Overview

Video transformation URL structure, parameters reference, and best practices

AutoRender supports video transformations using the same URL-based pattern as images. You can generate thumbnails, resize videos, add padding, flip, convert to GIF, trim by start time and duration, apply aspect ratios, and rotate—all by appending transformation parameters to the video URL.

URL Structure

Video transformation URLs follow this structure:

https://assets.autorender.io/{workspace}/{transformations}/{path/to/video.mp4}

Video Processing Lifecycle

Unlike images, video transformations are processed asynchronously. When you request a new transformation for the first time, AutoRender returns a JSON status instead of the video file:

1. Triggered: {"status":"triggered", ...} — The request has been received and queued.
2. Processing: {"status":"processing", ...} — The video is currently being rendered.
3. Completed: Once finished, the URL will automatically serve the transformed video file.

Subsequent requests for the same transformation are served instantly from the global CDN cache.

• Domain: https://assets.autorender.io — AutoRender CDN
• Workspace: Your workspace identifier (e.g. LOKVTtKVGb)
• Transformations: Comma-separated parameters (e.g. w_500, thumb_ar, f_gif)
• Video path: Path to your video file (e.g. doc/skateboarding.mp4)

Video transformations are processed asynchronously. The first request may trigger processing; subsequent requests serve the transformed output from cache. Thumbnails use thumb_ar and return a WebP image; other transformations return video (or GIF when f_gif is used).

Reference: transformation parameters

Parameters can be combined in one URL, comma-separated. Order does not need to match the table. See the individual pages in the sidebar for detailed examples.

Category	Parameter	Example	Description
Thumbnail	thumb_ar	thumb_ar	Thumbnail (WebP), preserve aspect ratio
Dimensions	w_{n}	w_500	Width in pixels
	h_{n}	h_500	Height in pixels
	ar_{ratio}	ar_1:1	Aspect ratio
Crop/pad	cm_pad_resize	cm_pad_resize	Pad and resize to fit
	cm_extract	cm_extract	Extract/crop region
Background	bg_{color}	bg_white	Padding color (name or hex)
Time	so_{sec}	so_5	Start offset (seconds)
	d_{sec}	d_10	Duration (seconds)
Format	f_gif	f_gif	Output as GIF
Flip	flip_h / flip_v / flip_hv		Horizontal / vertical / both
Rotation	r_{deg}	r_90	Rotate 90, 180, or 270

Best practices

• Thumbnails: Use thumb_ar for preview images; they are generated once and then cached.
• Dimensions: Width and height are rounded to even values for compatibility with common codecs.
• GIF: Combine f_gif with so_ and d_ to control which part of the video becomes the GIF.
• Trim: Use so_ and d_ for short clips to reduce size and processing time.

Video transformations can take longer than image transformations. First request may return a processing status; retry or poll until the transformed asset is available.