✳ ASPECT-RATIO PROBLEMS
Black bars appear on the top/bottom or sides of the video - causes and fixes
Black bars mean the source aspect ratio does not match the player's frame. Decide whether to crop content or pad the canvas, then re-export a copy. Do not assume every black-bar look is the same; player padding and exported bars behave differently.
Check these first
- Open the source and the player view; identify whether the bars are in the export or added by the player.
- Compare source aspect with the destination's native ratio.
- Check whether the original canvas was padded by an editor before export.
Likely causes
- Source aspect differs from the player's frame
The player pads to fit when the source aspect does not match.
- Editor exported with letterbox / pillarbox padding
Some editors add padding bars when the project ratio differs.
Fix it
- Re-export at the destination's native aspect
Match the project's canvas to the destination before exporting.
Re-export at the destination's native aspect - Crop instead of padding if content can be lost
Center-cropping fills the frame; padding keeps everything but adds bars.
Crop instead of padding if content can be lost
Prepare a copy in Koldflux, review its output and check the current destination requirements before publishing.
Automate this in Koldflux