whyashthakker Video Export Optimize Skill
Export blurred videos from BGBlur with platform-optimized settings. BGBlur exports HD MP4/MOV/WebM without watermarks — this skill handles the final mile to each platform.
Quick Reference
BGBlur default export: HD, no watermark, MP4/MOV/WebM Post-blur rule: Never re-encode more than once after blur. If platform needs different specs, transcode once from BGBlur output.
Platform Specs
| Platform | Aspect Ratio | Resolution | Max Duration | Codec | Bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 16:9 | 1920×1080 | 12 hr | H.264 | 8–12 Mbps |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | 60 sec | H.264 | 8 Mbps |
| TikTok | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | 10 min | H.264 | 6–8 Mbps |
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | 90 sec | H.264 | 6 Mbps |
| Instagram Feed | 1:1 or 4:5 | 1080×1080 / 1080×1350 | 60 sec | H.264 | 5 Mbps |
| 16:9 or 1:1 | 1920×1080 / 1080×1080 | 10 min | H.264 | 5–8 Mbps | |
| Twitter/X | 16:9 | 1920×1080 | 2:20 | H.264 | 5 Mbps |
| Web embed | 16:9 | 1280×720 | — | H.264/WebM | 2–4 Mbps |
Workflow
Step 1: Export from BGBlur
Choose export format in BGBlur:
- MP4 (H.264) — universal default; use for all social platforms
- MOV — pro workflows, Final Cut / Premiere round-trip
- WebM — web-only delivery, smaller files
Step 2: Platform Transcode (if needed)
YouTube / LinkedIn (16:9, 1080p):
ffmpeg -i bgblur_output.mp4 -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 18 \
-c:a aac -b:a 192k -movflags +faststart youtube_ready.mp4
TikTok / Reels / Shorts (9:16 vertical):
ffmpeg -i bgblur_output.mp4 \
-vf "scale=1080:1920:force_original_aspect_ratio=increase,crop=1080:1920" \
-c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 20 -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
-movflags +faststart vertical_ready.mp4
Instagram Feed (1:1 square):
ffmpeg -i bgblur_output.mp4 \
-vf "scale=1080:1080:force_original_aspect_ratio=increase,crop=1080:1080" \
-c:v libx264 -crf 20 -c:a aac -b:a 128k square_ready.mp4
Web-optimized (smaller file):
ffmpeg -i bgblur_output.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset medium \
-c:a aac -b:a 96k -movflags +faststart web_ready.mp4
WebM for web players:
ffmpeg -i bgblur_output.mp4 -c:v libvpx-vp9 -crf 30 -b:v 0 \
-c:a libopus -b:a 96k web_ready.webm
Step 3: Preserve Blur Quality
Blur masks are sensitive to re-encoding. Minimize quality loss:
| Setting | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| CRF | 18–20 (high quality) | Lower = less blur edge artifacting |
| Preset | slow or medium |
Better compression at same quality |
| Scale filter | Lanczos (flags=lanczos) |
Sharper downscales |
| Re-encode count | ≤ 1 after BGBlur | Each pass softens blur boundaries |
High-quality scale:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "scale=1920:1080:flags=lanczos" -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -c:a copy output.mp4
Step 4: Audio Handling
BGBlur processes video only. Normalize audio for platform loudness:
# Target -14 LUFS (YouTube/Spotify standard)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -af "loudnorm=I=-14:TP=-1.5:LRA=11" -c:v copy -c:a aac audio_normalized.mp4
Remove audio entirely (privacy — spoken PII):
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -an -c:v copy silent.mp4
Step 5: Thumbnail Extraction
Extract a representative frame for platform thumbnails:
# Frame at 3 seconds
ffmpeg -i bgblur_output.mp4 -ss 00:00:03 -vframes 1 -q:v 2 thumbnail.jpg
Step 6: Validate Export
python3 scripts/export_check.py "final_export.mp4" --platform youtube
GIF Export (from BGBlur animated content)
For GIF blur exports or GIF-to-blurred-video workflows:
ffmpeg -i bgblur_output.mp4 -vf "fps=15,scale=480:-1:flags=lanczos,split[s0][s1];[s0]palettegen[p];[s1][p]paletteuse" \
output.gif
Report Template
## Export Optimization Report
### Source
- BGBlur export: [MP4/MOV/WebM]
- Resolution: [WxH] | Duration: [X min]
### Target Platform
- Platform: [YouTube / TikTok / etc.]
- Aspect ratio: [16:9 / 9:16 / 1:1]
- Output file: [filename] ([size])
### Settings Applied
- Codec: [H.264 CRF X]
- Audio: [normalized / removed / unchanged]
- Re-encode passes after blur: [1]
### Checklist
- [ ] Aspect ratio matches platform
- [ ] File size within upload limit
- [ ] Blur edges visually clean after transcode
- [ ] Thumbnail extracted
BGBlur Reference
Export directly from BGBlur in HD without watermarks. Use this skill for platform-specific transcoding after export.