Agent skill

viral-video-platform-specs

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npx add-skill https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry/tree/main/skills/data/viral-video-platform-specs

SKILL.md

CRITICAL GUIDELINES

Windows File Path Requirements

MANDATORY: Always Use Backslashes on Windows for File Paths

When using Edit or Write tools on Windows, you MUST use backslashes (\) in file paths, NOT forward slashes (/).

Documentation Guidelines

NEVER create new documentation files unless explicitly requested by the user.

Viral Video Platform Specifications (2025-2026)

Complete reference for all major short-form video platforms with FFmpeg encoding presets.

Quick Reference Table

Platform Aspect Resolution Max Duration Max Size Codec Audio
TikTok 9:16 1080x1920 10 min 287 MB H.264 AAC 128k
YouTube Shorts 9:16 1080x1920 60 sec 256 GB H.264/VP9 AAC 192k
Instagram Reels 9:16 1080x1920 90 sec 4 GB H.264 AAC 128k
Facebook Reels 9:16 1080x1920 90 sec 4 GB H.264 AAC 128k
Snapchat Spotlight 9:16 1080x1920 60 sec 300 MB H.264 AAC
Twitter/X 9:16 1080x1920 2 min 20 sec 512 MB H.264 AAC 128k
Pinterest Idea Pins 9:16 1080x1920 60 sec 2 GB H.264 AAC
LinkedIn 9:16/1:1 1080x1920 10 min 5 GB H.264 AAC

TikTok Specifications

Technical Requirements (2025-2026)

Specification Requirement Notes
Aspect Ratio 9:16 (vertical) - REQUIRED Fills mobile screen
Resolution 1080x1920 (recommended), min 720x1280 TikTok compresses 4K anyway
Video Codec H.264 (required) HEVC transcoded to H.264
Audio Codec AAC High-quality audio critical
Audio Bitrate 128-192 kbps Higher = better
Audio Sample Rate 44100 Hz (48000 Hz accepted) 44.1kHz standard
Audio Loudness -10 to -12 LUFS Louder wins on mobile
True Peak -1.5 dBTP max Prevents distortion
Frame Rate 24-60 fps (30 fps recommended) 60fps for sports/action only
Pixel Format yuv420p (required) 8-bit color, Rec.709
Color Space Rec.709 (SDR) Turn off HDR before upload
Max File Size 287 MB (iOS), 72 MB (Android web) ~500 MB desktop
Max Duration 10 minutes Optimal: 21-34s
Optimal Duration 21-34 seconds Highest completion rate
Min Duration 3 seconds Platform minimum
Keyframe Interval 2 seconds (60-90 frames at 30fps) Every 2-3 seconds

Optimal Encoding Parameters (2025-2026)

Bitrate Recommendations (VBR):

  • 24 fps: 4-6 Mbps
  • 30 fps: 6-8.5 Mbps (sweet spot: 6-8 Mbps)
  • 60 fps: 8-12 Mbps

CRF Values:

  • CRF 21-23: Optimal quality/size balance
  • Below CRF 21: Diminishing returns (TikTok recompresses)
  • Above CRF 24: Noticeable quality loss on mobile

Preset Selection:

  • fast: Quick encoding, good quality (recommended for batch)
  • medium: Better compression (default)
  • slow: Best quality (use for hero content)

FFmpeg Preset (Updated 2025-2026)

bash
# TikTok optimized encoding - 2025-2026 specs
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,setsar=1,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 -profile:v high -level 4.1 \
  -x264-params "keyint=60:min-keyint=30:scenecut=0" \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 44100 -ac 2 \
  -af "loudnorm=I=-11:TP=-1.5:LRA=11" \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -movflags +faststart \
  -max_muxing_queue_size 1024 \
  -t 34 \
  output_tiktok.mp4

Two-Pass Encoding for Precise Bitrate Control

bash
# Pass 1
ffmpeg -y -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -b:v 7M -maxrate 8M -bufsize 16M \
  -profile:v high -level 4.1 -pass 1 -an -f null /dev/null

# Pass 2
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -b:v 7M -maxrate 8M -bufsize 16M \
  -profile:v high -level 4.1 -pass 2 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 44100 \
  -af "loudnorm=I=-11:TP=-1.5:LRA=11" \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart \
  output_tiktok.mp4

