Put the portrait clip on a landscape 16:9 canvas, enlarge it until it fills the frame, then reposition it so the subject stays visible. Do not stretch the clip to fit: that distorts the image. If cropping would cut off important content, keep the full portrait frame and design a background around it instead.
Choose how the portrait video should fit
A vertical source and a landscape canvas have different shapes, so there are two practical choices: crop the sides of the portrait composition to fill the landscape frame, or preserve the whole portrait image and use the remaining canvas space for a background or other scene content.
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| Approach | What happens | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Crop to fill | The clip is enlarged until it fills the landscape canvas; parts of the portrait image fall outside the frame. | Footage where the subject and essential details fit comfortably within the crop. |
| Preserve the full frame | The entire portrait image remains visible, with unused space on either side to fill with a background, graphics, or other scene content. | Footage where cropping would remove important details or the full portrait composition matters. |
OBS Project recommends a 16:9 output such as 1920×1080 or 1280×720 as examples of landscape canvas sizes. These are examples, not mandatory resolutions; choose the output resolution and frame rate that suit your streaming setup. Its aspect-ratio guide warns that stretching mismatched content distorts it. OBS Project’s aspect-ratio guide explains the general canvas options.
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Crop and reposition the clip
Editing software and live-scene tools use different interfaces, so the exact control names vary. The core operation is to set the landscape canvas, scale the portrait source, and adjust its position. If you are preparing a prerecorded loop, do this in the editing or scene software before starting the stream.
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- Set the output canvas. Choose the intended landscape format, commonly 16:9. For example, 1920×1080 is 16:9; it is not a requirement for every setup.
- Add the portrait clip. Place it on the canvas and preserve its original proportions.
- Scale it to the desired composition. For crop-to-fill, enlarge the clip until it fills the landscape frame. Some of the portrait image will extend beyond the visible canvas. For a full-frame treatment, keep the clip within the canvas and use the surrounding area for other content.
- Reposition the image. Move the enlarged clip to keep faces, action, captions, and other details that matter inside the frame. A centered crop works as a starting point when the subject is centered; adjust zoom or position if it is not.
- Preview the entire loop. Check movement and cuts, not just the opening frame. A fixed center crop may lose a subject that moves across the portrait footage. Change the framing or use a background treatment if one crop cannot keep the important content visible.
- Check the actual stream output. Review the landscape composition in the scene or editing preview, then confirm that the outgoing stream is using the intended landscape format.
Keep the full portrait frame with a designed background
If the footage’s edges contain important content, do not force a crop. Keep the portrait clip intact and use the landscape canvas around it. OBS describes filling unused space with other content such as images, overlays, or cameras. A background image or a duplicate, softened version of the footage are possible design choices, not required OBS features.
- Keep the main portrait image large enough to read, while leaving space at the sides.
- Use side panels or other scene content only if they do not compete with the video.
- Preview captions and important details at the final output size so they remain legible.
Do not confuse a prerecorded loop with YouTube’s vertical live layout
YouTube’s Live Control Room layout editor configures a vertical live layout; it is not a universal crop tool for every prerecorded clip. YouTube documents horizontal live streams as 16:9 and vertical streams as 9:16. In Live Control Room, the vertical stream is by default a center crop of the horizontal stream, with options including Center crop, Fit to phone width, and Stacked, plus zoom and position adjustments. These controls are for that live layout workflow. YouTube’s live streaming guidance describes the available layouts.
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If you are looping a prerecorded video as a landscape stream, prepare the landscape composition in your editing or scene software. If you want to send horizontal and vertical live feeds simultaneously through a third-party encoder, that is a separate setup: YouTube’s documented workflow uses RTMP(S), an encoder selection in the vertical preview, and a second stream key for the vertical stream. Each key must receive the matching format, and YouTube says the vertical format cannot be added after the stream has started. Set up both outputs before going live.
Check the loop and the rights before streaming
Before starting a public live loop, verify that you have the rights needed for the video and its audio, and that the composition remains clear throughout playback. A crop can remove visual information, but it does not change copyright ownership or grant permission to use music or footage. YouTube’s layout guidance covers stream formats and setup; it does not establish that any particular prerecorded content is cleared for streaming.
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- Watch the start, a representative middle section, and the loop transition for framing problems.
- Confirm the audio and visuals are part of material you are authorized to stream.
- For a dual-format live setup, verify each stream key is receiving its matching format before going live.
Troubleshoot common cropping problems
| Problem | Likely cause | What to change |
|---|---|---|
| The portrait clip looks wide or squeezed. | The source was stretched to fill the landscape canvas. | Restore the source proportions. Scale and position it for a crop, or preserve the full frame with a designed background. |
| The subject is cut off. | The crop is centered or positioned without accounting for the subject’s location. | Reposition or zoom the clip, then review the whole loop. If the subject moves too much for one crop, keep the full portrait frame and design around it. |
| Important text or action disappears at a cut. | The crop was checked on only one frame or one shot. | Preview every cut and the loop transition; adjust the framing or use a full-frame treatment. |
| The stream is landscape when a vertical output was intended, or vice versa. | The canvas or outgoing layout does not match the intended format. | Check whether you are preparing a landscape prerecorded loop or configuring YouTube’s vertical live layout; set the matching canvas or layout before streaming. |
| The vertical feed is missing from a dual-stream encoder setup. | The second stream key or encoder output may not be configured for the matching vertical format, or the format was not added before the stream began. | Check the encoder’s vertical preview and second key, confirm the formats match, and configure the vertical format before going live. |
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