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Cinema Letterbox

by The Stale Crouton·VFX

Images © The Stale Crouton. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Cinema Letterbox earns its place in the superhive library as a focused compositor add-on: one node, a widescreen format, and adjustable bars and opacity. It keeps the cinema-bars task simple.

What is Cinema Letterbox?

Cinema Letterbox is an add-on for Blender that applies a letterbox effect inside the compositor. You drop its node into your setup, pick a widescreen cinema format, and the bars appear on your render. The developer recommends placing the node at the end of your compositing chain.

The add-on covers several widescreen ratios: 1.85:1, 1.92:1, 2.35:1, and 2.40:1. Beyond the format itself, you can tweak the opacity of the letterbox and change the color of the bars. Documentation is included.

Cinema Letterbox works with Blender versions 3.5 through 4.5 and is listed as Blender Extension compatible. It has been used with both the Cycles and Eevee render engines, and it ships under the GPL license. The bars are a deliberate stylistic choice, signalling a theatrical look rather than a rendering error.

Who is Cinema Letterbox best for?

Cinema Letterbox is best for blender artists who want to add widescreen cinema bars to their renders through the compositor.

How much does Cinema Letterbox cost?

Cinema Letterbox is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Pick from widescreen cinema aspect ratios: 1.85:1, 1.92:1, 2.35:1, and 2.40:1
  • Adjust the opacity of the letterbox
  • Change the color of the bars
  • Applies the effect as a node inside Blender's compositor
  • Works with both the Cycles and Eevee render engines
  • Documentation included

Tags

#letterbox#compositing#cinema bars#aspect ratio#widescreen#cinematic#Blender add-on

Frequently asked questions

What Blender versions does Cinema Letterbox support?

Cinema Letterbox supports Blender versions 3.5 through 4.5 and is listed as Blender Extension compatible. It is an add-on, so it installs alongside your other Blender extensions within that version range. Once installed, you drop its node into the compositor to add cinema bars to your renders. If you are running a release outside 3.5 to 4.5, check the developer's page, since compatibility beyond that stated range is not confirmed here.

Does Cinema Letterbox work with Cycles and Eevee?

Cinema Letterbox works with both the Cycles and Eevee render engines. It operates as a node inside Blender's compositor, and the developer recommends placing it at the end of your compositing chain. From there you can choose a widescreen cinema format, adjust the letterbox opacity, and change the bar color. Whether your scene renders in Cycles or Eevee, the letterbox effect is applied through the compositor rather than the render engine itself.

Which aspect ratios can Cinema Letterbox produce?

Cinema Letterbox offers a choice of widescreen cinema formats, covering the 1.85:1, 1.92:1, 2.35:1, and 2.40:1 aspect ratios. You pick your preferred format when you add the node, and the matching cinema bars are applied to your render. Alongside the ratio, you can tweak the letterbox opacity and change the color of the bars. The bars are intended as a deliberate theatrical look rather than a rendering mistake.

What license is Cinema Letterbox released under, and is it free?

Cinema Letterbox is released under the GPL license and is listed as Blender Extension compatible, published as an add-on for Blender 3.5 through 4.5. In this catalog the add-on is listed as free. For the exact terms of the GPL, current licensing, and download details, refer to the developer's page before using it in a project. That page is also where you can confirm any usage conditions attached to the add-on.

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