Playing video normal size but with black borders\background

[Angelguy7]

Is it possible to play a video in it's normal\native size but black out all of the additional space all around it?

Sometimes I watch videos that have small dimensions and if I try to make it fullscreen it just looks blurry (especially on a high resolution display). Instead, I'm hoping to just black out the areas all around it so that I'm not distracted by my desktop wallpaper and icons.

Is this possible?

[dkny]

Yep - in the video preferences, turn off/uncheck "Video Auto Scaling".

Now, when you hit full screen, VLC expands to full screen, but keeps the video at it's native size, with black borders making up the rest of the window.

[kdean]

It'd be better for flexibility, to just toggle it temporarily by pressing the O key while in full screen.

Also, to counter softness you could try adjust the sharpness when blown up to full screen. Command-E to open the Video Effects. Check Sharpen and adjust the Sigma slider. You can hover over the widget to see it's current value. I find 0.10 to 0.20 a good range to start in that doesn't make things look too over sharpened depending on the original resolution and quality of the video.

[Angelguy7]

Thanks, the "O" key during full screen tip worked perfectly! You have no idea how much I tried figuring this out on my own. This is awesome because I'm getting a new 27" iMac and was worried about when I'm watching certain videos while sitting at my desk. I hate the distorted\blurry look in normal fullscreen.

I'll also try the Video Effect\Sharpen\Sigma tip as well!

[kdean]

I have a 27" iMac as well and sharpening does a good job unless the original video size is very very small like less than standard definition. While it may be blurry, it shouldn't be distorted and unless your having the aspect ratio ignored when going to full screen and stretching it which I wouldn't recommend.

[perfectstranger]

Thank you, this was still helpful 7 years later!