How to Set OBS Aspect Ratio and Fix Black Bars
Black bars in OBS often appear because your camera or another source has a different aspect ratio from the canvas. You can resize, crop, or build a layout around the source without stretching it out of proportion.
Aspect ratio describes width compared with height. A 1920 × 1080 picture is 16:9; a 1080 × 1920 picture is 9:16.
Choose the shape your content needs
Landscape 16:9 is common for live streams, but it is not right for every recording or destination. Vertical content may need a portrait canvas. Check the platform's requirements before choosing the final shape.
Open Settings → Video to review:
- Base (Canvas) Resolution: the space where you arrange your sources.
- Output (Scaled) Resolution: the resolution OBS sends or records.
Changing the canvas can mean repositioning your sources. Lowering the output resolution while keeping the same proportions does not require redesigning the entire layout.
Fit the source without distortion
- 1.Select the camera or other source.
- 2.Right-click it and choose Transform → Fit to Screen.
- 3.Inspect the result in the preview.
Fit to Screen preserves the source's proportions. If its shape differs from the canvas, unused space can remain. That is preferable to accidentally making a person look wider or taller.
Crop when filling the canvas matters more
To remove unwanted edges, hold Alt on Windows or Option on Mac while dragging a source's edge handles. Use Transform → Edit Transform for precise crop values.
Cropping removes part of the picture. Check that your head, hands, and important details remain visible when you move. Enlarging a low-resolution source can also make it look softer.
Build around the source instead
You can use the remaining space for an appropriate background or overlay. This can preserve the full camera view without stretching it.
Keep the layout suitable for the destination. A recording design and a live webcam room may have different requirements for overlays and on-screen material.
If the bars are inside the source
Sometimes the camera, media file, or captured window already includes black borders. Changing the OBS output resolution will not remove borders embedded in that picture. Inspect the source itself and crop only if you can afford to lose those edges.
Finally, make a test recording. Check the saved file's shape and framing rather than relying only on the OBS preview.