Crop video 32:9 to 16:9 without quality loss ?

Wim

Hello,

I have recorded in OBS Studio a video with resolution 2560 x 720 (32:9), basically two screen outputs of 1280 x 720 next to each other.

I want to edit now the video in Videopad Video Editor, in order to keep the left screen for a certain time, and then keep the right screen for a certain time, and write the resulting video to 1280 x 720 (16:9) resolution.

When I open the video in the bin, Videopad scales the canvas to a size of 2560 x 1440 (16:9). I try to change the format to my own, by rightclicking the context menu and checking "Change Clip Aspect Ratio...". However there is no aspect ratio that satisfies my needs. 32:9 is not in the list.

The workaround is not satisfying. In that case, I split the video in two parts. In the first part, I crop the right screen output and centre the left screen output. In the second part, I do vice-versa. Now I end up with a centred 1280 x 720 video, on a canvas of 2560 x 1440. I should now "shrink the canvas" to 1280 x 720, but that does not seem to work. I can scale the centred video with a factor 2, and then again export the video to 1280 x 720, but that clearly leads to quality loss.

Is there a way to "shrink the canvas", or to define your own aspect ratio ?

Thank you in advance,

Wim

borate

This may not meet your standards but worth a test...

Applyy CROP effect to the 2560 x 720 clip/s.

Make your edits.

Output the result at 1280 x 720.

Looked reasonable here.

[deleted]

If your 2560 x 720 is a single complete image try this..

Place the clip both on Video Track 1 and also on Video Track 2
Crop Video Track 1 to show the left hand half of the clip
Crop Video Track 2 to show the right hand half of the clip . I have left a small gap here but you can adjust the crop edges so the image is seamless.
You can now split either of the tracks so one or the other half play for the required time.Leaving one half in the window......
Either1/2 can easily be centred using Position.... (I've used the LHS in this example)
On the other hand if you want a 16:9 full frame centered image of the 1/2 in question don't use the Position effect, simply use a 16:9 AR Zoom... (The LHS is now full frame)
You can select the output resolution in the Custom box in the export window.but this will export at 16:9 anyway.
This example exported in 4K with no problem

Nat

Wim

Dear Nationalsolo,

Your suggestion does the tric. The quality stays preserved now.

I used "Position" to centre + "Scale x 2", but your suggestion to use the Zoom option with aspect ratio 16:9 works better.

P.S. Is it necessary to load the video in two tracks ? I used the scissors to split the video in two clips, then cropped the two clips (left and right), did the zoom to 16:9 and then did the video output to 1280x720.

Thank you for the prompt reply and excellent answer,

Wim

[deleted]

Glad it worked for you. The end result is the same, . I used two tracks as it seemed an easier approach. 🙂

Nat