remotion-best-practices

## When to use Use this skill whenever you are dealing with Remotion code to obtain the domain-specific knowledge. ## New project setup When in an empty folder or workspace with no existing Remotion project, scaffold one using: ```bash npx create-video@latest --yes --blank --no-tailwind my-video ``` Replace `my-video` with a suitable project name. ## Designing a video Before designing visual scenes, layouts, promos, motion graphics, or text-heavy videos, load [rules/video-layout.md](rules/video-layout.md) for video-first layout and text sizing guidance. Animate properties using `useCurrentFrame()` and `interpolate()`. Prefer `interpolate()` over `spring()` unless physics-based motion is explicitly needed. Use `Easing.bezier()` to customize timing, including jumpy or overshooting motion. For animations that should be editable in Remotion Studio, keep the `interpolate()` call inline in the `style` prop and use individual CSS transform properties (`scale`, `translate`, `rotate`) instead of composing a `transform` string. ```tsx import { useCurrentFrame, Easing, interpolate, useVideoConfig } from "remotion"; export const FadeIn = () => { const frame = useCurrentFrame(); const { fps } = useVideoConfig(); const opacity = interpolate(frame, [0, 2 * fps], [0, 1], { extrapolateRight: "clamp", extrapolateLeft: "clamp", easing: Easing.bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1), }); return <div style={{ opacity }}>Hello World!</div>; }; ``` Prefer: ```tsx style={{ scale: interpolate(frame, [0, 100], [0, 1]), translate: interpolate(frame, [0, 100], ["0px 0px", "100px 100px"]), rotate: interpolate(frame, [0, 100], ["20deg", "90deg"]), }} ``` Over: ```tsx const scale = interpolate(frame, [0, 100], [0, 1]); style={{ transform: `scale(${scale})`, }} ``` CSS transitions or animations are FORBIDDEN - they will not render correctly. Tailwind animation class names are FORBIDDEN - they will not render correctly. Place assets in the `public/` folder at your project root. Use `staticFile()` to reference files from the `public/` folder. Add images using the `<Img>` component: ```tsx import { Img, staticFile } from "remotion"; export const MyComposition = () => { return <Img src={staticFile("logo.png")} style={{ width: 100, height: 100 }} />; }; ``` Add videos using the `<Video>` component from `@remotion/media`: ```tsx import { Video } from "@remotion/media"; import { staticFile } from "remotion"; export const MyComposition = () => { return <Video src={staticFile("video.mp4")} style={{ opacity: 0.5 }} />; }; ``` Add audio using the `<Audio>` component from `@remotion/media`: ```tsx import { Audio } from "@remotion/media"; import { staticFile } from "remotion"; export const MyComposition = () => { return <Audio src={staticFile("audio.mp3")} />; }; ``` Assets can be also referenced as remote URLs: ```tsx import { Video } from "@remotion/media"; export const MyComposition = () => { return <Video src="https://remotion.media/video.mp4" /> }; ``` To delay content wrap it in `<Sequence>` and use `from`. To limit the duration of an element, use `durationInFrames` of `<Sequence>`. `<Sequence>` by default is an absolute fill. For inline content, use `layout="none"`. ```tsx import { Sequence } from "remotion"; export const Title = () => { const frame = useCurrentFrame(); const { fps } = useVideoConfig(); const opacity = interpolate(frame, [0, 2 * fps], [0, 1], { extrapolateRight: "clamp", extrapolateLeft: "clamp", easing: Easing.bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1), }); return <div style={{ opacity }}>Title</div>; }; export const Subtitle = () => { return <div>Subtitle</div>; }; const Main = () => { const {fps} = useVideoConfig(); return ( <AbsoluteFill> <Sequence> <Background /> </Sequence> <Sequence from={1 * fps} durationInFrames={2 * fps} layout="none"> <Title /> </Sequence> <Sequence from={2 * fps} durationInFrames={2 * fps} layout="none"> <Subtitle /> </Sequence> </AbsoluteFill> ); } ``` The width, height, fps, and duration of a video is defined in `src/Root.tsx`: ```tsx import { Composition } from "remotion"; import { MyComposition } from "./MyComposition"; export const RemotionRoot = () => { return ( <Composition id="MyComposition" component={MyComposition} durationInFrames={100} fps={30} width={1080} height={1080} /> ); }; ``` Metadata can also be calculated dynamically: ```tsx import { Composition, CalculateMetadataFunction } from "remotion"; import { MyComposition, MyCompositionProps } from "./MyComposition"; const calculateMetadata: CalculateMetadataFunction< MyCompositionProps > = async ({ props, abortSignal }) => { const data = await fetch(`https://api.example.com/video/${props.videoId}`, { signal: abortSignal, }).then((res) => res.json()); return { durationInFrames: Math.ceil(data.duration * 30), props: { ...props, videoUrl: data.url, }, width: 1080, height: 1080, }; }; export const RemotionRoot = () => { return ( <Composition id="MyComposition" component={MyComposition} fps={30} width={1080} height={1080} defaultProps={{ videoId: "abc123" }} calculateMetadata={calculateMetadata} /> ); }; ``` ## Starting preview Start the Remotion Studio to preview a video: ```bash npx remotion studio ``` ## Optional: one-frame render check You can render a single frame with the CLI to sanity-check layout, colors, or timing. Skip it for trivial edits, pure refactors, or when you already have enough confidence from Studio or prior renders. ```bash npx remotion