How to Choose the Right Aspect Ratio for Travel Animation Videos
Jaseel S6 min read
In this article 9 sections
Travel Animator allows you to choose the best ratio for your Travel Animation videos, suitable for sharing on different platforms with high-quality exports in various ratios.
As you create an itinerary plan video for your Instagram Story, using the right aspect ratio will provide the best orientation for sharing with your audience.
This article will guide you on choosing the correct aspect ratio for sharing the Travel Animator videos on different platforms.
What is the Aspect Ratio in Travel Animator?
Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between a video’s height and length. It’s commonly mentioned as two numbers separated by a colon, like 9:16 or 16:9.
In Travel Animator, there are three main ratios available for sizing animations,
- A square ratio indicates 1:1
- A vertical portrait ratio showing 9:16
- A landscape size with 16:9
Platform-based recommendation while choosing the ratio for Animated Travel Videos
| Platform | Best Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|
|
Instagram Reels / TikTok
|
9:16
|
|
Instagram Feed
|
1:1
|
|
YouTube
|
16:9
|
|
Facebook Post
|
1:1
|
|
Website or Blog
|
16:9
|
How to Export with the Right Ratio in Travel Animator
- Open Travel Animator and complete your project.
- Preview your video to select the ratio after properly adding the destinations and models.
- On the top center of the preview page, you can see a ratio size: 1:1, 9:16, or 16:9.
- Choose the ratio based on your content requirement.
- Once you select the ratio, export the video to your device in HD or 4K quality.
- You can directly share on different platforms other than the Travel Animator App.
Let the Shape of Your Route Help Pick the Ratio
The platform table is a good starting point, but the route itself has a say too. Picture where the line runs on the map before you settle on a ratio.
- Tall routes, like a Lisbon–Porto train ride, a drive down the length of Italy or a hike up a long valley, sit naturally in 9:16. The whole line fits on screen comfortably.
- Wide routes such as Route 66 or a Paris to Vienna rail trip fill a 16:9 frame and leave room for labels on either side.
- Compact loops, a day around Kyoto or a round trip that ends where it started, look balanced in 1:1.
When the route shape and the platform disagree, go with the platform. A wide route can still work as a Reel. Keep the labels short and the photos small so the line isn’t squeezed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using a 16:9 ratio for Instagram reels results in small letterboxed videos.
- Low-resolution exports reduce quality on larger screens like websites. In such situations, 4K quality exports increase the quality than HD exports.
- The wrong aspect ratio leads to cropped content or a black background.
- A quick preview check helps to find the problems or imperfections easily.
Making One Route Work in Several Ratios
You don’t have to build the route twice to post it in two places. The ratio is picked on the preview screen after the route is finished, so you can export a 9:16 version for Stories, switch to 16:9 and export again for YouTube. Save the route as well, so you can come back for a third version later without starting over.
Before each export, play the preview through once in the new ratio. Things that sat nicely in landscape can collide in a vertical frame:
- Photos at stops take up more of a 9:16 screen. Keep them small or medium in vertical videos so they don’t cover the route. Our guide to image sizes for each ratio explains why.
- Place labels on stops that are close together can overlap. Shorten long names, or turn place labels off and rely on your own text at the key stops.
- Leave some breathing room near the top and bottom of vertical videos, where Instagram and TikTok show captions and buttons.
Adjust the Camera After You Change the Ratio
Switching ratio changes the shape of the frame, so it’s worth rechecking your camera settings straight after. That’s why a Scene Style that looked great in 16:9 can feel cramped in 9:16. Scene Style sits on the same preview screen as the ratio, so check the two together.
Zoom is the setting to watch. In Scene Style you can pick 1x, 2x or 3x:
- 1x shows more of the surrounding map. Try it first if a vertical Reel keeps cutting off the sides of a wide route.
- 2x is a balanced middle ground that suits most road trips and social posts.
- 3x stays close on the vehicle. It works well in 9:16, where a tall frame and a close camera put the model front and centre.
Take a Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima rail trip. For the Reel, Follow at 2x keeps the train in view as it heads west. For a square feed post, Atlas looks straight down and shows the whole line at once, which suits 1:1. For the YouTube version, Default at 1x gives landscape viewers the wider map they expect. See our full guide to Scene Style and zoom options for what each style does.
Is It Necessary to Choose the Right Size?
Choosing the right size is just as important as the video quality and other key factors. It involves the standard and professionalism of the video when sharing on social media. Travel Animator offers a feature that allows you to select a suitable ratio for different platforms and formats. You can save your animated video in various ratios for stories and posts. If you want to export these videos in 4K quality, upgrade to Travel Animator Pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Aspect Ratio in Travel Animator?
Aspect ratio is the proportional relationship between a video’s height and length. It’s commonly mentioned as two numbers separated by a colon, like 9:16 or 16:9.
How do I export with the Right Ratio in Travel Animator?
Open Travel Animator and complete your project. Preview your video to select the ratio after properly adding the destinations and models. On the top center of the preview page, you can see a ratio size: 1:1, 9:16, or 16:9. Choose the ratio based on your content requirement. Once you select the ratio, export the video to your device in HD or 4K quality. You can directly share on different platforms other than the Travel Animator App.
Why should I preview a video after changing its aspect ratio?
A new ratio changes the space available around the route. Preview it to check that photos, place labels and important stops are not hidden or crowded.
Can I change the aspect ratio after my route is finished?
Yes. The ratio is chosen on the preview screen, which comes after you’ve built the route, so you can switch between 1:1, 9:16 and 16:9 without touching your stops. Play the preview again after switching, because photos and labels can sit differently in the new frame, then export.
Can I export a 4:5 video from Travel Animator?
The preview screen offers three ratios: 1:1, 9:16 and 16:9, so there isn’t a 4:5 option. For an Instagram feed post, 1:1 is the closest built-in fit. If you specifically need 4:5, export in 9:16 and crop it in an editor like CapCut, keeping your route and labels away from the top and bottom edges.
