Begin with media you are allowed to reuse
The safest repurposing source is your own post, a client asset covered by an agreement, or media for which you have explicit permission. Save the direct post URL alongside the file so future editors can confirm origin, context, and usage rights. The privacy and rights guide explains why public visibility alone is not a reuse license.
Download the best available source
For video, use the video downloader and choose the highest available variant suitable for editing. For galleries or graphics, use the image downloader and save each required attachment. Avoid creating an edit from a small screenshot when a larger public media file is available.
Create a clean source archive
Keep the downloaded source unchanged and create working copies. Record the original URL, download date, owner, permission status, and campaign. A simple folder structure—source, edits, captions, published—prevents accidental recompression and makes approvals easier to audit.
Adapt composition for the destination
Vertical short-video feeds generally reward a portrait crop, while websites and presentations often use landscape. Square and portrait image posts need different safe areas. Reframe deliberately instead of stretching. Keep faces, captions, logos, and important action away from interface overlays.
Handle GIF-style MP4 correctly
An X “GIF” commonly arrives as a silent looping MP4. Keep it as MP4 when the target supports video; conversion to traditional GIF can increase size and reduce color quality. The GIF-to-MP4 article explains when conversion is actually necessary.
Add context, captions and credit
Short clips often lose the text that made the original post meaningful. Add an accurate caption, visible credit where required, and subtitles when audio carries meaning. Never imply an endorsement or ownership that the original creator did not grant.
Export once per destination
Produce each platform version from the clean source rather than downloading and re-editing previously compressed uploads. This preserves more detail and gives you control over crop, duration, captions, and audio.
