’ll be creating Shorts later, try to:

  • Frame your main subject close to the center when shooting
  • Avoid crucial details at the extreme left or right edges
  • Keep headroom reasonable, not too much space above the head

You can still fix things in post, but starting with smart framing saves time.

Step 2: Create A Separate Sequence For Shorts

You have two choices when converting a horizontal video for vertical platforms:

  1. Reframe the existing sequence
  2. Create a new Shorts-specific sequence

For Shorts, option 2 is usually better. It keeps your main horizontal edit safe and gives you space to experiment.

Here’s a clean workflow:

  1. Edit your main horizontal video as usual
  2. In the Project panel, right-click your final sequence
  3. Choose Duplicate
  4. Rename it something like VideoName_SHORTS_9x16

You’ll apply Auto-Reframe to this duplicate so your original sequence stays untouched. That’s especially useful when you want to cut multiple Shorts from the same video.

Step 3: Apply Auto-Reframe To Your Sequence

Now you’ll tell Premiere to convert that horizontal sequence into vertical.

There are two common methods.

Method 1: Auto-Reframe Sequence (fastest)

  1. In the Project panel, right-click your duplicated sequence

  2. Choose Auto Reframe Sequence

  3. In the dialog that appears, set:

    • Sequence Name: Keep the default or add _AR at the end
    • Target Aspect Ratio:
      • For Shorts, TikTok, Reels: Vertical 9:16
    • Motion Tracking:
      • Default works well most of the time
      • Use Slower if there’s fast action or multiple subjects
    • Clip Nesting:
      • Leave it on if your sequence is complex

  4. Click Create

Premiere will generate a new vertical sequence and automatically analyze all clips. You’ll see keyframes on the Motion effect where it’s reframed the shot.

Method 2: Auto-Reframe Individual Clips

If you only need a few clips reframed:

  1. Select the clip in the Timeline
  2. Go to Effects panel
  3. Search for Auto Reframe
  4. Drag it onto your clip
  5. Adjust the effect in the Effect Controls panel

This method is better when:

  • You have mixed content in one sequence
  • Some clips need custom framing anyway
  • You’re crafting a single stand-alone Short rather than a full reframed version of a long video

Step 4: Pick The Right Motion Tracking Speed

The Motion Tracking option controls how aggressively Premiere follows movement.

You get three options:

  • Slower Motion
  • Default
    • Safe choice for most content
    • Balanced movement and stability
  • Faster Motion
    • Good for sports, dance, chaotic footage
    • Moves the frame more aggressively to follow action

For Shorts specifically:

  • Talking-style content:

    • Use Slower Motion
    • Viewers hate jittery framing on close-up talking heads

  • Energetic B-roll montages or gaming clips:

    • Use Default or Faster Motion depending on speed

You can always switch settings and re-run Auto-Reframe if the first result feels off.

Step 5: Clean Up The Auto-Reframe Keyframes

Auto-Reframe is usually 80-90 percent right. The remaining 10-20 percent is where you make your vertical edit feel intentional.

In the reframed sequence:

  1. Select a clip
  2. Go to Effect Controls
  3. Under Motion, find the Position keyframes that Auto-Reframe added
  4. Scrub through the clip and watch the framing

Here’s what to look for:

  • Does the subject drift slightly out of frame at any point?
  • Does the crop feel too tight or cut off hands, props, or text?
  • Does the frame move too much or too fast?

Fixes you can apply:

  • Delete a few unnecessary keyframes to make the movement smoother
  • Manually add a keyframe where you want the camera “center” to hold
  • Adjust Position values to give more headroom or show a prop

You don’t have to tweak every single clip. Focus on hero moments, text-heavy shots, or anything that feels visually annoying.

Step 6: Add Platform-Friendly Safe Margins

Shorts, TikTok, and Reels love to cover your video with interface elements:

  • Usernames and captions
  • Buttons
  • Progress bars
  • Engagement icons

If you place your text or key visual elements too low or too far to the side, they’ll get blocked by UI.

In Premiere, a simple approach is:

  1. Enable Safe Margins

    • Go to the Program Monitor wrench icon
    • Turn on Safe Margins

  2. Use an inner “safe” zone for text and key graphics

    • Keep captions and subtitles in the central vertical area
    • Avoid placing anything important in the lowest 15-20 percent of the frame

If you want to be extra accurate, you can also export a test Short and see where different app overlays sit on your specific device. Use that as a mental guide when placing elements in future edits.

Step 7: Dial In Exports For Shorts, Reels, And TikTok

Once your framing looks right, you’re ready to export.

Use these settings as a strong starting point for all major vertical platforms:

  • Format: H.264
  • Preset: Match Source - High Bitrate (then tweak)
  • Resolution: 1080 x 1920
  • Frame Rate: Match your source or 30 fps / 60 fps
  • Bitrate Encoding:
    • VBR, 1 pass
    • 10 - 20 Mbps for most content

Audio:

  • Audio Format: AAC
  • Sample Rate: 48 kHz
  • Bitrate: 320 kbps if possible

Then in the filename, clearly label your export:

  • VideoName_SHORT_9x16_YT.mp4
  • VideoName_CLIP01_TIKTOK.mp4

Clear naming helps when you start repurposing across multiple platforms.

Pro Tips To Make Auto-Reframed Shorts Look Native

Auto-Reframe gives you the vertical framing. You still need to make the Short feel like it was made for that format.

Here are a few quick upgrades:

1. Tighten The Edit

Shorts move fast. Your horizontal timing might feel slow in vertical.

  • Trim silences and pauses in speech
  • Cut any setup that doesn’t add value
  • Start on the hook, not the intro

If it feels a bit “too fast” while you’re editing, it’s probably just right for Shorts.

2. Add Big, Readable Text

Mobile screens are small and people scroll quickly.

  • Use large, bold fonts
  • High contrast colors against the background
  • Keep key phrases under 6-8 words per line

Hook text at the start of the Short works incredibly well:

  • “Stop doing this when you edit…”
  • “The mistake killing your Reels…”

Place this text in the upper or middle third, away from the UI.

3. Use Sound Intentionally

If you’re planning to use native sounds on TikTok or Reels, it’s fine to export with your original audio and then attach the trending sound in-app.

For YouTube Shorts, you can usually keep your full mixed audio from Premiere.

In all cases:

  • Make sure dialogue is clear and loud
  • Avoid music that overpowers the voice
  • Double-check there are no copyrighted tracks you don’t have rights to

When Auto-Reframe Isn’t Enough

There are times when Auto-Reframe will struggle:

  • Two people speaking on opposite sides of the frame
  • Busy group scenes with no obvious main subject
  • Wide shots where the important action is small

In those cases, you have a few choices:

  • Manually keyframe the Motion effect from scratch
  • Split the clip into smaller sections and reframe each differently
  • Consider using split-screen or cropping to highlight only the key half of the frame

You don’t have to accept the first result Auto-Reframe gives you. Treat it as a starting point, then shape the final look.

Final Thoughts

Auto-Reframe is one of the simplest ways to turn your long-form or horizontal content into Shorts without burning hours per clip.

If you:

  • Duplicate your sequence for Shorts
  • Use the right aspect ratio and motion tracking
  • Take a few minutes to fine-tune keyframes
  • Add platform-aware text and timing

You’ll have Shorts that look like they were shot vertical from the start, not just chopped out of a 16:9 video.

Use it as a core part of your ShortsFire workflow, and you’ll be able to repurpose every strong video idea into multiple vertical clips in a fraction of the time.

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