Frequently Asked Questions

ShadowReel is a content uniquification tool that applies pixel-level modifications to your videos and images so they bypass duplicate detection on social platforms. It works by altering visual fingerprints, metadata, and audio signatures while keeping the content visually identical to the original. Whether you are repurposing a viral clip or distributing branded assets across multiple accounts, ShadowReel ensures each upload registers as unique.

ShadowReel applies a combination of invisible modifications — including sub-pixel noise injection, micro color shifts, slight geometric rotation, and full metadata stripping — to create a unique digital fingerprint for every processed file. These changes are calibrated to be imperceptible to the human eye while being significant enough to fool perceptual hashing algorithms. You can learn more about the underlying detection systems in our guide to duplicate detection.

ShadowReel is used by content creators, social media marketers, agencies managing multiple accounts, and affiliate marketers who need to distribute the same content across channels without triggering duplicate flags. It is also popular with e-commerce sellers who repurpose product videos for different storefronts. Anyone who needs to post the same media more than once — on the same platform or across several — benefits from content uniquification.

Yes, modifying your own content is perfectly legal. ShadowReel only alters the digital fingerprint of media you own or have rights to distribute. Users are fully responsible for ensuring they have the necessary rights and licenses for any content they process. We do not encourage or condone copyright infringement — our Terms of Service require that you only process content you are authorized to use.

At Standard stealth, the modifications are completely imperceptible to the human eye, with a structural similarity index (SSIM) above 0.97. Enhanced stealth introduces subtle changes that are nearly invisible in normal viewing. Max Stealth applies more aggressive modifications that may be slightly noticeable upon close comparison. You can read a full breakdown in our stealth levels guide.

No, ShadowReel is entirely cloud-based and runs through a Telegram bot interface. Simply send your media file to the bot, choose your platform preset and stealth level, and receive the uniquified file back in seconds. There is nothing to download, install, or configure on your device.

ShadowReel includes optimized presets for Instagram (Reels, Feed, and Stories), TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Twitter/X, Reddit, and OnlyFans — plus a Generic preset that works with any platform. Each preset is tuned for the target platform's specific resolution, codec, and detection algorithms. See all supported platforms on our platforms page.

Yes, ShadowReel has a dedicated ig_reels preset optimized for Instagram's 1080x1920 vertical format and its perceptual hashing system. The preset handles both visual fingerprinting and metadata stripping to ensure your Reels are treated as fresh uploads. Learn more about Instagram-specific optimization on our Instagram platform page.

Absolutely. The TikTok preset includes audio fingerprint modification in addition to visual changes, which is critical because TikTok relies heavily on audio matching for duplicate detection. This includes sample rate shifting, micro tempo adjustment, and EQ band modifications. For full details, visit our TikTok platform page.

YouTube has one of the most aggressive duplicate detection and Content ID systems in the industry. We recommend using Enhanced or Max Stealth for YouTube Shorts to achieve reliable bypassing. Standard stealth may not be sufficient for YouTube's deep fingerprinting. Read our platform-specific recommendations on the YouTube Shorts page.

Yes, you can batch-process the same file with different platform presets to create platform-optimized unique variants simultaneously. This is ideal for content repurposing workflows where you distribute the same video to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more. See how creators use this workflow in our content repurposing use case.

ShadowReel offers three stealth levels: Standard (invisible modifications, SSIM >0.97), Enhanced (subtle changes for stricter platforms), and Max Stealth (more aggressive modifications for the toughest detection systems). Each level applies progressively stronger alterations to the visual, audio, and metadata layers of your file. Our stealth levels guide explains the trade-offs in detail.

Yes, all EXIF data, XMP tags, GPS coordinates, camera information, and timestamps are stripped automatically from every processed file, regardless of stealth level. Metadata is one of the easiest signals platforms use for duplicate matching, so removal is always applied as a baseline. Learn more in our metadata removal guide.

Perceptual hashing is an algorithm that creates a compact visual fingerprint (hash) of an image or video frame, allowing platforms to detect near-duplicate content even after resizing, compression, or minor edits. ShadowReel's modifications are specifically designed to alter these perceptual hashes. For a deep dive, read our guide to how duplicate detection works.

Yes, for video files ShadowReel applies audio fingerprint modifications including sample rate shifting, micro tempo adjustment, and subtle EQ band changes. These changes are imperceptible to listeners but alter the audio hash that platforms use for matching. Audio modification is applied automatically when processing video files with any stealth level.

ShadowReel accepts MP4, MOV, AVI, and MKV as input formats. All processed videos are output as MP4 with H.264 encoding for maximum compatibility across platforms. The processing pipeline uses single-pass FFmpeg encoding with CRF-based quality control to match or exceed your original file's visual quality.

ShadowReel accepts JPEG, PNG, WebP, and BMP image files as input. Output is delivered as either JPEG or PNG depending on the original format and your preference. The image pipeline uses float64 precision processing to ensure mathematical accuracy during the modification step, preserving color fidelity and detail.

At Standard stealth, quality loss is virtually nonexistent — the structural similarity index (SSIM) remains above 0.97, and videos are encoded at CRF 17, which is visually lossless. Enhanced stealth introduces a marginal decrease in quality that is imperceptible in normal viewing conditions. Max Stealth may show a slight quality reduction upon close inspection, but remains well within acceptable bounds for social media distribution.

Processing speed depends on the file size, duration, and stealth level selected. A typical 30-second video at Standard stealth processes in under 15 seconds. Images are processed almost instantly. Enhanced and Max Stealth take slightly longer due to additional modification passes. The bot provides a real-time progress bar so you always know the status.

ShadowReel offers three tiers: Lite at $19.99/month (5,000 credits), Premium at $69.99/month (25,000 credits), and Enterprise with custom pricing for high-volume teams. Each tier includes all platform presets and stealth levels. Compare plans and features on our pricing section.

Yes, you can save approximately 25% by switching to annual billing on any paid plan. Annual plans are billed as a single payment upfront and include the same features and credit allocations as monthly plans. You can toggle between monthly and annual pricing on the pricing section of our homepage.

Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time from your account dashboard with no cancellation fees. When you cancel, your access continues until the end of your current billing period. Any remaining credits will be available until your subscription expires. After expiration, your account reverts to the free tier.

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) through our payment processor, Stripe. Stripe handles all payment processing securely, and ShadowReel never stores your card details directly. Additional payment methods may be added in the future based on demand.

No, unused credits do not roll over to the next billing cycle. Your credit balance resets at the start of each billing period. We recommend choosing a plan that matches your typical monthly usage. If you consistently run out of credits before the period ends, consider upgrading to the next tier for better value.