> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stefanbrain.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Follow the content contract in AGENTS.md.
> Treat text as the canonical explanation; video and screenshots enhance it.
> Do not publish unverified product behavior or duplicate an existing canonical article.

# Create cuts from a winning video ad

> Turn one proven video ad into cut-forward variations, review each new starting point, and download or publish the selected cuts.

## What this article shows you

Use **Create Cuts** to turn a video ad you have already chosen into shorter
cut-forward variations. Each variation begins at a later natural opening and
keeps the remaining source video intact.

In this article, a “winning ad” means an ad you selected using your own account
results and business judgment. Create Cuts does not decide whether an ad is a
winner.

<Warning>
  **Creating cuts does not publish them.** Publishing can create real ads. Set
  **Launch status** to **Paused**, check the destination, then submit.
</Warning>

## Practical use cases

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Remove a slow setup" icon="fast-forward">
    Start a proven longer ad at a clean later beat while preserving everything
    that follows the new opening.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Test a proof-first opening" icon="badge-check">
    Evaluate whether a demonstration, testimonial, or proof scene can become a
    clearer opening without rebuilding the full ad.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Turn the offer into the hook" icon="tag">
    Start on a complete offer or product moment when it creates a coherent new
    beginning.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Prepare review-ready variants" icon="files">
    Generate several playable cuts with the proposed starting point, rationale,
    expected effect, and matching copy in one result.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Watch the walkthrough

<Frame caption="See how one selected video becomes multiple later-entry trims for review and download. Duration: 3:41.">
  <video className="w-full h-auto rounded-xl" controls preload="metadata" poster="/images/tutorials/covers/create-cuts-from-a-winning-ad.png" playsInline alt="A walkthrough of creating cut-forward variations from a video ad" aria-label="Narrated Create Cuts walkthrough">
    <source src="https://stefanbrain.com/api/tutorials/videos/video-cuts-multiply-winners" type="video/mp4" />

    <a href="https://stefanbrain.com/api/tutorials/videos/video-cuts-multiply-winners">
      Watch the Create Cuts walkthrough
    </a>
  </video>
</Frame>

## How Create Cuts works

Create Cuts looks for later restart points such as a clean scene reset, a new
visual beat, a speaker change, or the beginning of a complete phrase. It cuts
away the earlier setup and preserves the video from that new start onward.

This is a focused variation workflow, not a full video editor. It does not
reorder scenes or assemble a new sequence. StefanBrain may return fewer cuts
than requested when the source does not contain enough natural restart points.

You can start from either place:

| Start here | Best when | Entry action |
| - | - | - |
| **Creative Strategist** | You selected a proven video using results from a connected ad source | Open the ready video and select **Create Cuts** |
| **Chat** | You have a video file or a supported public video link | Select **Create Video Cuts** from **Tools**, then add the source |

## What you will do

1. Choose one source video worth iterating.
2. Start Create Cuts from Creative Strategist or Chat.
3. Let StefanBrain plan and render the variations.
4. Preview each starting point and rationale.
5. Download the selected cuts.
6. Publish only when the result offers it and the destination is ready.

## Before you start

For the Creative Strategist path, you need:

* A connected ad source and access to the intended account.
* A video ad with media in a ready state.
* A clear reason the source is worth iterating, based on your own results.

For the Chat path, prepare one uploaded video or a public video link that
StefanBrain can download. Public YouTube videos, Meta Ads Library ads, and
direct video-file links are supported. If the link cannot be downloaded, upload
the video file instead.

## Follow along from Creative Strategist

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Creative Strategist from the home page">
    Open **Creative Strategist**, choose the connected source and account, and
    set the date range you used to evaluate performance.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the source video">
    Select the video ad you already consider worth iterating. Confirm it is the
    correct creative and that its media is ready.

    If the action says **Preparing media...**, wait for preparation to finish,
    refresh the view, and reopen the ad.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Create Cuts">
    Select **Create Cuts** on the chosen video. StefanBrain finds clean later
    starting points and renders the cuts.

    Follow the progress under **Cut variations**. Do not start another run just
    because rendering takes longer than expected.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review every proposed opening">
    Preview each cut from its first frame. Read **Why this cut**, including the
    reason, expected effect, and starting words.

    Keep a cut only when the new beginning is coherent: the first words form a
    complete thought, the visual makes sense without the removed setup, and the
    remaining video still supports the promise.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Download the useful cuts">
    Download one selected cut or use **Download All** when you want the complete
    review set. Download is the standard handoff when the selected source or
    result surface does not support publishing.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the paused launch before publishing">
    When **Publish** is available and the intended destination is connected,
    open the publish dialog and verify the account, campaign, ad set, identity,
    copy, link, and creative assignment.

    Open **Launch status** and choose **Paused**. Confirm the paused state before
    selecting **Publish to Meta**. After submission, verify the created objects
    in Ads Manager before retrying or changing anything.

    For the complete launch steps, follow [Prepare, review, and launch
    ads](/knowledge-base/launch-publish/launch-ads).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Start the same workflow from Chat

Use Chat when the video is not coming from a connected Creative Strategist
account.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add one source video">
    Open **Chat**, select **Create Video Cuts** from **Tools**, then attach a
    video file or paste a supported public video link.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe the cut-forward job">
    Use a natural request such as:

    ```text theme={"system"}
    Create up to five cut-forward variations from this video.

    Start each one at a clean new hook, visual beat,
    or complete sentence. Keep everything after the
    new opening intact.

    Explain why each starting point works
    and give me matching ad copy to review.
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and download the result">
    Let the run finish, preview the variations, compare their proposed starting
    points, and download the cuts you want to test.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Choose cuts worth testing

Use the rationale as a review aid, then judge the actual first seconds of each
video.

* **Complete opening:** The first spoken phrase is not clipped or dependent on
  a missing sentence.
* **Visual clarity:** The first frame gives enough context to understand what is
  happening.
* **Promise and proof:** The remaining video still supports the new opening.
* **Meaningful difference:** The cut tests a genuinely different entry point,
  not only a few frames of timing.
* **Copy alignment:** The matching copy accurately represents the cut and does
  not add unsupported claims.

## Common mistakes and troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Create Cuts is not available on the selected ad">
    The selected asset may not be a video, or its media may not be verified as
    ready. Open a ready video ad. If the interface shows a preparation or media
    refresh state, complete that recovery first.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="StefanBrain returned fewer cuts than I requested">
    This can be intentional. The workflow prefers clean scene resets, visual
    beats, speaker changes, and complete phrases instead of forcing weak or
    clipped openings.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The run is Ready with errors">
    Review the source-specific error and use any completed cuts that are valid.
    Correct the named source issue, then retry only the failed source.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A public video link cannot be downloaded">
    The link may be private, expired, blocked, or may not expose a downloadable
    video. Upload the video file instead.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Publish is not shown">
    Publishing is available only on supported result surfaces and connected
    destinations. Download the cuts and use the standard launch workflow.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The publish result failed or is unclear">
    Check Ads Manager before retrying. Confirm which objects exist and whether
    they are paused, then follow the recovery state shown in StefanBrain.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next steps

* [Prepare, review, and launch ads](/knowledge-base/launch-publish/launch-ads)
* [Analyze a video ad scene by scene](/knowledge-base/creative-strategist-research/analyze-a-video-ad)
* [Browse Video guidance](/knowledge-base/video)


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