Top and bottom padding when "to Fit DCP"

[dblanco]

Hello guys, how are you ?

I´m experiencing some issues when fitting my movie to make DCP. My file is 3840x2304 (5:3 or 1.66), when I ask dcpomatic to fit DCP it creates top and bottom black padding.

Imagem do WhatsApp de 2025-08-14 à(s) 17.05.42_83b048e6.jpg

So I rendered a new file inside a 16:9 container and it caused the same issue. Do you have any clues how to fix that ?

[Carsten]

Can you show us a screenshot of your DCP-o-matic screen showing the chosen image processing under 'video', and also check the 'outline content' option under the preview window?

This is what it shows with the current version of DCP-o-matic when using a 3840/2304 test file:

Bildschirmfoto 2025-08-17 um 20.31.52.png

- Carsten

[dblanco]

hello, thanks for the reply!

Captura de tela 2025-08-18 105953.png

The only thing different is the Range, maybe this is the problem ?

[IoannisSyrogiannis]

The second image seems correct. (Even though, it's not the same frame
Where do you observe the letter/window-boxing? On another program? On DCP-o-matic Player? On a cinema screen?

[dblanco]

Yes, it´s correct when I import to dcpomatic but when a make the dcp it creates these paddings. I opened the rendered file in various softwares like dcpomatic player, da vinci resolve, premiere. They all shows the padding.

[Carsten]

As Ioannis says, your screenshot shows correct processing. The resulting DCP will not have top and bottom padding, only left/right padding (pillar boxing) as necessary for 1.66:1

'Range' is irrelevant here. Your video has different video range properties than the PNG still I used for testing.


If you feel unsecure about what is in your DCP, you may open the DCP in DCP-o-matic player and 'Save frame to file' using the save hotkey or from the drop-down menu:

Bildschirmfoto 2025-08-19 um 17.11.11.png

This will create a 1:1 snapshot at DCP container dimensions with the exact framing. You should, of course, cue to a frame where all 4 frame borders are visible, so, not a frame that is black to a larger extent or covering borders before you save the frame.

[dblanco]

Thanks for the reply

So, I opened the DCP with DCP-o-matic player and Saved frame to file, it´s correct as seen here:

teste.png

But at full screen playback or any other software (Da Vinci Resolve) as I saved a frame the result stills shows the padding:

Timeline 1_01_02_24_19.jpg

Isn´t it odd ? or am I missing something ?

[Carsten]

That's a side effect of your Resolve project settings, in combination with your screen resolution/aspect ratio. If the saved frame from the DCP does not show padding, there is no padding. You can trust the preview window in DCP-o-matic. It always shows your source with the current scaling and cropping applied, within the chosen container aspect ratio. DCP-o-matic will never add something beyond that.

[dblanco]

Alright, thanks a lot