The Tool Desk
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Canvas resolution and output resolution do different jobs
Base (Canvas) Resolution is your scene’s composition space: sources are arranged within these dimensions. Output (Scaled) Resolution is the size OBS produces for streaming or recording. When the output is smaller than the canvas, OBS scales the composed scene using the selected downscale filter. You do not need to resize every source simply because the output is smaller.
Changing the canvas can affect scene layout, because sources may need to be realigned or resized. Changing the output resolution does not have that effect. See the OBS Studio Overview Guide.
Choose the canvas and output for your project
1. Decide what you need to deliver
Choose the resolution and aspect ratio required by your destination and by any recording you want to keep. Common 16:9 examples include 1920×1080 and 1280×720, but 16:9 is not mandatory: another ratio may suit a particular platform or project.
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2. Set the composition canvas
- In OBS, open Settings → Video.
- Set Base (Canvas) Resolution to the dimensions you want to compose in. OBS says this usually matches your monitor’s display resolution, or the game resolution when capturing a game.
3. Set the delivered dimensions
- In the same Settings → Video panel, set Output (Scaled) Resolution to your target stream or recording dimensions.
- If this differs from the canvas, choose a downscale filter and check the result with your actual footage. The right choice depends on the material; it is not a universal quality setting.
For a 1920×1080 canvas delivering a 1280×720 output, for example, the scene is composed at 1920×1080 and then scaled to 1280×720. Those are OBS documentation examples, not a requirement to use either size.
Add a playlist using the VLC Video source
OBS’s built-in Media Source is intended for an individual media file. For a playlist, use VLC Video, which requires VLC to be installed. If you cannot find playlist controls on a Media Source, add a VLC Video source instead. The VLC source includes options to loop or shuffle the playlist; set these and the source’s visibility behavior to suit your scene. See OBS Media Sources.
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OBS documents common Media Source formats including MP4, TS, MOV, FLV, MKV, AVI, GIF and WebM video, plus MP3, AAC, OGG and WAV audio. VLC libraries provide extended media support, but playback still depends on the installed software and available decoding support.
Make mixed aspect ratios look intentional
A 16:9 clip and a vertical or square clip cannot both fill the same rectangular canvas without changing how the image appears. Choose the tradeoff deliberately for each clip.
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| Approach | Preserves the full image? | Fills the canvas? | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit or contain | Yes | Not always | May leave bars or unused space around a clip. |
| Crop or pan and scan | No | Yes | Some content at the sides or top and bottom is lost. |
| Stretch to fill | All source area remains visible | Yes | Distorts proportions and is generally not recommended. |
| Keep the source ratio and design around it | Yes | The overall scene can be filled | Uses elements such as background art, overlays or a camera around the clip. |
The OBS Aspect Ratio Guide describes stretching as warping or distorting a source. Enlarging a source beyond the preview instead fills the frame by letting some image area fall outside it.
Fit, position or crop a clip
- Select the clip in the Sources list and use its preview handles to position and size it proportionally.
- To see or adjust exact values, open the source’s Edit Transform controls. For cropping, use the source’s crop controls or adjust its edges while holding the appropriate crop modifier for your OBS version.
- For a full-image presentation, fit the clip within the canvas and accept any unused space. For a full-bleed presentation, enlarge and position it so the unwanted edges fall outside the canvas; check that important content is not cropped.
- If you want to fill the scene without losing image area, add a background, art, overlay or another scene element in the unused space.
Menu and transform controls are the dependable way to work across versions. OBS’s documented Windows/Linux-style shortcuts include Ctrl+F to fit to screen, Ctrl+S to stretch, Ctrl+D to center and Ctrl+R to reset size and position. The Sources Guide lists Cmd+F, Cmd+S and Cmd+D for the corresponding macOS actions; Edit Transform is Ctrl+E on Windows and Cmd+E on macOS. Shortcuts can vary by platform or version, so verify them in your installation. More detail is in the OBS Sources Guide.
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Choose a scaling filter for the footage
If a resized source looks soft, try bicubic scaling. For retro footage or pixel art where sharp edges matter, try Point or Area. Judge the result in the scene: no filter is best for every source. OBS’s Scaling/Aspect Ratio Filter page describes its scale-filtering and aspect-ratio controls and notes Bicubic as the default scale filtering.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the scene before streaming or recording
- Preview the clips with the widest and tallest aspect ratios in the actual scene, not just a single representative clip.
- Check the edges of each image for cut-off titles, game HUD elements or other important content.
- Make a short local test recording or preview and verify that the delivered dimensions match your target.
- Test scenes and settings before your first live stream. The OBS Studio Overview Guide recommends testing before going live.
Troubleshoot stutter and layout problems
Output stutters or OBS reports encoding overload
Try reducing Output (Scaled) Resolution or frame rate before changing the canvas. A lower output resolution can reduce encoder load; fewer frames reduce rendering and encoding work. High-resolution source video can still use resources even when scaled down, so use lower-resolution media where appropriate. See OBS Encoding Performance Troubleshooting.
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Sources move after a resolution change
If you changed Base (Canvas) Resolution, expect to realign or resize sources. For a substantial canvas change, consider a separate scene collection rather than rebuilding a working layout in place. Changing Output (Scaled) Resolution does not itself require that source repositioning.
A playlist control is missing or a clip will not play
Use a VLC Video source for a playlist and make sure VLC is installed. If playback still fails, check that the media can be decoded in your setup; documented format support does not guarantee every codec and file will work in every environment.
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Quick Recap
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