How to Crop in OBS (Step-by-Step Guide for 2025)
How to Crop in OBS is an essential technique for streamers, remote workers, instructors, and other content creators seeking clean and professional-looking video productions. This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on how to crop in OBS in 2025 using several built-in methods.
Part 1. What Does Crop in OBS Mean？
In OBS, "crop" means trimming away unwanted edges or sections from a source (like your webcam, screen capture, or game) to focus on a specific part, making it smaller or isolating elements.
Part 2. How to Crop in OBS
OBS Studio offers three primary methods for cropping video sources. Each method serves a distinct purpose, tailored to the need for speed, precision, or long-term consistency. Knowing each technique ensures effective cropping for webcams, screen captures, and window sources.
Method 1: Quickly Crop Video in OBS Using Keyboard Shortcut
This is the fastest way to crop video, ideal for live streaming or quick recordings.
Step 1: Open OBS Studio and select the correct scene.
Step 2: In the Sources panel, select the desired video source (webcam, display capture, etc.).
Step 3: Ensure the source has a red box outline in the preview window.
Step 4: Hold down the Alt key (Windows) or Option key (macOS).
Step 5: Click and drag the edges or corners of the red box inward to crop unwanted parts.
Step 6: Adjust until the size is as desired.
Step 7: Release the key to apply the crop.
This method is good for instant changes but may lack precision or consistency.
Method 2: Crop Video Precisely with “Edit Transform”
Best for precise measurements and professional layouts.
Step 1: Right-click the video source in the sources panel.
Step 2: Select Transform → Edit Transform.
Step 3: Locate the Crop section.
Step 4: Enter pixel values for Top, Bottom, Left, or Right.
Step 5: The crop updates in real time in the preview.
Step 6: Adjust values until the frame is balanced.
Step 7: Close the Transform window to save settings automatically.
Method 3: Apply Crop Video Filters for Advanced and Persistent Editing
Best for complex workflows where cropping needs to remain consistent across scene changes.
Step 1: Right-click the video source.
Step 2: Select Filters.
Step 3: Click the + button under Effect Filters.
Step 4: Select Crop/Pad from the filter list.
Step 5: Enter crop values for each side as required.
Step 6: Adjust padding if necessary.
Step 7: Close the filter window when finished.
Common Use Cases for Cropping in OBS
| Use Case | Purpose | Example / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Live Streaming (Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Live) | Remove background clutter and space | Keeps overlays, alerts, and gameplay aligned without distraction |
| Online Meetings & Video Conferencing | Focus on the speaker’s face and upper body | Improves eye contact in Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet |
| Screen Recording & Tutorials | Hide irrelevant interface elements | Taskbars, tabs, and notifications are cropped to keep the tutorial clean |
| Online Teaching & Presentations | Fit custom layouts | Ensures slides are readable while the presenter remains visible |
| Gameplay Capture & Multisource Layouts | Isolate the game window and resize the overlays | Maintains consistent scene layouts across different resolutions |
Part 3. Bonus Tip: Reduce Cropping in OBS with OBSBOT Tiny 2
Manual cropping in OBS can be tedious, especially with frequent movement. AI-enhanced webcams like OBSBOT Tiny 2 can greatly reduce the need for manual cropping.
Key Features That Help Reduce Manual Video Cropping
- AI Tracking & Auto Framing – Follows subject movement to keep the speaker centered.
- PTZ Control (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) – Adjusts angles and framing without manual repositioning, reducing the need to reposition sources in OBS.
- 4K Video Output – Extra resolution for cropping or scaling without quality loss.
- Gesture Control – Hands-free control to lock/unlock tracking during recording.
When used with OBS, these features allow the webcam to handle framing internally, reducing manual cropping in OBS and post-production adjustments.
Part 4. FAQs about How to Crop in OBS
Q1: Can I Crop a Webcam in OBS without Losing Quality?
Yes, OBS will not decrease video quality if you do not resize or stretch the cropped image beyond its original size.
Q2: Does OBS Have a Clipping Feature?
OBS does not label it as “ clipping,” but cropping and masking achieve a similar visual result.
Q3: How Do I Crop in OBS for Streaming?
Use the Alt-drag shortcut, Edit Transform, or Crop/Pad filters depending on the level of framing accuracy needed.
Q4: Does OBSBOT Help with Cropping?
Yes, OBSBOT Tiny 2 webcams feature AI auto-framing to keep the subject centered, reducing manual cropping.
Q5: Can I Save My Crop Settings?
Yes, OBS saves crop settings for each source within a scene. This means the crop remains applied as long as you use the same source, but if you add a new source, you will need to set cropping again.
Q6: Can I Crop a Display Capture and a Window Capture Differently in OBS?
Yes, each source can have independent crop settings within the same scene.
Conclusion
How to crop in OBS is simple and can be achieved using keyboard shortcuts, Edit Transform, or Crop/Pad filters. For professional results, AI webcams like OBSBOT Tiny 2 minimize manual cropping and create a more polished video structure.
