Shrink videos so they actually upload, send, and publish cleanly.

Problem it solves

Teams often lose time because a video is simply too large for the next step: upload limit, slow transfer, rejected platform, bloated review file, or awkward handoff. This skill focuses on compressing for practical upload readiness, not generic technical tinkering.

Use when

• A video is too large for social, ads, storefronts, or internal handoff
• A creator needs a lighter export fast
• The goal is upload readiness, not archive mastering
• A team wants a clearer size/quality tradeoff decision

Do not use when

• The video is already over-compressed and degraded
• The task is cinematic mastering
• The user needs restoration or quality enhancement, not compression

Inputs

• Source video file
• Target platform or use case
• File size limit if known
• Preferred tradeoff: smallest possible, best possible, or balanced
• Optional resolution and audio constraints

Workflow

• Identify the real upload or handoff constraint.
• Choose an upload-safe compression profile.
• Reduce size while protecting practical watchability.
• Preserve clarity in faces, products, demos, and text where possible.
• Return the best upload-ready version and explain tradeoffs.

Output

Return:

• Compression approach
• Upload-ready output profile
• Estimated reduction
• Quality tradeoffs
• If needed, the next compression step

Quality bar

• Optimize for upload success and practical clarity
• Avoid crushing the file into unusable quality
• Make size/quality tradeoffs explicit
• Keep output compatible with common publishing workflows

Resource

See references/output-template.md.