Letterbox

레터박스

A finishing treatment that adds top and bottom bars for a wider, cinematic frame.

Also known as: Letterboxing
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html
<div class="stage">
  <div class="viewer">
    <div class="picture">
      <i class="sun"></i><i class="cloud"></i><i class="ridge back"></i><i class="ridge front"></i>
      <span class="note source">SOURCE FRAME · 16:9</span>
      <span class="note mask">BARS MASK · FRAME UNCHANGED</span>
    </div>
    <i class="bar top"></i><i class="bar bottom"></i>
  </div>
</div>
css
.stage{position:absolute;inset:0;overflow:hidden;background:var(--bg)}
.viewer{position:absolute;left:50%;top:50%;width:min(100vw,177.78vh);aspect-ratio:16/9;transform:translate(-50%,-50%);overflow:hidden;background:#15222a}
.picture{position:absolute;inset:0;overflow:hidden;background:linear-gradient(180deg,#7fb4bd 0%,#c8d5bd 54%,#e9bd77 100%)}
.sun{position:absolute;left:67%;top:21%;width:clamp(24px,12vmin,80px);aspect-ratio:1;border-radius:50%;background:#ffe2a0;box-shadow:0 0 34px rgba(255,225,159,.32)}
.cloud{position:absolute;left:-16%;top:29%;width:28%;height:10%;border-radius:999px;background:rgba(255,255,255,.48);filter:blur(2px);animation:drift 7s ease-in-out infinite alternate}
.ridge{position:absolute;left:-8%;right:-8%;bottom:-34%;height:75%;border-radius:50% 50% 0 0}
.back{background:#567a73;transform:rotate(4deg) translateY(-10%)}
.front{background:#315b54;transform:rotate(-3deg)}
.note{position:absolute;z-index:2;color:#fff7e5;font:700 clamp(8px,2.8vmin,13px)/1.2 ui-monospace,monospace;letter-spacing:.09em;text-shadow:0 1px 5px rgba(0,0,0,.7);white-space:nowrap}
.source{left:5%;top:16%}.mask{right:5%;bottom:15%;text-align:right}
.bar{position:absolute;z-index:3;left:0;right:0;height:0;background:#080807;animation:bars 3.6s cubic-bezier(.24,.78,.22,1) infinite}
.bar.top{top:0;transform-origin:top}.bar.bottom{bottom:0;transform-origin:bottom}
@keyframes bars{0%,9%{height:0}27%,75%{height:13%}93%,100%{height:0}}
@keyframes drift{from{transform:translateX(0)}to{transform:translateX(210%)}}
@media(prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){.bar,.cloud{animation-duration:8s}}

Think of placing two strips of black paper over the top and bottom of a picture. The objects in the shot stay as they are; only the visible window feels wider.

Add a letterbox matte or overlay in the editor and set the bar height. On the web, place top and bottom black layers over the original scene and animate or size them as needed.

Unlike stretching or cropping, the bars mask the picture. The footage keeps its original aspect ratio, and bars that are too tall can hide useful action or subtitles.

When to use

Use it to emphasize a wide composition. Check that bars do not cover subtitles or important movement.

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