HTCUT
Guide 9 of 10 · Publish
  1. 1Install & first project
  2. 2Set up Claude Code
  3. 3Editing basics
  4. 4Text & motion graphics
  5. 5Sound
  6. 6Edit by transcript
  7. 7Look
  8. 8Shorts
  9. 9Publish
  10. 10CLI quick reference

Learn · Guide 9 of 10

Publish

Check the cut, export it at the right loudness and package everything you paste into YouTube.

  1. Run the checklist

    Edit Timeline ▸ Pre-publish Checklist… ⌥⌘P, or Publish ▸ Pre-publish Checklist…. Blockers include clipped words, cut-off text, text outside the safe area and failed renders. Warnings include silences, black gaps, overlapping music and leftover placeholder text. Reminders cover chapters, captions, thumbnail, description and paid promotion. Click an item to jump there, and tick reminders off.

  2. Export

    File ▸ Export… ⌘E. Every export is measured: integrated loudness (YouTube wants −14 LUFS) and true peak (at most −1 dBTP). If it’s off, the report offers Jump to the peak and Apply master gain.

  3. Add chapters

    Edit Timeline ▸ Add Chapter at Playhead ⌥⌘M. Chapters are orange flags on the ruler, and chapter-card graphics count too. HTCUT checks YouTube’s rules: at least three chapters, each at least 10 seconds, starting at 0:00.

  4. Write the post

    File ▸ Post Details… ⇧⌘E: up to three titles and three thumbnails for YouTube’s Test & Compare, the description (your intro, the chapter list, your footer and hashtags) and a pinned comment, each with a Copy button. Thumbnails are checked against YouTube’s rules: JPG or PNG, 2 MB or less, 16:9, at least 1280×720.

  5. Pick thumbnail frames

    Edit Timeline ▸ Thumbnail Frames… finds your best face moments (eyes open, expressive, sharp) and saves them as full-resolution frames in export/thumbs/. Drag them out into your thumbnail app.

  6. Share for review

    Edit Timeline ▸ Versions & Review… saves named versions (restoring one is a single undoable edit), makes a 720p review copy with a review page, and shares it on your local network. Viewers leave comments stamped with the time; they show up as purple ticks on your ruler. Nothing is published to the internet.

Post Details: A and B titles, three thumbnails for an A/B test, and the video description with copy buttons.
Post Details: titles, thumbnails and the description, ready to paste.

The same from the terminal

$ htcut check
$ htcut preflight
$ htcut jobs --wait
$ htcut export -o export/final.mp4 --preset h264_2160
$ htcut export -o /tmp/bit.mp4 --from 2:00 --to 2:06
$ htcut chapters add --at 4:38 "Accessories"
$ htcut description --title "A title" --title-b "Another title"
$ htcut post
$ htcut thumbs --count 12
$ htcut review make