Algorithm Insights (2025-2026)

  • Hook Window: 1.3 seconds to capture attention
  • Optimal Length: 21-34 seconds for highest completion
  • Captions: 80% boost in engagement when visible
  • Trending Audio: 88% say it helps discoverability
  • Post Frequency: 1-3x daily for growth phase

YouTube Shorts Specifications

Technical Requirements (2025-2026)

Specification Requirement Notes
Aspect Ratio 9:16 (vertical) - REQUIRED Strictly enforced for Shorts shelf
Resolution 1080x1920 (recommended), min 1920px on short side Limited to 1080p playback
Video Codec H.264, VP9, HEVC (VP9 preferred by algorithm) YouTube transcodes to VP9/AV1
Audio Codec AAC, Opus (Opus for VP9) AAC-LC most compatible
Audio Bitrate 192-384 kbps YouTube recommends 384k stereo
Audio Sample Rate 48000 Hz preferred Match video production standard
Audio Loudness -13 to -15 LUFS YouTube normalizes to -14 LUFS
True Peak -1 to -3 dB Recommended: -1.5 dBTP
Frame Rate 24-60 fps (30 fps recommended) Upload at source frame rate
Pixel Format yuv420p (SDR), yuv420p10le (HDR) Rec.709 color space for SDR
Max File Size 256 GB (practical: 20-100 MB for Shorts) Higher bitrate = better post-compression quality
Max Duration 60 seconds (HARD LIMIT) Strict enforcement
Optimal Duration 50-60 seconds Maximizes watch time metric
Min Duration ~15 seconds recommended Shorter = harder to rank
Color Space Rec.709 (SDR), Rec.2100 (HDR only) Consistent colors across devices

Optimal Encoding Parameters (2025-2026)

Bitrate Recommendations (VBR):

  • 1080p30: 8 Mbps (YouTube official recommendation)
  • 1080p60: 12 Mbps

CRF Values:

  • CRF 18-20: High quality (hero content, archival)
  • CRF 20-22: Optimal quality/size (recommended)
  • CRF 23+: Acceptable for less critical content

Preset Selection:

  • slow: Best quality, longer encode (recommended for uploads)
  • medium: Good balance for batch processing
  • fast: Quick turnaround, slightly larger files

FFmpeg Preset - H.264 (Updated 2025-2026)

bash
# YouTube Shorts H.264 encoding - maximum compatibility
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,setsar=1,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 20 -profile:v high -level 4.2 \
  -x264-params "keyint=60:min-keyint=30:scenecut=40" \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 48000 -ac 2 \
  -af "loudnorm=I=-14:TP=-1.5:LRA=11" \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -colorspace bt709 -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 \
  -movflags +faststart \
  -max_muxing_queue_size 1024 \
  -t 59 \
  -metadata title="Your Shorts Title" \
  -metadata comment="#Shorts" \
  output_shorts.mp4

Two-Pass Encoding for Optimal Quality

bash
# Pass 1 - Analysis
ffmpeg -y -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset slow -b:v 8M -profile:v high -level 4.2 \
  -pass 1 -an -f null /dev/null

# Pass 2 - Encode
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset slow -b:v 8M -profile:v high -level 4.2 \
  -pass 2 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 48000 \
  -af "loudnorm=I=-14:TP=-1.5:LRA=11" \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart \
  -metadata comment="#Shorts" \
  output_shorts.mp4

FFmpeg Preset (VP9 - Higher Quality)

bash
# YouTube Shorts VP9 encoding (preferred by YouTube)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,setsar=1" \
  -c:v libvpx-vp9 -crf 25 -b:v 0 -deadline good -cpu-used 2 \
  -c:a libopus -b:a 192k -ar 48000 \
  -row-mt 1 \
  -t 59 \
  output_shorts.webm

Algorithm Insights (2025-2026)

  • Completion Rate: 80-90% = algorithm boost
  • Optimal Length: 50-60 seconds maximizes watch time
  • First 3 Seconds: Critical for retention
  • Consistency: Daily posting recommended for growth
  • Thumbnail: Custom thumbnails increase CTR 30%+

Instagram Reels Specifications

Technical Requirements (2025-2026)

