ZELLAExporting from Zella: MP4, MOV, GIF & M4A
Quick answer: Click Export in Zella’s editor to open the Export & Share dialog. Choose a Platform (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Square, Original — this sets the dimensions), a Format (MP4 for everywhere, MOV for max quality, GIF for loops, M4A for audio), and a Quality (720p / 1080p / 4K). Hit Export. All your edits — captions, zoom, color, titles — bake into the file. Cancel any time; nothing is left half-written.
On this page: the dialog · platform · format · quality · reframe · what bakes in · GIF · cancel · recipes · FAQ
What is the Export dialog?
Click Export (top-right of the editor) to open Export & Share, with four choices: Platform, Format, Quality, Reframe.
Figure: ① Platform (sets dimensions), ② Format, ③ Quality, ④ Export.
How to choose an export platform and size
Pick the target — it sets the output dimensions:
- TikTok / FB Reels / YT Shorts / IG Reels — 1080×1920 (9:16)
- IG Feed — 1080×1350 (4:5)
- Square — 1080×1080 (1:1)
- YouTube / X / Twitter — 1920×1080 (16:9)
- Original — the source size
The dialog shows the resulting dimensions, e.g. 1280×550 → 1920×1080.
How to choose a format (MP4, MOV, GIF, M4A)
| Format | What you get | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| MP4 | H.264, universally compatible | The default for every platform |
| MOV | Highest quality | Hand-off to another editor |
| GIF | Looping animation, no audio | Docs, changelogs, PRs, chat |
| M4A | Audio only (Apple) | Pull just the audio / podcast |
How to choose export quality (720p, 1080p, 4K)
- 720p — small files, quick async clips, tiny GIFs.
- 1080p HD — the everyday default for social and tutorials.
- 4K — maximum detail for high-res UI or future-proofing.
Tiers clamp sensibly to the source/platform; the dialog shows the final pixel size.
How to set Fit or Fill at export
In the dialog, Reframe lets you set Fit (safe — no crop, may letterbox) vs Fill (center-crop to fill, edges may be cut) for a one-off export without changing the project’s platform. (More in Reframe.)
What edits get baked into the export?
When you export, Zella renders everything onto the file: captions (correctly timed), zoom/keyframes/speed (remapped and synced), color/effects/masks/blur callouts, titles and callouts (anchored), and polished voice/ducked music. The exported MP4/MOV is the source of truth — frame-accurate and A/V-synced. Multi-cut, multi-transition projects export with no A/V drift across segments.
How to export a GIF with captions and zoom
GIF export bakes in your captions and zoom, so an animated doc GIF still shows the punch-ins and on-screen text:
- Export → Format: GIF → choose a size → Export.
GIFs have no audio (by format) and loop — ideal for a 5–10s clip in a README, changelog, or chat.
How to cancel an export
Click the ✕ on the export progress dialog. The cancel is clean — no half-written file is left behind and the editor stays responsive. Re-export when ready.
Export recipes by goal
| Goal | Platform | Format | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube tutorial | YouTube | MP4 | 1080p (or 4K) |
| TikTok / Reel / Short | TikTok | MP4 | 1080p |
| Instagram feed | IG Feed | MP4 | 1080p |
| Doc / changelog loop | Original | GIF | 720p |
| Podcast audio | Original | M4A | — |
| Hand-off to an editor | Original | MOV | 4K |
Impact for creators and editors: because Platform sets exact dimensions and edits bake in, you ship platform-perfect files in one click — no resizing, no re-encoding in a second app, no caption-burn-in tool. Record once, export YouTube + TikTok + a GIF in minutes.
Export FAQ
What’s the best format for posting to social media? MP4 at 1080p with the matching platform preset — universal and the right dimensions.
How do I make a GIF of my screen recording? Export → Format: GIF. Captions and zoom are included; audio is dropped (GIFs have no sound).
Do my captions and effects show up in the exported file? Yes — everything bakes in. The file is the final, frame-accurate result.
Can I export the same video for multiple platforms? Yes — change the Platform and export again. See Reframe for one-take-many-aspects.
What happens if I cancel mid-export? Nothing bad — the cancel is clean, no half file or lock remains.
Pro tips & gotchas
- Choose format + quality + platform in the dialog; set defaults in Studio → Export so you don’t re-pick each time.
- GIF export bakes in your effects and has no audio — great for silent loops; use MP4 for everything social.
- Export runs locally — cancel is clean and leaves no half file behind.
- Need the same edit for two platforms? Change the Platform and export again — see Reframe.
Related: Reframe for any platform → · Captions → · Projects & autosave → · Workflow recipes →