user3159: If I want to communicate to someone editing a video, how can I tell in an unambiguous way how I want the video to be resized.
1) If I want the image to be cropped so that there are no black strips filling the area that has no image.
2) If I want the the video to be scaled down so that the image is not cropped, adding the two black strips filling the gaps where there is no image.


user3908: 1) - Fit Height, often called Pillarbox
2) - Fit Width, usually called Letterbox
Examples and explanation from Apple

user6921: its all about the aspect ratio
is you have a video that has black bars (pillar boxes) either on the sides or top and bottom, you can expand the video to fill the space but you will loose the sides or top/bottom depending on which ratio it is at.
when I was shooting in 4.3 ratio i would plan my shots to have enough room top and bottom so that I could resize the video to fit a 16.9 ratio, when Im filming in 16.9 (widescreen) I do the same so that if I wanted to add the bars top and bottom I wont loose any of my frame (ie: heads of people, action etc etc)
This was an interesting link on how they came about through film history
http://filmmakeriq.com/lessons/the-changing-shape-of-cinema-the-history-of-aspect-ratio/
hope that helps

user2836: 
Letter box if you have bars on the top and bottom.  
Pillar box if you have them on the sides.  
Stretch (or possibly anamorphic, depending on what the intended playback aspect ratio is)   if you are full screening it by stretching it out to fill the space.  
Cropped if you are making it full screen by cutting off the edges.


3159: <p>If I want to communicate to someone editing a video, how can I tell in an unambiguous way how I want the video to be resized.</p>

<p><strong>1)</strong> If I want the image to be cropped so that there are no black strips filling the area that has no image.</p>

<p><strong>2)</strong> If I want the the video to be scaled down so that the image is not cropped, adding the two black strips filling the gaps where there is no image.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/mZsFk.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
 3908: <p>1) - Fit Height, often called Pillarbox</p>

<p>2) - Fit Width, usually called Letterbox</p>

<p>Examples and explanation from <a href="http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT2320" rel="nofollow">Apple</a></p>
 6921: <p>its all about the aspect ratio</p>

<p>is you have a video that has black bars (pillar boxes) either on the sides or top and bottom, you can expand the video to fill the space but you will loose the sides or top/bottom depending on which ratio it is at.</p>

<p>when I was shooting in 4.3 ratio i would plan my shots to have enough room top and bottom so that I could resize the video to fit a 16.9 ratio, when Im filming in 16.9 (widescreen) I do the same so that if I wanted to add the bars top and bottom I wont loose any of my frame (ie: heads of people, action etc etc)</p>

<p>This was an interesting link on how they came about through film history
<a href="http://filmmakeriq.com/lessons/the-changing-shape-of-cinema-the-history-of-aspect-ratio/" rel="nofollow">http://filmmakeriq.com/lessons/the-changing-shape-of-cinema-the-history-of-aspect-ratio/</a></p>

<p>hope that helps</p>
 2836: <ul>
<li><strong>Letter box</strong> if you have bars on the top and bottom.  </li>
<li><strong>Pillar box</strong> if you have them on the sides.  </li>
<li><strong>Stretch</strong> (or possibly <strong>anamorphic</strong>, depending on what the intended playback aspect ratio is)   if you are full screening it by stretching it out to fill the space.  </li>
<li><strong>Cropped</strong> if you are making it full screen by cutting off the edges.</li>
</ul>
