---
title: "16:9 vs 9:16 for the I Love the Smiths AI Trend"
description: "Why the master is horizontal 16:9, what the 9:16 crop costs, and how to post the same take to TikTok, Reels and YouTube."
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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://ilovesmiths.com/llms.txt)

**Direct answer**

The master is 16:9: 1280 × 720 at 720p, 15 seconds, one continuous take. 9:16 is a crop for TikTok, Reels and Shorts, not a separate render. Cropping trims the sides of the elevator, so keep both faces inside the centre.

[**Make my video**](https://ilovesmiths.com/#create)

# 16:9 vs 9:16

The scene is a horizontal film shot. We keep the master 16:9 and let the platforms crop it — not the other way round.

Published November 10, 2026

## The short answer

Shoot wide, post wide. The master is 16:9 because the reference is a horizontal film shot and the soundtrack is timed to that frame. If you need vertical, crop in TikTok or CapCut: both faces stay in the middle, and the headphones and folders survive the crop.

## What changes

|  | **16:9 master** | **9:16 crop** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Size** | 1280 × 720 | 720 × 1280 (centre crop) |
| **Use** | YouTube, embedded player, TV, client review | TikTok, Reels, Shorts |
| **Staging** | Full two-shot with the elevator | Centre crop; the sides of the frame are lost |
| **Status** | Available now | One crop in the app |

## Why not render 9:16 natively

A native vertical take needs a different reference plate, different framing and a separate 15-second render. That doubles the cost for a format the source scene does not use. The 16:9 master keeps the performance, the timing and the sound; a crop only changes what the viewer sees at the edges.

## How to crop without losing the joke

In CapCut or TikTok, set the project to 9:16, scale the clip to fill, and centre it on the two faces. Do not cut the headphones or the folders. The line and the reaction sit in the middle of the frame, so the centre crop keeps every beat.

## Common questions

**Make a video**

## Ready to cast your two people?

Add a listener photo and a speaker photo, pick a resolution, and render the 15-second elevator take. Both seats are required.

[**Create**](https://ilovesmiths.com/#create)

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```

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## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://ilovesmiths.com/sitemap.md) for all pages.