A layout made for widescreen
A vertical video padded out to widescreen wastes most of the screen. ContentRoof lays the 16:9 format out on its own terms:
- Narration on the left: the headline and the words being spoken, large and readable.
- Animation on the right: the drawings, maps, charts, counters and timelines for each sentence.
- Original music under the voice, mastered to -14 LUFS.
- A thumbnail export: the opening title card, in the same style as the video.
Change format: wide in the script header (or pick 16:9 in the settings) and the whole video re-lays itself out. The same script also renders vertical for Shorts or square for feeds.
Be clear about the length
Videos can be up to 3 minutes. That's a good fit for:
- a short explainer on a single question;
- a lesson for a classroom screen or a course page;
- a product explainer for a website;
- a news or data recap;
- an intro, chapter opener or trailer for a longer video you edit elsewhere.
It is not a tool for 10-minute or hour-long videos. For a long video, you can make several 3-minute segments and join them in your editor.
What fills the right side
| When the narration… | The animation shows |
|---|---|
| names places | A globe that flies to them |
| gives a big number | A counter |
| describes growth or decline | A rising or falling chart |
| mentions years | A timeline or a clock |
| compares two things | A two-sided layout |
| talks about size | A powers-of-ten zoom |
| says anything else | Line drawings matched to its meaning |
An example header
title: The History of Coffee
format: wide
theme: sunset
music: wonder
channel: @yourchannel
# hook
Coffee started with goats in Ethiopia, or so the legend says.
Turning a Short into a YouTube video
Already made a vertical Short that did well? Switch its format to 16:9 and export again. The script, voice, drawings and music stay the same; only the layout changes. That gives your main YouTube channel a widescreen version, your Shorts feed the vertical one, and a square copy for other feeds, all from one script.
Tips for widescreen explainers
- Write for the ear. On YouTube, people often listen more than they watch. Short, clear sentences help.
- Give each scene one idea. The right side changes with each idea, so viewers always know where they are.
- Use the thumbnail. The opening title card exports as a thumbnail, so make the first headline strong.
- Add chapters in your YouTube description for longer videos. The post kit writes the title, description and tags for you.
- Mind the language. All 10 languages work in 16:9, with Urdu and Arabic laid out right to left.
How it works
- Type your topicOne sentence is enough. Choose the length, up to 3 minutes.
- Choose 16:9Pick the 16:9 format, or write format: wide in the script header.
- Edit and previewAdjust the script, voice, music and colour theme, and swap any scene's drawing.
- Download video and thumbnailSign in with Google for free, download the MP4 and export the thumbnail from the opening title card.
Questions
How long can a 16:9 video be?
Up to 3 minutes. For longer videos, make several segments and join them in a video editor.
Does it make a thumbnail?
Yes. The thumbnail export is the opening title card, in the same style as the video.
Can I make the vertical version too?
Yes. The same script renders as vertical 9:16, 16:9 or square 1:1.
Does it write the YouTube title and description?
Yes. The post kit writes YouTube titles, a description and tags from your script.
Is there a watermark?
No. Downloaded videos have no watermark.
Updated 2026-10-28