Safe zones for Snapchat Spotlight texting stories
Spotlight puts its interface over the top and bottom of the frame. Keep the chat in the middle band and check the first and last bubbles.
Try it: start from this sample
Top and bottom are the risk
On Spotlight the interface overlays the top and the bottom of the picture. For a chat, that means the title bar with the contact name sits in the top danger zone and the newest bubble tends to sit in the bottom one. As of November 2026 this is the typical layout; app updates move things, so test a draft.
Margins you can apply today
A vertical frame of 1080 by 1920 pixels has typical safe margins: about 10 percent at the top, which is 192 pixels, and 20 to 25 percent at the bottom, which is 384 to 480 pixels. Keep text away from the right edge too. That leaves roughly 1250 to 1340 pixels of usable height in the middle.
Fit the chat in that band
Show at most four bubbles at once so the final one clears the bottom zone. The sample has four short messages, which suits that rule. If your chat is longer, let early bubbles scroll up as new ones arrive. Keep the contact name legible but do not rely on it for the joke, since the top edge may hide it.
Test before the world sees it
Post a draft to yourself if the app allows it, or view the file in a phone gallery with a thumb over the bottom quarter. If a bubble disappears under your thumb, move or trim it. Repeat after any change to the length of the chat. The sample above is written to make this point: its last message is about being hidden, so if you can still read it in your test, the layout is working.
Tips
- Keep the title bar's meaning out of the joke; the top may hide it.
- Leave 20 to 25 percent of the height free at the bottom.
- Show no more than four bubbles together when you can.
- Cover the bottom quarter with your thumb to test.
- Retest after you add or cut any message.
Questions
Why does Spotlight cover the top and bottom?
The app draws its own controls and text over every video. The layout can change, so treat the margins as typical rather than fixed.
Can I export a different shape to avoid this?
A vertical 9:16 frame is the usual choice. Other shapes are available on the Creator plan but would not suit a full-screen vertical feed.
Does ChatsRat warn me about overlap?
No. The preview shows your chat only, so apply the margins by eye and test a draft on a phone.
Do the margins differ between phones?
A little. Screens and system bars vary, which is why a margin of safety beats exact numbers.
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