If your footage was rejected with “Clip is a non-standard resolution or is pillarboxed, letterboxed or matted” it is most likely because of one of the following issues:
Non-Standard Resolution
The clip is captured or displayed in a resolution that we do not accept.
Aspect ratio and resolution are two relatively simple concepts. Aspect ratio refers to the ratio of a video’s width to its height. It can be expressed as two numbers – 16×9, as a decimal – 1.78, or as a ratio – 1.78:1. Resolution refers to the number of pixels present within that ratio.
Resolutions generally fall within three main types: Standard Definition (SD), High Definition (HD), and 4K or Ultra HD (UHD). Shutterstock accepts a number of variations of each type of codec, which you can find here.
Pillarboxing
The clip contains black bars on the right and left sides of the active video.
The content is not archival.
Pillarboxing is used to display full frame (4x3) content on a widescreen display. At Shutterstock, we do not accept pillarboxed footage unless it is archival (vintage) content.
We accept pillarboxed archival content if it was created and intended to be displayed in a smaller aspect ratio. Below is an archival clip, with acceptable pillarboxing intended to maintain its original aspect ratio.
Clip by AV Geeks
Letterboxing/ Matting
The clip contains black bars on the top and bottom of the active video.
The clip has black bars all around the active video.
Letterboxing and matting can be used to create a more cinematic look. It can also be used to display content with an aspect ratio larger than 16×9. Matting is a decision that should be left to the customer, and therefore we cannot accept this kind of content.
We Recommend
Avoid letterboxing and pillarboxing modern footage in post-production.
Shoot your footage in a commonly used or industry standard aspect ratio.
Be aware of the resolution of the footage that you are working with and make sure that it adheres to the resolutions accepted by Shutterstock, or if necessary, crop to one of the approved standards.
Here are some additional resources you may find helpful:
If you don’t understand the reason for the rejection of your submission or if you need additional clarification, you can always contact contributor support.