Specification Requirement Notes
Aspect Ratio 9:16 (preferred), 4:5, 1:1 accepted 9:16 fills screen, recommended
Resolution 1080x1920 (recommended), min 720p No 4K support
Video Codec H.264 Instagram transcodes all uploads
Audio Codec AAC (AAC-LC preferred) Superior to MP3
Audio Bitrate 128-192 kbps Higher quality recommended
Audio Sample Rate 44100-48000 Hz 44.1kHz or 48kHz
Audio Loudness -10 to -12 LUFS Louder = better mobile experience
True Peak -1 dBTP recommended Prevents clipping
Frame Rate 30 fps recommended (max 60) 30fps optimal for compatibility
Pixel Format yuv420p Square pixels, fixed frame rate
Max File Size 650 MB (<10 min), 4 GB (longer) Practical: 50-200 MB
Max Duration 15 minutes (uploaded), 3 min (in-app 2025) In-app recording: 90s before Jan 2025
Optimal Duration 7-15 seconds (casual), 15-30s (tutorial) First 3 seconds critical
Min Duration 3 seconds Platform minimum
Cover Image 1080x1920, JPEG Custom thumbnail increases engagement

Optimal Encoding Parameters (2025-2026)

Bitrate Recommendations (VBR):

  • Standard Quality: 3,500-5,000 kbps
  • High Quality: 5,000-10,000 kbps (recommended for best results)

CRF Values:

  • CRF 21-23: Optimal balance
  • CRF 20: High quality for hero content
  • CRF 24+: Avoid (visible compression on mobile)

Preset Selection:

  • fast: Quick batch encoding
  • medium: Recommended balance
  • slow: Best quality (diminishing returns after Instagram recompression)

Safe Zones (2025-2026)

  • Top safe zone: Keep text/graphics below top 14%
  • Bottom safe zone: Avoid bottom 35% (UI overlays)
  • Side safe zones: 6% margin on each side
  • Text placement: Upper middle 2/3 of frame safest

FFmpeg Preset (Updated 2025-2026)

bash
# Instagram Reels optimized encoding - high quality
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,setsar=1,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 -profile:v high -level 4.1 \
  -x264-params "keyint=60:min-keyint=30:scenecut=40" \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 44100 -ac 2 \
  -af "loudnorm=I=-11:TP=-1.5:LRA=11" \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -movflags +faststart \
  -t 30 \
  output_reels.mp4

Bitrate-Controlled Encoding

bash
# Instagram Reels with precise bitrate (5-10 Mbps range)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -b:v 8M -maxrate 10M -bufsize 20M \
  -profile:v high -level 4.1 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 44100 \
  -af "loudnorm=I=-11:TP=-1.5:LRA=11" \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart \
  output_reels_bitrate.mp4

Algorithm Insights (2025-2026)

  • Optimal Length: 7-15 seconds for casual, 15-30 for tutorial
  • First 3 Seconds: Must hook immediately
  • Trending Audio: Significant boost in reach
  • Hashtags: 3-5 relevant hashtags optimal
  • Post Time: When followers most active

Facebook Reels Specifications

Technical Requirements (2025-2026)

Specification Requirement Notes
Aspect Ratio 9:16 (recommended), any supported All videos = Reels as of June 2025
Resolution 1440x2560 (official), 1080x1920 (practical) Facebook recommends higher res
Video Codec H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1 H.264 most compatible
Compression H.264, Closed GOP (2-5s) Progressive scan, 4:2:0 chroma
Audio Codec AAC (stereo) AAC Low Complexity preferred
Audio Bitrate 128 kbps minimum, 192k recommended Facebook supports up to 384k
Audio Sample Rate 48000 Hz 48kHz official recommendation
Audio Loudness -13 LUFS Facebook normalizes to -13 LUFS
True Peak -1 dBTP Prevent distortion
Frame Rate 30 fps or higher recommended Match source frame rate
Pixel Format yuv420p 8-bit color
Max File Size 4 GB Practical: 50-300 MB
Max Duration No limit (as of June 2025) Reels: 3-90 seconds optimal
Optimal Duration 15-30 seconds Engagement sweet spot
Min Duration 3 seconds Reel minimum

Optimal Encoding Parameters (2025-2026)

Bitrate Recommendations:

