Hello. I have received a DCP that is 1.90 (C) which houses a 1.33 image. When projected in Flat it currently has small letterboxing top and bottom (as well as the pillarboxing left and right). So I have added the DCP to DCP-o-matic but I'm a bit stuck as what to do next to remove the letterboxing without altering the active image.
Many thanks!
Scaling a 1.90 DCP to a Flat 1.85 DCP
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Carsten
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Re: Scaling a 1.90 DCP to a Flat 1.85 DCP
Is this 2k or 4k?
If the active image is 1.33:1, crop away part of the black side bars symmetrically. This will bring image top and bottom to the Flat container top and bottom.
You can show us a screen shot of your DCP-o-matic window to confirm.
If the active image is 1.33:1, crop away part of the black side bars symmetrically. This will bring image top and bottom to the Flat container top and bottom.
You can show us a screen shot of your DCP-o-matic window to confirm.
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simeon
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Re: Scaling a 1.90 DCP to a Flat 1.85 DCP
Hi Carsten,
4K. The blue area is the active image.
4K. The blue area is the active image.
Last edited by simeon on Mon Dec 01, 2025 4:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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IoannisSyrogiannis
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Re: Scaling a 1.90 DCP to a Flat 1.85 DCP
It seems (from the description on the video tab) that the video is not C, but Flat. See that 3996 there? If it was C and 4K, it would have been 4096.
So, what you have is probably F-190. In other words, a Flat aspect ratio that encloses a 1,9:1 one.
By your description, inside that 1,9:1 that is letterboxed inside a 4K Flat, is a 1,33:1.
There is a chance, that you have not set the output (the DCP) to Flat, but to an "exotic", irregular preset, like 1,77:1, and that is why you get the letterboxed image, but that is less probable.
If all the above assumptions are correct, you will have to crop, not only some of the left and right (in equal degree), to center your 1,33:1, but some of the top and bottom of your letterboxed content. It seems to be unequally shared between the top and the bottom.
Or, if it was you that exported the video in question from some editing program, maybe you would prefer to export with the active image covering the full height of the file. Or, even better if possible, export with no letter or pillar boxing at all. Export only the active image.
So, what you have is probably F-190. In other words, a Flat aspect ratio that encloses a 1,9:1 one.
By your description, inside that 1,9:1 that is letterboxed inside a 4K Flat, is a 1,33:1.
There is a chance, that you have not set the output (the DCP) to Flat, but to an "exotic", irregular preset, like 1,77:1, and that is why you get the letterboxed image, but that is less probable.
If all the above assumptions are correct, you will have to crop, not only some of the left and right (in equal degree), to center your 1,33:1, but some of the top and bottom of your letterboxed content. It seems to be unequally shared between the top and the bottom.
Or, if it was you that exported the video in question from some editing program, maybe you would prefer to export with the active image covering the full height of the file. Or, even better if possible, export with no letter or pillar boxing at all. Export only the active image.
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Carsten
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- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2014 9:11 pm
- Location: Germany
Re: Scaling a 1.90 DCP to a Flat 1.85 DCP
Could you please also tick 'Outline content' for us?
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simeon
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2025 3:16 pm
Re: Scaling a 1.90 DCP to a Flat 1.85 DCP
Sorry, I have to redact some information including the film for confidentiality. Put there should be enough information to see the outline of the DCP.
For context, this is a DCP that I have receive that I am trying to adjust in DCP o matic, so that there are no black bars top and bottom when projected in Flat 1.85.
For context, this is a DCP that I have receive that I am trying to adjust in DCP o matic, so that there are no black bars top and bottom when projected in Flat 1.85.
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Carsten
- Posts: 3036
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2014 9:11 pm
- Location: Germany
Re: Scaling a 1.90 DCP to a Flat 1.85 DCP
Okay. Click 'to fit DCP'.
Click the 'link' switches between the Crop Left/Right and Top/Bottom number boxes. Then increase the top or bottom crop numbers until the red surrounding box meets the upper and lower active image border. This crops away your letterboxing within the source image.
Then increase left/right cropping until the active image top/bottom borders hit the preview window top/bottom. This will increase image height to fit the flat container.
I simulated it here with a 3996/2160 upscaled version of your image, and my numbers are 20 pixels top/bottom, and around 37 left/right.
Set DCP settings to 4k/Flat.
My personal preference would be to leave the image as is, though, as the letterboxing is very small and most cinemas will have a few pixels cropped from top/bottom anyway when their screen setup is done. But that is up to you.
Click the 'link' switches between the Crop Left/Right and Top/Bottom number boxes. Then increase the top or bottom crop numbers until the red surrounding box meets the upper and lower active image border. This crops away your letterboxing within the source image.
Then increase left/right cropping until the active image top/bottom borders hit the preview window top/bottom. This will increase image height to fit the flat container.
I simulated it here with a 3996/2160 upscaled version of your image, and my numbers are 20 pixels top/bottom, and around 37 left/right.
Set DCP settings to 4k/Flat.
My personal preference would be to leave the image as is, though, as the letterboxing is very small and most cinemas will have a few pixels cropped from top/bottom anyway when their screen setup is done. But that is up to you.
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