Adding Letterboxing and Pillarboxing with Adobe Media Encoder

NOTE: This article was written December 16, 2025 using Adobe Media Encoder as a standalone application. Directions may vary when using prior or future releases of Adobe Media Encoder. The method described below is not the only method for adding letterboxing or pillarboxing to meet Eventive’s required 16:9 aspect ratio. The method described below is quick. Other methods may afford you more control, but may be more labor intensive or time consuming. Additional training resources can be found here. For support with Adobe Media Encoder please contact Adobe directly.

Adding letterboxing or pillarboxing is a simple way to present your film in a specific aspect ratio while still delivering a file in a standard 16:9 format. Adobe Media Encoder makes this easy using its built-in export tools.

Eventive requires you to upload your film using the recommended 1920 x 1080p or any other resolution that has a true 16:9 aspect ratio where both the height and width are even numbers. Conforming to the 16:9 aspect ratio is required by some streaming devices such as entry level TV devices from Firestick and Roku. By enforcing this aspect ratio, Eventive ensures that all audience members can enjoy the film on the device(s) of their choice.

If your film does not conform to the recommended 16:9 aspect ratio, you will need to export a version of your film that conforms to the 16:9 aspect ratio. When a 16:9 output resolution is specified, most encoders will do this by letterboxing or pillarboxing the film to meet the required aspect ratio.

Letterbox? Or Pillarbox?

Letterboxing: Creates horizontal black bars on the top and bottom of your image. This is often used to give a wider, cinematic look (e.g., 12:5 aspect ratio) on a standard 16:9 screen similar to what is depicted in the image above and on the left.
Pillarboxing: Creates vertical black bars on the left and right sides of your image. This is typically used when you're placing content shot in a squarer aspect ratio (like 4:3) onto a wider screen (16:9) Similar to what is depicted in the image above and on the right.

Before we start

Your final export will be:

Resolution: 1920 x 1080p (or another true 16:9 aspect ratio)
Codec: H.264
File Format: .mov or .mp4

A more detailed summary of Eventive’s Video Specifications can be found here.

You will also need access to Adobe Media Encoder, which is available with Adobe Creative Cloud as part of one of the following:

All Apps Plan
Premiere Pro Subscription
After Effects Subscription

Let’s Do This!

Begin by launching Adobe Media Encoder. Adobe Media Encoder is included with most Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions. You can access it in a few ways:
1. Launch it directly
  1. On Windows: Check your Start Menu under Adobe programs
  2. On Mac: Look in your Applications folder or use Spotlight search (Cmd + Space, then type "Media Encoder")
2. Launch from other Adobe apps
  1. From Premiere Pro: Go to File > Export > Media, then click "Queue" to send it to Media Encoder
  2. From After Effects: Go to Composition > Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue
  3. This automatically opens Media Encoder with your project ready to export
3. Through Creative Cloud Desktop App
  1. Open the Creative Cloud desktop application
  2. Look for Adobe Media Encoder in your apps list
  3. Click "Open" to launch it
Import Your File. Drag your video file into Adobe Media Encoder, or click the + button to add it to the queue.
Choose Your Preset. Click on the blue preset name next to your file. Select either H.264 or H.265 as your format, then choose a preset or create a custom one. - High Quality 1080p HD usually does the trick.
Set Your Output Format and Resolution. In the Export Settings window (right click on your asset in the queue) :
1. Set Format to H.264
2. Under the Video tab, set Width to 1920 and Height to 1080
3. Make sure Frame Rate matches your source footage
4. Choose either .mov or .mp4 as your output container format from the multiplexer tab
Adjust the Scaling Settings. Still in the Export Settings:
1. Find the Scaling dropdown (it's usually set to "Stretch to Fill" by default)
2. Change it to Scale to Fit or Letterbox
3. This will automatically add black bars where needed to preserve your original aspect ratio
Fine-Tune If Needed. If you want more control:
1. Click the Effects tab
2. Under Video Effects, you can adjust Crop settings if you need to remove any unwanted edges
3. You can also use the Position controls to center your image if needed
Export Your File. Click OK to close the Export Settings, then hit the green Play button in Adobe Media Encoder to start your export!