1:1 square is still the format Instagram's feed (as opposed to Stories/Reels) is built around, and it's a common requirement for certain ad placements. edit_video's aspect_ratio setting reframes a landscape or vertical source into a centered square crop.
Because square cuts off more of a wide shot than 9:16 does, subject framing matters more here — tell the agent what to keep centered before it renders.
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Agent-driven EDL render via the Versely editor pipeline (POST /features/editor-render). Stitch, trim, speed-change, caption, overlay, and mix user media (workspace/generation HTTPS URLs) into ONE final video. Prefer this over chaining cut_video + attach_audio + add_*_captions when the user wants a multi-clip assembly in a single step. Billing: preview:true is free 480p (per-user cooldown); final export (preview:false, default) charges the normal single editor_export price. Prefer preview:true while the user is iterating; only final-render after confirmation. Clips must be HTTPS URLs (file:// and other schemes rejected). Returns { video_url, credits_charged, preview_notes } or a 402-style insufficient-credits error.
What to tell the agent
Versely's agent maps this plain-English request directly onto edit_video. You don't need to know the parameter names — just describe what you want.
“Crop this video to a 1:1 square, keep the subject centered.”
How it works
1. Supply the source video
Any HTTPS video URL, landscape or vertical.
2. Request 1:1
Tell the agent to reformat to a square 1:1 aspect ratio.
3. Specify what stays centered
Since square crops the most off a wide shot, call out the subject or focal point you want kept in frame.
4. Preview and export
Free 480p preview first, then the full-resolution final render.
What it costs
Free 480p preview (preview:true), then standard editor_export pricing for the final render — confirm the exact price with estimate_cost.
The formula behind that number: What does editing a video cost if I keep changing it? — charges per finished export, so iteration is free and the count is the whole bill.
Limits & things to know
- Square crops the most off the sides of a widescreen 16:9 source of any common ratio — expect more of the original frame to be cut than with a 9:16 or 4:5 crop.
- It reframes existing footage; it can't add picture content beyond what was originally shot.
Who uses this
- Instagram feed posts
- Square ad creative placements
- Album art / cover-style video loops
Frequently asked questions
How much of my video gets cut off going to square?+
More than a 9:16 or 4:5 crop would, especially from a wide 16:9 source — square is the tightest common crop. Tell the agent what to keep centered before the final render.
Can I preview the crop first?+
Yes — set preview:true for a free 480p render before running the full-price final export.
Related Versely tools
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Crop a Video to Square inside Versely
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