Make video fill the Card area?

[Ltek]

I updated to 11.x and now the image no longer fills the card area?

[thomasgregg]

@Ltek Thanks for reporting this. The screenshot looks like the square Ring video is being fitted inside the 16:9 card, which matches fit_mode: contain behavior.

Could you try setting Card appearance → Image crop → Crop to fill, or add this to the card YAML?

fit_mode: cover

If it still shows the black bars with cover selected, please share your card YAML and Home Assistant version so I can reproduce the player sizing issue.

[Ltek]

I want the original ring image ratio, not realizing you had a 1:1 in the settings. I had it set to automatically, which I assumed would force the card shape to native ratio, not 'inset' the native image in a 16x9 card.

the prior image was showing the 1:1 and adding black bars, using aspect_ratio: auto & fit_mode: contain

changing to 'cover' crops the top off, and stretches...

4x3 still crops...

I'm assuming that is the intent. I'm good with it, just didnt realize I had to manually set the ratio... thanks, and sorry for my misunderstand of the settings :)

[thomasgregg]

@Ltek No need to apologize - your expectation for Auto makes sense, and your screenshots highlight that the current behavior could be better.

At the moment, aspect_ratio: auto still uses a 16:9 card frame. With a square Ring feed, contain therefore adds black bars, while cover fills that frame by cropping the top and bottom. The 4:3 option crops less, but it still cannot show the complete square image while filling the card.

A better approach would be for Auto to detect the native dimensions of the poster/video and make the card use that same ratio. In your case, the square Ring feed would create a 1:1 card automatically, with neither cropping nor black bars. The explicit 16:9, 4:3, and 1:1 choices would remain available for people who want to force a particular dashboard shape.

Would that native-ratio behavior for Auto match what you expected and feel better to you? If so, we can look at implementing it.

[Ltek]

auto works nicely now, thank you

[thomasgregg]

@Ltek Thanks again for testing and confirming the expected behavior. This is now implemented and available in v0.12.1-beta.7.

What changed

Image shape → Automatic now means the native shape of the loaded Ring image or video. Ring View starts with a stable 16:9 loading frame, detects the real media dimensions, and then updates both the dashboard card and fullscreen viewer. It also detects the shape again when Recording and Live use different formats.

For example, a square Ring feed now produces a square card automatically. You no longer need to select 1:1 manually, and Fit entire image can show the complete frame without the former 16:9 black bars.

What to consider when setting up the card

• For the camera's natural appearance, use Image shape: Automatic and Image fit: Fit entire image. These are now the defaults.
• In a Home Assistant Sections dashboard, leave Auto height enabled (grid_options.rows: auto) so the card can follow the detected media shape.
• An explicitly selected row count, such as three rows, intentionally keeps a fixed-height slot. In that slot, Fit entire image may add empty space and Crop to fill may crop the image.
• Choose 16:9, 4:3, or 1:1 only when you deliberately want to force that card shape. Explicitly saved settings continue to take precedence over Automatic.

A separate Automatic option in beta.7

When the recording source is a Ring-MQTT Event Select entity, beta.7 also shows Newest event (automatic). This is unrelated to image shape: it uses the configured Last activity timestamp to choose the newest Ding, Motion, Person, or On-demand recording and waits for the matching recording URL. Select Selected event (manual) instead when you want the Event Select entity to remain on a manually chosen older recording.

The Ring-MQTT recording option does not apply when the recording source is a normal Home Assistant camera.* entity.