  • 1080p H.264: 5-8 Mbps
  • 4K H.264: 35-45 Mbps (up to 45 Mbps supported)
  • Recommended for Reels: 6-10 Mbps at 1080p

CRF Values:

  • CRF 20-22: High quality
  • CRF 23: Good balance (recommended)
  • CRF 24+: Acceptable for casual content

Safe Zones:

  • Top: Leave 14% clear
  • Bottom: Avoid 35% (UI elements)
  • Sides: 6% margin each side

FFmpeg Preset (Updated 2025-2026)

bash
# Facebook Reels optimized encoding - 2025-2026
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,setsar=1,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 -profile:v high -level 4.1 \
  -x264-params "keyint=60:min-keyint=30:scenecut=40" \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 48000 -ac 2 \
  -af "loudnorm=I=-13:TP=-1:LRA=11" \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -movflags +faststart \
  -t 30 \
  output_fb_reels.mp4

High-Quality Preset (Bitrate-Controlled)

bash
# Facebook Reels - high quality with bitrate control
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -b:v 8M -maxrate 10M -bufsize 20M \
  -profile:v high -level 4.1 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 48000 -ac 2 \
  -af "loudnorm=I=-13:TP=-1:LRA=11" \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart \
  output_fb_reels_hq.mp4

Algorithm Insights (2025-2026)

  • Cross-Post: Instagram Reels can be shared to Facebook
  • Original Content: Watermark-free content preferred
  • Engagement: Comments boost reach significantly
  • Optimal Length: 15-30 seconds

Snapchat Spotlight Specifications

Technical Requirements

Specification Requirement
Aspect Ratio 9:16 (required)
Resolution 1080x1920
Video Codec H.264
Audio Codec AAC
Frame Rate 24-30 fps
Pixel Format yuv420p
Max File Size 300 MB
Max Duration 60 seconds
Min Duration 5 seconds

FFmpeg Preset

bash
# Snapchat Spotlight optimized encoding
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,setsar=1,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 24 -profile:v main -level 4.0 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -ac 2 \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -movflags +faststart \
  -fs 300M \
  -t 60 \
  output_spotlight.mp4

Twitter/X Video Specifications

Technical Requirements

Specification Requirement
Aspect Ratio 9:16, 16:9, 1:1
Resolution 1080x1920 (9:16), 1920x1080 (16:9)
Video Codec H.264
Audio Codec AAC
Audio Bitrate 128 kbps
Audio Sample Rate 44100 Hz
Frame Rate 30-60 fps (40 max for 1080p)
Pixel Format yuv420p
Max File Size 512 MB
Max Duration 2 min 20 sec (140 seconds)

FFmpeg Preset

bash
# Twitter/X optimized encoding
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,setsar=1,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 23 -profile:v high -level 4.1 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -ac 2 \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -movflags +faststart \
  -fs 512M \
  -t 140 \
  output_twitter.mp4

Multi-Platform Export Script

bash
#!/bin/bash
# export_all_platforms.sh - Export video for all platforms at once

INPUT="$1"
BASENAME=$(basename "$INPUT" .mp4)

echo "Exporting $INPUT for all platforms..."

# TikTok
ffmpeg -i "$INPUT" \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 23 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart \
  -t 60 \
  "${BASENAME}_tiktok.mp4" &

# YouTube Shorts
ffmpeg -i "$INPUT" \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 22 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 48000 \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart \
  -t 59 \
  "${BASENAME}_shorts.mp4" &

# Instagram Reels
ffmpeg -i "$INPUT" \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 23 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart \
  -t 90 \
  "${BASENAME}_reels.mp4" &

# Snapchat Spotlight
ffmpeg -i "$INPUT" \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 24 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart \
  -fs 300M -t 60 \
  "${BASENAME}_spotlight.mp4" &

# Twitter/X
ffmpeg -i "$INPUT" \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=1080:1920:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black,fps=30" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset fast -crf 23 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart \
  -t 140 \
  "${BASENAME}_twitter.mp4" &

wait
echo "All platform exports complete!"
ls -lh "${BASENAME}_*.mp4"

File Size Optimization

Calculate Target Bitrate for File Size

bash
# Formula: bitrate = (target_size_MB * 8192) / duration_seconds - audio_bitrate

