Layout Presets — Position & Fill Video in One Click
Layout presets let you instantly position and size any video — main segment or video overlay — within the canvas with a single click. They calculate the exact scale, crop, and offset values needed to fill a target region cleanly, with no black bars and no gaps.
How Presets Work
When you apply a preset, iviCut uses a cover + center-crop algorithm:
- The video is scaled up so it completely fills the target region
- Any overflow is cropped symmetrically from both sides
- The result is repositioned so the visible content aligns exactly with the target region on the canvas
All values are recalculated automatically if you switch the canvas aspect ratio, so your layout always looks correct.
Available Presets
Full Screen
Fills the entire canvas with the video. No crop, no offset — the video fits the canvas as-is.
Picture-in-Picture (video overlays only)
Places a small overlay (~28% of canvas size) in one of the four corners. The overlay's native aspect ratio is preserved.
| Preset | Position |
|---|---|
| PiP Top-Left | Upper-left corner |
| PiP Top-Right | Upper-right corner |
| PiP Bottom-Left | Lower-left corner |
| PiP Bottom-Right | Lower-right corner |
PiP presets are only available for video overlays, not for main video segments.
Side by Side (16:9 and 1:1 canvas)
Divides the canvas vertically into two equal halves. Ideal for split-screen interviews, reaction videos, and side-by-side comparisons.
| Preset | Region |
|---|---|
| Left Half | Left 50% of the canvas |
| Right Half | Right 50% of the canvas |
Top / Bottom (9:16 and 1:1 canvas)
Divides the canvas horizontally into two equal halves. Designed for portrait-format content like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
| Preset | Region |
|---|---|
| Top Half | Upper 50% of the canvas |
| Bottom Half | Lower 50% of the canvas |
Grid 2×2 (all aspect ratios)
Splits the canvas into four equal quadrants. Use four video overlays to build a multi-panel mosaic.
| Preset | Quadrant |
|---|---|
| Grid Top-Left | Upper-left quadrant |
| Grid Top-Right | Upper-right quadrant |
| Grid Bottom-Left | Lower-left quadrant |
| Grid Bottom-Right | Lower-right quadrant |
Aspect Ratio Awareness
Some presets only make visual sense in a specific orientation. iviCut automatically shows or hides presets depending on the current canvas format:
- Left Half / Right Half — shown only for 16:9 and 1:1
- Top Half / Bottom Half — shown only for 9:16 and 1:1
- Full, PiP, and Grid presets — shown for every aspect ratio
Automatic Remapping When You Change Aspect Ratio
If you switch the canvas aspect ratio after applying a preset, iviCut remaps to the nearest equivalent preset and recalculates all values automatically:
| Ratio change | Preset remapping |
|---|---|
| 9:16 → 16:9 | Top Half → Left Half, Bottom Half → Right Half |
| 16:9 → 9:16 | Left Half → Top Half, Right Half → Bottom Half |
| Any → 1:1 | All presets stay the same (all are valid for 1:1) |
This prevents invisible or misaligned layouts after an aspect ratio change.
Applying a Preset
- Select a video segment on the timeline — or select a video overlay on the canvas
- Open the Settings panel
- Scroll to the Layout section
- Click any preset button — the canvas updates instantly
After applying a preset, you can still fine-tune the individual scale, crop, and offset values manually for precise adjustments.
Tips
- Combine Left Half and Right Half on two video overlays to create a classic split-screen reaction video
- Use Grid 2×2 with four overlays for a multi-camera highlights reel
- Apply PiP Bottom-Right to a webcam overlay for a professional commentary layout
- Switch between Top Half and Bottom Half to control which speaker is shown first in a portrait-format interview