Once you've imported clips and picked one of your generated edit plans, exporting is the last step. ReelWorkshop renders in your browser using FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, so your footage never leaves your machine to produce the file. The output is always a vertical 9:16 MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio, and you choose between two resolutions: 1080x1920 or 720x1280.
Where the resolution choice lives
Resolution is set on the export screen for the edit plan you're about to render, not earlier in the process. You can preview the plan at any point before this without it affecting the final render settings, so there's no need to lock in a resolution while you're still arranging clips.
- Finish arranging the edit
Trim, reorder, and remove any clips you don't want in the plan you're about to export. Use preview to confirm the beats (hook, build, escalation, peak, payoff) land the way you expect.
- Open the export panel
Select the edit plan and open its export options. Choose 1080x1920 for full resolution.
- Choose audio handling
Decide whether to keep the source audio or mute it, depending on whether your clips have usable sound.
- Render
Start the render. It runs locally in the browser, so keep the tab open and your device awake until it finishes.
- Download from Exports
Once rendering completes, the MP4 is available on the Exports page, where you can also track render queue status, cancel, or retry a failed render.
1080x1920 versus 720x1280
1080x1920 gives you the sharpest result and is the safer default if you're not sure which platform the file is going to, or if you plan to reuse the export somewhere with a large player. 720x1280 produces a smaller file at a lower resolution, which speeds up rendering and uses less of your storage and less of your monthly export minutes in terms of file size (though export minutes are counted by rendered duration, not resolution).
| Resolution | Best for | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| 1080x1920 | Final delivery to TikTok, Reels, Shorts, or client handoff | Larger file, longer render, more storage used |
| 720x1280 | Quick drafts, internal review, slower devices | Softer detail if viewed full-screen on a large display |
Rendering happens on your device
Because the render uses WebAssembly FFmpeg in the browser rather than a server, render time depends on your device's CPU, the length of the plan (60, 75, or 90 seconds), and how many clips are being stitched. Closing the browser tab mid-render will interrupt it, so treat the render queue like an active download: leave the tab open.
If you're exporting several 90-second plans in 1080x1920, start the render and step away rather than watching the progress bar. The render queue keeps track of progress and lets you retry or cancel if something goes wrong.
Mistakes to avoid
- Exporting before checking the preview — a wrong clip order or an unwanted clip is much easier to fix before rendering than after.
- Assuming a higher resolution export fixes shaky or low-quality source footage. Resolution only affects the output canvas, not the quality of what was filmed.
- Running out of monthly export minutes partway through a batch of renders. Check your usage meter before starting several long exports in a row.
- Forgetting to choose whether audio should be kept or muted, and getting a silent export by accident.
When this isn't the right fit
If you need custom bitrate control, a codec other than H.264/AAC, or a non-9:16 aspect ratio, ReelWorkshop's export won't cover it — the output is fixed to vertical MP4 at these two resolutions by design. For those cases, export at 1080x1920 here and do the final conversion in a general editor like DaVinci Resolve or Premiere.
Does exporting at 1080x1920 use more of my monthly export minutes than 720x1280?
Export minutes are based on the rendered length of the video, not the resolution, so a 60-second export uses the same minutes at either resolution.
Can I re-export the same edit plan at both resolutions?
Yes, you can render the same plan twice, once at each resolution, as separate exports on the Exports page.