# Example: 50MB file, 60 seconds, 128kbps audio
# Video bitrate = (50 * 8192) / 60 - 128 = 6697 kbps

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920" \
  -c:v libx264 -b:v 6500k -maxrate 7000k -bufsize 14000k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart \
  output_sized.mp4

Two-Pass Encoding for Exact Size

bash
# Pass 1
ffmpeg -y -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920" \
  -c:v libx264 -b:v 6500k -pass 1 -an -f null /dev/null

# Pass 2
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "scale=1080:1920" \
  -c:v libx264 -b:v 6500k -pass 2 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -movflags +faststart \
  output_2pass.mp4

Platform Comparison: Algorithm Factors

Factor TikTok Shorts Reels Priority
Hook (1-3s) Critical Critical Critical #1
Completion Rate High Highest High #1
Watch Time High Highest Medium #2
Shares High Medium High #3
Comments High Medium High #3
Saves Medium Medium High #4
Likes Medium Low Medium #5
Captions 80% boost Helpful Important Must-have
Trending Audio Essential N/A Important Platform-specific
Original Content Preferred Required Preferred Important
Posting Frequency 1-3x/day Daily Daily Consistency

Verification Commands

bash
# Verify platform compliance
verify_platform() {
    local file=$1
    echo "=== Checking: $file ==="
    ffprobe -v error -select_streams v:0 \
      -show_entries stream=width,height,codec_name,pix_fmt,r_frame_rate,bit_rate \
      -show_entries format=duration,size,bit_rate \
      -of default=noprint_wrappers=1 "$file"

    # File size in MB
    size_mb=$(ls -l "$file" | awk '{print $5/1024/1024}')
    echo "File Size: ${size_mb}MB"
}

verify_platform output_tiktok.mp4

Codec Comparison for Short-Form Video (2025-2026)

H.264 vs H.265 vs AV1 Decision Matrix

Codec Compression Encoding Speed Platform Support Recommendation
H.264 Baseline Fast Universal Primary choice - all platforms transcode to H.264 anyway
H.265 40-50% better 5-10x slower Limited mobile Avoid - platforms transcode, licensing issues
AV1 50-60% better 5-10x slower Growing (YouTube, Netflix) Future-proof for web, not for social uploads
VP9 40% better Slower YouTube preferred Only for YouTube Shorts WebM uploads

Platform Codec Recommendations

Platform Upload Codec Platform Transcodes To Best Practice
TikTok H.264 H.264 Always H.264
YouTube Shorts H.264 or VP9 VP9, AV1, H.264 H.264 for compatibility, VP9 for quality
Instagram H.264 H.264 H.264 only
Facebook H.264 H.264, VP9 H.264 most reliable

Key Insight: All platforms re-encode uploads. Upload high-quality H.264 to give platform encoders the best source material. H.265/AV1 add encoding time with no benefit for social media.

Color Grading for Viral Appeal (2025-2026)

Mobile-Optimized Color Parameters

Research-backed findings: Bold, saturated colors perform 2-3x better on mobile screens.

Parameter Conservative Viral-Optimized Bold/Stylized
Saturation 1.0-1.1 1.1-1.2 1.3-1.5
Contrast 1.0-1.1 1.15-1.25 1.3-1.4
Brightness 0 to +0.05 -0.02 to 0 -0.05 (cinematic)
Sharpness Unsharp 5:5:0.3 Unsharp 5:5:0.6 Unsharp 5:5:1.0

Viral Color Grading Presets

1. Bold & Eye-Popping (Maximum Engagement)

bash
# High saturation, punchy contrast for maximum mobile impact
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "eq=saturation=1.2:contrast=1.2:brightness=-0.02,unsharp=5:5:0.8" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 \
  output_bold.mp4

2. Orange & Teal (Cinematic Viral Look)

bash
# Popular cinematic color grade - orange in highlights, teal in shadows
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=contrast=1.15:saturation=1.1:brightness=-0.02,\
    colorbalance=rs=0.12:gs=-0.04:bs=-0.15:rm=0.08:gm=-0.02:bm=-0.08:rh=0.08:gh=-0.03:bh=-0.12,\
    curves=all='0/0.02 0.5/0.5 1/0.98',\
    unsharp=5:5:0.6\
  " \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 \
  output_orange_teal.mp4

