AI Video Effect · Short form
Cut-out Backdrop
The speaker is cut out of their room and placed over full-screen images that change with every idea, so each sentence gets its own world. A small caption sits under the head. You give Claude Code your video; it plans the edit, renders it on your computer and exports a finished 1080×1920 MP4.
# Cut-out Backdrop — video style
The speaker is cut out of their room and placed over full-screen images that change with every idea, so each sentence gets its own world. A small caption sits under the head.Every paid plan opens all 18 styles.
How it works.
- 01
Add your video
Put
my_video.mp4in a folder, with the extras next to it, and open that folder in Claude Code. - 02
Edit my_video.mp4 in the Cut-out Backdrop style. Backdrops are in backdrops/.Type the prompt
Paste it into Claude Code and press Enter. Claude writes a short plan first.
- 03
Get your edit
Claude edits it, checks it frame by frame and saves the finished MP4 in the Export folder.
First time? Unzip the skill into .claude/skills/ and type “Set up the Cut-out Backdrop skill.” once.
Questions
What do I need to use Cut-out Backdrop?
Claude Code (the desktop app's Code tab or the terminal), a Mac or Linux computer with Python 3.9+ and ffmpeg, and about 3 GB of free disk space for the speech and vision models, which download once. Then: your talking-head video. Vertical 9:16 is ideal; a horizontal recording also works.
What does Cut-out Backdrop export?
1080×1920 (9:16), 30 fps, H.264 + AAC, ready for Reels, TikTok and Shorts.
Can I change the colours and fonts?
Yes. They live in the skill's brand settings. Tell Claude your colours and font, for example "Use my brand: #0E1A2B background, #F4EFE6 text, Gilroy font", and it updates them. The default fonts are free (SIL Open Font License).
Is my video uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs on your computer, and your video and voice are never uploaded. The only downloads happen during setup: Python packages, two MediaPipe models from Google, the Whisper speech model and the free fonts.
Can I use a horizontal recording?
Yes. Vertical 9:16 is ideal, but a horizontal recording also works: the skill has a fallback layout for it.
What happens when I correct something?
Claude adds your correction to the skill as a rule, so the same thing does not happen in your next edit.
What should I prepare?
Your talking-head video. Vertical 9:16 is ideal; a horizontal recording also works. Optional: screenshots, photos, logos and B-roll that support what you say. Backdrop images, one per idea, at least 1080 px wide. Strongly recommended.
What does Cut-out Backdrop not do?
It does not find the backdrops for you: bring one large image per idea. It runs on macOS or Linux with Python 3.9+ and ffmpeg, not on Windows. Sound effects are not included. Add your own licensed samples, or it uses clean built-in sounds.
More like this.
- Business ReelsFull screen, split screen and full-screen animation, switching on every cut.
- Explainer PanelYou in a panel at the bottom, animated explanations on top.
- Glass ExplainerThe panel edit with glass cards, counters and drawn graphs.
- B-roll and Stacked TextTight cut, B-roll, captions with stacked key phrases.
- Fitted CaptionsOne big accent word with the rest fitted around it.
- Cut-out GridYou in the centre of four images that change together.
- Depth UIYou full frame, real interfaces and screens behind your head.