# Where should subtitles and images go in vertical video?

Author: AUTOVID Team
Published: 2026-09-16
Updated: 2026-09-16

![Infographic showing subtitles and a key image placed separately in a vertical frame and reviewed on phone and desktop](https://autovid.net/blog-media/autovid_blog/images/generated-1789563793244-8e1fe9804bde/1789563815362-blog-place-subtitles-key-images-vertical-video.webp)

Place subtitles and key images in separate inner areas rather than at the edge of a vertical frame or on top of the main subject, product, or demonstration. Instead of memorizing one measurement, play the actual publishing format and check that no important information is covered.

The same vertical frame can look different because of app controls, device proportions, and cropped previews. Do not rely on one fixed safe line; decide the priority of the subtitle, key image, and main subject in every scene.

## Identify what the frame must never cover first

Safe placement starts with identifying the point of the scene, not with hunting for empty space. Mark only the one or two elements needed to understand each scene—such as a face, hand movement, important product detail, or chart conclusion—and keep subtitles and images away from them.

The top, bottom, and side edges can be affected by platform controls or device-specific cropping, so avoid attaching essential copy or visuals to the edge. Do not force identical margins on every scene; adjust from the parts that are actually obscured in a preview of the publishing format.

## Give subtitles and key images separate jobs

In one frame, subtitles should quickly support what is being said, while a key image should show the idea. When both compete in the same location, neither is easy to process, so start by testing subtitles in a readable lower inner area and the key image in an upper or side area that catches the eye.

A key image should reinforce one idea in the scene. If the image is busy or a subtitle runs beyond two lines, reduce or move the image first, or divide the information into the next scene so the frame does not become crowded.

## Check overlap again whenever the scene changes

A subtitle position that was safe over one background can cover the subject in the next. When a person moves lower in the frame or a screen recording, photo, or chart appears, identify the next scene's essential area before setting the subtitle baseline again.

It is easy to miss these collisions when subtitles and images are added all at once at the end. Review the script sentence by sentence with the cuts, and play and pause the most information-dense scenes first to keep revisions focused.

## Review on real playback before publishing

A layout that looks right in an editor is not necessarily safe on the viewing screen. Play the video full-screen on a phone, then check a feed preview and muted playback to see whether the subtitle remains readable and the key image is neither cropped nor covered by interface elements.

In AUTOVID, subtitle timing can be adjusted from the script and audio, but a creator should still play the vertical result and review placement and line breaks. Automation can reduce repeat work; the final judgment that a scene's key information remains visible belongs to the creator.

## Sources and official pages

- [AUTOVID Features](https://autovid.net/ar/features)

[Explore AUTOVID features](https://autovid.net/ar/features)