still [composition-id] --scale=0.25 --frame=30 ``` At 30 fps, `--frame=30` is the one-second mark (`--frame` is zero-based). ## Captions When dealing with captions or subtitles, load the [./rules/subtitles.md](./rules/subtitles.md) file for more information. ## Using FFmpeg For some video operations, such as trimming videos or detecting silence, FFmpeg should be used. Load the [./rules/ffmpeg.md](./rules/ffmpeg.md) file for more information. ## Silence detection When needing to detect and trim silent segments from video or audio files, load the [./rules/silence-detection.md](./rules/silence-detection.md) file. ## Audio visualization When needing to visualize audio (spectrum bars, waveforms, bass-reactive effects), load the [./rules/audio-visualization.md](./rules/audio-visualization.md) file for more information. ## Sound effects When needing to use sound effects, load the [./rules/sfx.md](./rules/sfx.md) file for more information. ## Visual and pixel effects When creating a visual effect, prefer: 1. normal Remotion/HTML/CSS/SVG/filter/blend/mask animation, 2. a listed effect via [rules/effects.md](rules/effects.md), including on HTML rendered through `<HtmlInCanvas>`, 3. a custom `createEffect()` via [rules/effects.md](rules/effects.md) when the user asks for a reusable/project-specific effect, 4. custom `<HtmlInCanvas onPaint>` via [rules/html-in-canvas.md](rules/html-in-canvas.md) only if no effect fits. For light leak overlays, see [rules/light-leaks.md](rules/light-leaks.md). Docs: https://www.remotion.dev/docs/effects Available effects: `brightness()`, `contrast()`, `colorKey()`, `duotone()`, `grayscale()`, `hue()`, `invert()`, `saturation()`, `tint()`, `linearGradient()`, `linearGradientTint()`, `thermalVision()`, `blur()`, `linearProgressiveBlur()`, `radialProgressiveBlur()`, `zoomBlur()`, `dropShadow()`, `glow()`, `lightTrail()`, `evolve()`, `venetianBlinds()`, `mirror()`, `scale()`, `uvTranslate()`, `xyTranslate()`, `barrelDistortion()`, `chromaticAberration()`, `fisheye()`, `cornerPin()`, `wave()`, `burlap()`, `emboss()`, `dotGrid()`, `halftone()`, `noise()`, `noiseDisplacement()`, `paper()`, `pattern()`, `pixelate()`, `pixelDissolve()`, `scanlines()`, `speckle()`, `shine()`, `shrinkwrap()`, `vignette()`, `contourLines()`, `checkerboard()`, `halftoneLinearGradient()`, `gridlines()`, `whiteNoise()`, `tvSignalOff()`, `lines()`, `rings()`, `waves()`, `zigzag()`, `lightLeak()`, `starburst()`. ## 3D content See [rules/3d.md](rules/3d.md) for 3D content in Remotion using Three.js and React Three Fiber. ## Advanced audio See [rules/audio.md](rules/audio.md) for advanced audio features like trimming, volume, speed, pitch. ## Dynamic duration, dimensions and data See [rules/calculate-metadata.md](rules/calculate-metadata.md) for dynamically set composition duration, dimensions, and props. ## Advanced compositions See [rules/compositions.md](rules/compositions.md) for how to define stills, folders, default props and for how to nest compositions. ## Google Fonts Is the recommended way to load fonts in Remotion. See [rules/google-fonts.md](rules/google-fonts.md) for how to load Google Fonts. ## Local fonts See [rules/local-fonts.md](rules/local-fonts.md) for how to load local fonts. ## Getting audio duration See [rules/get-audio-duration.md](rules/get-audio-duration.md) for getting the duration of an audio file in seconds with Mediabunny. ## Getting video dimensions See [rules/get-video-dimensions.md](rules/get-video-dimensions.md) for getting the width and height of a video file with Mediabunny. ## Getting video duration See [rules/get-video-duration.md](rules/get-video-duration.md) for getting the duration of a video file in seconds with Mediabunny. ## GIFs See [rules/gifs.md](rules/gifs.md) for how to display GIFs synchronized with Remotion's timeline. ## Advanced Images See [rules/images.md](rules/images.md) for sizing and positioning images, dynamic image paths, and getting image dimensions. ## Lottie animations See [rules/lottie.md](rules/lottie.md) for embedding Lottie animations in Remotion. ## Measuring DOM nodes See [rules/measuring-dom-nodes.md](rules/measuring-dom-nodes.md) for measuring DOM element dimensions in Remotion. ## Measuring text See [rules/measuring-text.md](rules/measuring-text.md) for measuring text dimensions, fitting text to containers, and checking overflow. ## Advanced sequencing See [rules/sequencing.md](rules/sequencing.md) for more sequencing patterns - delay, trim, limit duration of items. ## TailwindCSS See [rules/tailwind.md](rules/tailwind.md) for using TailwindCSS in Remotion. ## Text animations See [rules/text-animations.md](rules/text-animations.md) for typography and text animation patterns. ## Advanced timing See [rules/timing.md](rules/timing.md) for advanced timing with `interpolate` and Bézier easing, and springs. ## Transitions See [rules/transitions.md](rules/transitions.md) for scene transition patterns. ## Transparent videos See [rules/transparent-videos.md](rules/transparent-videos.md) for rendering out a video with transparency. ## Trimming See [rules/trimming.md](rules/trimming.md) for trimming patterns - cutting the beginning or end of animations. ## Advanced Videos See [rules/videos.md](rules/videos.md) for advanced knowledge about embedding videos - trimming, volume, speed, looping, pitch. ## Parameterized videos See [rules/parameters.md](rules/parameters.md) for making a composition parametrizable by adding a Zod schema. ## Maps