Adding black bars on top and bottom - no cropping

[pxchoi]

I'm making videos for web content - facebook, Instagram, etc.

My videos are 16:9 which is fine, but I want to get that video in a 1:1 box so that I have room on top for a header and subtitles on the bottom. I've searched around but it's hard to find what I'm looking for when I don't know what the techniques are called.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[excited_Genie16B8]

My preferred method would be to change the size of the sequence to match what I was delivering.

The problem here is that your desired aspect ratio just isn't standard any more, and since most online players are 16:9, you'll end up with the bars on top and bottom that you add, plus bars on the sides added by the player.

Put another way, what you want just isn't a good idea.  You should have shot the material with a 2.39:1 framing, which will provide the desired top and bottom bars in the standard 16:9 frame size.

[pxchoi]

This is basically the type of video that I want to create. That way people that are viewing on social media can easily see what the video is about and read along if they can't listen.

Tom Ferry - Do you have a morning routine? The key to a...

[excited_Genie16B8]

That's a 4:3 video in a 16:9 frame.  It comes across as very...amateur.

Fill the frame.  If you intend to have graphics in the frame, take that into account when you shoot the subject.

[Meg The Dog · Accepted solution]

Drag one of your source clips to the New Item icon at the bottom right of the Project Panel. When you see the + sign, release the mouse.

This will create a new sequence with your source clip in it.

Click anywhere in the timeline.

Go to the menu Sequence > Sequence Settings.

When the Sequence Settings Pane opens, set the Vertical pixel dimension to the same number as the Horizontal pixel dimension, This will create a 1:1 aspect ratio:

Click OK. You will get a warning about any previous previews not matching your new setting, you can dismiss that.

You'll now have a 1:1 aspect timeline.

Depending on the horsepower of your computer, since you are working in a non-standard size, you may have to render in order to see playback.

MtD

[pxchoi]

I don't think it was shot 4:3. There's a "full version" of the video on his website and its in normal 16:9 without the top and bottom stuff. It doesn't need to look professional, I just need my audience to watch it when their on the go and on their phones.

[excited_Genie16B8]

Well, add your graphics over the clips and scale down the clips until they're no longer covered.

[Stan Jones]

What you are asking for is accomplished using Meg's method. And the player is adding the black bars on the left and right as Jim predicted. I prefer a method that puts the info over the video.