My video has black margins on the sides when I play full screen. How can I lose the black margins?

11 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
  • |
I created slides in Keynote and exported them as an mp4. Then I imported that mp4 into Screenflow to do the editing and add music, etc. Then I exported the completed video as an mp4 from Screenflow. Everything with the video looks great except for the big black margins on each side when I play it in full screen (see image below). I want the actual video to fill the entire screen without those black margins being there. How can I do that?

More info you want to know...

- I exported the mp4 from Keynote at 1024 x 768 and also exported the finished/edited mp4 from Screenflow at 1024 x 768.

- The finished mp4 out of Screenflow is 281 MB.

- After compressing with Handbrake the file is 46 MB.

- I will host this video on Amazon S3.


QUESTIONS:

1) Instead of 1024 x 768, what is the optimum size that will fill the entire screen and will load quickly?

2) Since the size exported out of Keynote was 1024 x 768 and the edited video out of Screenflow was 1024 x 768, does that mean that I'm screwed and will have to start all over with the export out of Keynote? (Oh gawd I hope not!) Or can I just export the existing Screenflow document in a different format?

Thanks very much.

P.S. There is something wrong with this forum. When I click the attached image below it automatically logs me out and then when I log back in I'm stuck on the page with the image. I tried to submit a support ticket but it won't accept my email address, username, and/or password.
#black #full #lose #margins #play #screen #sides #video
  • Profile picture of the author FarNext
    Originally Posted by magentawave View Post

    I created slides in Keynote and exported them as an mp4. Then I imported that mp4 into Screenflow to do the editing and add music, etc. Then I exported the completed video as an mp4 from Screenflow. Everything with the video looks great except for the big black margins on each side when I play it in full screen (see image below). I want the actual video to fill the entire screen without those black margins being there. How can I do that?

    More info you want to know...

    - I exported the mp4 from Keynote at 1024 x 768 and also exported the finished/edited mp4 from Screenflow at 1024 x 768.

    - The finished mp4 out of Screenflow is 281 MB.

    - After compressing with Handbrake the file is 46 MB.

    - I will host this video on Amazon S3.


    QUESTIONS:

    1) Instead of 1024 x 768, what is the optimum size that will fill the entire screen and will load quickly?

    2) Since the size exported out of Keynote was 1024 x 768 and the edited video out of Screenflow was 1024 x 768, does that mean that I'm screwed and will have to start all over with the export out of Keynote? (Oh gawd I hope not!) Or can I just export the existing Screenflow document in a different format?

    Thanks very much.

    P.S. There is something wrong with this forum. When I click the attached image below it automatically logs me out and then when I log back in I'm stuck on the page with the image. I tried to submit a support ticket but it won't accept my email address, username, and/or password.
    In your video editing program, make the image (or video) fit on the entire screen, without worrying about the resolution. It is the resolution that often leaves black margins on the sides of the video.

    .
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10398590].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author magentawave
      Thanks but it already does fit the entire screen. Anything else?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10399259].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author FarNext
        Originally Posted by magentawave View Post

        Thanks but it already does fit the entire screen. Anything else?

        Try to edit your video in Camtesia 8 under the "Visual Settings". There you will be able to remove margins and video background colors.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10400356].message }}
        • {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10400802].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author magentawave
            Originally Posted by Rollmodl View Post

            You are using the wrong aspect ratio. Try any one of these Optimal frame dimensions for Flash video | Adobe Developer Connection
            That links helps a lot. Thank you. I copied and pasted part of the time line from the existing Screenflow document into a couple new empty Screenflow documents. One at 1280 x 720 and the other at 1024 x 576 and unfortunately everything is stretched wide and looks weird. I think my first mistake was exporting the Keynote slides at 1024 x 768. (I don't know where I got those numbers.) Is it possible to fix this now without starting all over?
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10402247].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author Rollmodl
              Originally Posted by magentawave View Post

              That links helps a lot. Thank you. I copied and pasted part of the time line from the existing Screenflow document into a couple new empty Screenflow documents. One at 1280 x 720 and the other at 1024 x 576 and unfortunately everything is stretched wide and looks weird. I think my first mistake was exporting the Keynote slides at 1024 x 768. (I don't know where I got those numbers.) Is it possible to fix this now without starting all over?
              All aspect ratios must match. Your footage has to be shot and edited in 16:9 aspect ratio to avoid looking stretched. You may have to start over.
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10402254].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author magentawave
    I'm going to have to go with what I have now because the time I have spent on creating and editing these 4 videos has been insane.

    For future projects, what size would you recommend for videos that will be used in a product launch?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10402269].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author successkid
    Hey Magentawave,

    If you're looking to upload videos on Youtube the requirement ratio for widescreen is 16:9 which is 1280x720. I would import the video back into a video editor like Filmora and choose a new project ratio 16:9 to begin with and then change your video resolution to 1280x720 and then export it. This will cover both black side margins.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10465425].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author magentawave
    I tried importing it back into a new project in Screenflow with the larger dimensions but I think I recall it distorted it and made it look really wide and funky. I decided I'll just go with it the way it is since starting over is out of the question.

    Thanks
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10465466].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Action Man
    It took me a while to understand this one, as I do transparent walk on presenters for websites. It is nothing to do with aspect ratios. Flash is now almost obsolete, it is not compatible with tablets and smartphones. adobe don't support flash FLV formats any more in adobe premier pro.

    What you need is an HTML5 player, plenty of tutorials on YouTube about that one.

    The trick is is not to save your video in large formats like 1920x1080 thinking that is HD, that is an aspect ratio caled full HD, your video program produces the HD quality no matter the size.

    It took me a while to realise the simplicity of this. Save your video in the size you want, say 250 x 700.

    Design your HTML5 video player with the same size 250 x 700

    Try out the on-line JW player, it works for me.There is also a WordPress plugin to match

    I use adobe premier pro, and when I export I use "scale to size" that I specify.

    The bottom line is the size of your video has to match the size of your video player, then the black envelopes have to go..

    Happy New Year!

    Jim
    Signature

    "Love conquers all things except poverty and toothache" (Mae West)

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10465713].message }}

Trending Topics