Auto-reframing
Also known as: automatic reframing, AI reframe, smart reframe
AI that tracks the subject and moves a crop window through a wider frame or a 360 sphere, keeping the action in view without manual keyframes.
Updated
What it means
Auto-reframing lets software decide where the virtual camera points. A model detects the main subject, usually a person, vehicle or animal, follows it from frame to frame, and moves a crop window so the subject stays well placed in the shot. The output can be a different aspect ratio from the source, such as a 9:16 crop from a 16:9 clip, or a flat view pulled from a sphere.
There are two main uses. Social editors use it to turn horizontal clips into vertical video without hand-placing keyframes. Owners of a 360 camera use it to turn spherical footage into a flat clip that follows the rider, sparing them hours of manual reframing.
How it works in practice
Premiere Pro calls the feature Auto Reframe, DaVinci Resolve has Smart Reframe, and Insta360's app and Insta360 Studio offer AI-driven framing and subject tracking for 360 clips. In each case you pick the target shape, let the tool analyze the clip, then correct the path where it went wrong.
Resolution decides how far you can push it. A 1080 by 1920 vertical crop from a 4K horizontal frame still holds roughly full HD detail, while the same crop from a 1080p source is upscaled and soft. For 360 work, the higher the capture resolution, the cleaner the reframed result.
What to watch out for
Tracking can jump. When two riders cross paths or the subject disappears behind a tree, the crop may snap to someone else or drift into empty space. Watch the whole result before exporting and pin the subject manually at the trouble spots.
Movement can also feel robotic. Constant small corrections create a floaty, nervous frame, so look for a smoothing setting. And a crop always loses context: a jump looks less impressive when the landing ramp is cut out of the frame. Leave some headroom and lead room, especially with fast AI-edited action.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip does not reframe 360 footage or output vertical 9:16 video. If you shoot 360, use the reframing tools in the Insta360 app or Insta360 Studio first, export flat MP4 or MOV files, and upload those. RawClip then builds one finished highlight in 4K and 1080p from them.