3. Vibrant Social Media Look

bash
# Optimized for TikTok/Reels - saturated, sharp, mobile-friendly
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=saturation=1.25:contrast=1.18:brightness=0.01:gamma=1.05,\
    colorbalance=rs=0.05:bs=-0.05,\
    unsharp=5:5:0.7\
  " \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 \
  output_vibrant.mp4

4. Moody & Dramatic (Storytelling)

bash
# Lower saturation, higher contrast, lifted blacks
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "\
    eq=saturation=0.95:contrast=1.25:brightness=-0.03,\
    curves=all='0/0.05 0.5/0.48 1/0.95',\
    colorbalance=bs=0.08:bh=-0.05,\
    unsharp=5:5:0.5\
  " \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 \
  output_moody.mp4

Using LUTs for Consistent Branding

bash
# Apply a .cube LUT file for professional color grading
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "lut3d=file=cinematic.cube,unsharp=5:5:0.6" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 \
  output_lut.mp4

Popular LUT sources:

  • CapCut built-in LUTs (export as .cube)
  • DaVinci Resolve free LUTs
  • RocketStock free LUTs

Color Grading Best Practices

  1. Test on mobile first: View on phone before posting
  2. Avoid over-saturation: >1.3 saturation looks artificial
  3. Check dark scenes: Compression artifacts most visible in shadows
  4. Platform compression: Colors shift slightly after upload - compensate with +5% saturation
  5. Consistent branding: Use same LUT across all videos for recognition

Text & Caption Parameters for Mobile Readability (2025-2026)

Font Size Guidelines (1080x1920 vertical)

Content Type Minimum Size Recommended Size Maximum Size
Body text/captions 48px 52-60px 72px
Titles/hooks 64px 72-80px 120px
Secondary text 36px 40-48px 56px

Rule of thumb: For 1080x1920, minimum 48px for readability on all devices.

Safe Zones for Text Placement

┌─────────────────────┐
│   14% TOP MARGIN    │ ← Username, UI elements
├─────────────────────┤
│                     │
│   SAFE TEXT ZONE    │ ← Place all text here
│   (upper 2/3)       │
│                     │
├─────────────────────┤
│                     │
│  35% BOTTOM MARGIN  │ ← Captions, buttons, likes
└─────────────────────┘
    6%         6%
  ← margin  margin →

Best text placement: Upper-middle area (20-60% from top)

FFmpeg Text Overlay Parameters

Optimal Readability Settings

bash
# Maximum mobile readability - white text, thick black outline
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "drawtext=text='YOUR TEXT':fontsize=56:fontcolor=white:borderw=4:bordercolor=black:x=(w-tw)/2:y=h*0.15" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 \
  output_text.mp4

High-Contrast Combinations (Best Performing)

Text Color Outline Color Background Readability Score
White Black (4px) Any 95%
Yellow Black (4px) Dark 93%
Black White (3px) Light 92%
Red White (4px) Any 88%

Text Animation for Engagement

bash
# Fade-in text (2-second duration)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 \
  -vf "drawtext=text='STOP SCROLLING':fontsize=72:fontcolor=yellow:borderw=5:bordercolor=black:x=(w-tw)/2:y=h*0.15:alpha='if(lt(t,1),t,1)':enable='between(t,0,2)'" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 22 \
  output_fade_text.mp4

Caption Best Practices (2025-2026)

Research findings:

  • Captions increase engagement by 80% (TikTok)
  • 94% of Reels watched on mobile with sound off
  • Maximum 30 characters per line for readability
  • Maximum 3 lines of text on screen simultaneously
  • Minimum 2.3 seconds display time for 30-character line

Recommended caption style:

bash
# Auto-caption burn-in (CapCut style)
-vf "subtitles=captions.srt:force_style='\
FontName=Arial Black,\
FontSize=52,\
PrimaryColour=&HFFFFFF,\
OutlineColour=&H000000,\
Outline=4,\
Shadow=0,\
Bold=1,\
Alignment=2,\
MarginV=250'"

Related Skills

  • ffmpeg-viral-tiktok - TikTok-specific viral optimization
  • ffmpeg-viral-shorts - YouTube Shorts optimization
  • viral-video-hook-templates - 10 proven hook patterns
  • viral-video-animated-captions - CapCut-style captions

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