How can VLC be made to stretch a video such that it fills a display?

Question

I have a video of dimensions 960 x 720 (aspect ratio 4:3) and I have a display of 1920 x 1080 (aspect ratio 16:9). I want the video stretched -- with no respect given to its original aspect ratio -- such that it fills the entire display. Note that I do not mean to crop the video.

How could this be done from the command line for individual videos (i.e. not as a general setting for all videos played)?

score 10 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 19 '17 at 17:42

10

VLC Aspect Ratio

By selecting the correct aspect ratio, a video that would normally have black bars either at the sides or top&bottom may appear to be a video that can fit your screen.

Most modern wide screen laptop computers have a 16:9 aspect ratio, this might not be the case for you.

Original Aspect Ratio

Instructions

Open Video
Pause Video
Double Click video to go into full screen
Righ Click video to open menu
Go into Video -> Aspect Ratio
Select your aspect ratio. 16:9 for me.
Play and enjoy :

Remember your aspect ratio may be different from mine. If your computer screen is not 16:9 try some other values until you get the right one.

Un-stretch Video

To watch videos on their original aspect ratio (without stretching) but covering the entire screen follow the steps above but select the correct aspect ratio under Video -> Crop.

Default must be kept under Aspect Ratio for this to work or nothing will need to be cropped.

Return to defaults

Return all values you changed to default.

Command Line VLC

Use command vlc --aspect-ratio 16:9 -L -f /directory/to/file/filename. Change the aspect ratio value to your screen's aspect ratio and it should play full screen without borders. See VLC command line help for more options.

edited Feb 19 '17 at 17:42

isedwards

103

answered Jan 17 '16 at 17:00

Torrien

835

1

and now from the command line? ;) – Dimitri Podborski Jan 17 '16 at 17:12
Good answer +1, you should leave @incBrain a comment using the @ to get there attention and tell them you add the request, it will likely get you a +1. – Mark Kirby Jan 17 '16 at 18:42
2

@incBrain Added the command line alternative. Thanx for the recommendation markkirby – Torrien Jan 17 '16 at 18:48
@Torrien thank you for the nice answer dude. +1 – Dimitri Podborski Jan 17 '16 at 22:29
@incBrain Remember to select it as the right answer. Check Mark bellow the up or down vote options. – Torrien Jan 17 '16 at 23:08
Perfect. Thank you very much for your help and for your clear, detailed solution! – d3pd Jan 18 '16 at 00:13
if I change the aspect ratio, it has no effect on my Ubuntu 2021.10 – rubo77 Jan 11 '22 at 10:55

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 19 '16 at 16:07

8

Shortcuts

You can cycle through the different aspect ratios with A.

While you didn't want to crop the video this can be done with C, cycling through audio tracks is B and subtitles is… V.

You can find the complete list of shortcuts in the VLC settings menu.

answered Jan 19 '16 at 16:07

LiveWireBT

28,763

Super, thanks for that helpful extra information. – d3pd Jan 20 '16 at 11:21