How to Easily Remove Black Bars from Your Video?

Author: Kevincy
Publish date
Apr 10, 2024
Get Rid of Black Bars from Video
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How to Easily Get Rid of Black Bars from Video?
1. Using HD Video Converter Factory Pro
2. Using 123Apps' Video Editor
Understanding Black Bars in Videos
Why Do Videos Have Black Bars?
======FAQs======
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Ah, the dreaded black bars - those pesky additions that can ruin an otherwise stunning video, detracting from the overall viewing experience. But fear not, we'll show you two simple methods to help you bid farewell to those black bars and reclaim the full glory of your videos.

How to Easily Get Rid of Black Bars from Video?

Removing black bars can be a case-by-case task, depending on the video's content and the bars' origin. Below are two robust methods to tackle this issue.

Method 1: Using HD Video Converter Factory Pro

WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro is a versatile video processor that offers some easy-to-use editing features, allowing you to easily eliminate black bars from your videos during conversion. Here's the walkthrough:

Free download Download for Free
Free download Download for Free

Step 1. Add Your Video File

Install and runInstall and run the application. Access the "Converter" module and import the video file that has black bars.

Step 2. Select an Output Format

Choose the desired output format for your video from 500+ configured presets, depending on your needs and the platform you plan to use the video on.

Add Video and Choose an Output Format
Add Video and Choose an Output Format

Step 3. Remove Black Bars

Based on different cases, choose either option to get rid of video black bars:

  • Use the "Crop" feature to manually crop the black bars from your video.
  • If your video is distorted (e.g., a 16:9 video squished to 4:3), go to "Parameter settings" and select "16:9" from the "Aspect ratio" drop-down menu.
Crop Black Bars from Video
Crop Black Bars from Video

Step 4. Export Your Video

Choose a destination folder and hit the "Run" button. With a simple click, your video is converted, free of black bars, ready to be shared or published.

Start Conversion
Start Conversion

Method 2: Using 123Apps' Video Editor

For those who prefer an online solution, 123Apps' Video Editor offers a straightforward and accessible platform to remove black borders from your video, all from the comfort of your web browser.

Step 1. Upload Your Video

Visit 123Apps' Video Editor and click on "Create project" button. Click "Add files" to upload your letter-boxed or pillar-boxed video file. You can also drag and drop it into the window.

Upload File to Online Video Black Bar Remover
Upload File to Online Video Black Bar Remover

Step 2. Crop Unwanted Black Bars

Once the video is uploaded, use the "Crop" feature to eliminate the video black bars. The crop tool is designed for ease of use, offering a visual interface to remove black bars precisely.

Step 3. Ensure Perfect Fit

Make sure to toggle on the "Fit canvas to content" option to ensure the video fills the entire frame. Then click the "Apply" button to save the changes.

Eliminate Black Bars from Video Online
Eliminate Black Bars from Video Online

Step 4. Export the Video

Click the "Save" button on the left sidebar to remove black bars from video online and export your video. With a free account, you can output an MP4 video up to 720p resolution.

Export and Save Black Bar-Free Video
Export and Save Black Bar-Free Video

Understanding Black Bars in Videos

Essentially, the black borders or black bars in videos have different types with corresponding terms:

  • Letterboxing: This occurs when black bars appear at the top and bottom of a video. It's common when a wide aspect ratio video (like 16:9) is displayed on a screen with a different aspect ratio.
  • Pillarboxing: When you see black bars on the left and right sides of a video, that's pillarboxing. It often happens when a standard aspect ratio video (4:3) is played on a widescreen display.
  • Windowboxing: This effect combines both letterboxing and pillarboxing, with black bars surrounding all four sides of the video, typically resulting from multiple format conversions.
Different Types of Black Bars in Video
Different Types of Black Bars in Video

Why Do Videos Have Black Bars?

There are a few common reasons why black bars appear in videos:

  • Aspect Ratio Mismatch: When the video's aspect ratio doesn't match the display screen's ratio, black bars are added to compensate for the difference. For example, a 4:3 video is played on a 16:9 TV, resulting in black bars on the sides (pillarboxing).
  • Creative Choices: Directors may choose specific aspect ratios to enhance the storytelling, which might not align with common display sizes, resulting in letterboxing.
  • Intended Film/TV Format: Certain movies and TV shows are produced with black bars to preserve the intended cinematic aspect ratios, like 2.35:1 for widescreen epics.
  • Device Variation: Different devices and media players have varying default aspect ratios, which can lead to the automatic addition of black bars to adapt the video to the screen.
  • Camera Limitations: When recording with specific digital cameras that can't match the native aspect ratio of the display or output device.
  • Incorrect Video Settings: If your video was recorded or edited with the wrong settings, such as a non-standard aspect ratio, you may end up with black bars on the video.
  • Platform Requirements: Different social media platforms have varying aspect ratio standards, which can introduce black bars to adapt the content to their format.

Wrapping Up

That's the whole process about how to get rid of black bars from your video. Whether you opt for the robust desktop tool or the simplicity of an online editor, it is quite simple to crop black sides from video without the need of some professional non-linear video editors. Hopefully, this guide is suitable for you guys.


FAQs

Q1: How do I know if my video has black bars?

A: You can easily identify black bars in your video by checking the aspect ratio. If the aspect ratio doesn't match the display or platform you're using, you'll likely see black bars.

Q2: Will removing black bars affect the video quality?

A: Yes, while cropping out black bars doesn't directly lower the bit rate or compression quality of the video, it does remove pixels. The key is to make proper settings to keep high quality before re-encoding the video.

Q3: Can removing black bars impact the video's aspect ratio?

A: Yes, cropping out black bars can change the aspect ratio. It's essential to ensure that the new aspect ratio is suitable for your intended display or platform.

Q4: Can I remove black bars from vertical (horizontal) videos?

A: Yes, you can remove black bars from vertical (horizontal) videos using the same techniques. The process is the same, though the specific crop settings may differ depending on the original aspect ratio of the video.

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