How do I make the borders of the cropped display area visible when I'm recording?

[helloistvan]

I've seen a lot of tutorials on how to crop the display area by holding down the alt key and moving the display area corners. What I don't know is how to make OBS Studio show the cropped area while the recording is going? Instead, it's showing the screen's full display area (in yellow), as if no cropping has been made! The reason why I need the cropped area visible while recording is because I want to be able to drag in different applications into the cropped area while I'm recording. For example drag a photo into the cropped area then drag a video, etc. I'm recording this for my family, and want to show them different types of media. If the cropped area is not visible while recording, then I have no visual aid to understand which area OBS is capturing.
And to be more specific: The cropped display is a vertical area in the middle of my landscape monitor. Right now I feel that the easiest way to do this would be to place two strips of duct tape vertically to show where the recording will take place. But before that I'm hoping for some easier solutions.. :) Thanks!

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

you can't do what you are asking... with a single instance of OBS Studio...
You can't decide to not show something... and still show it... as that is pointless/silly ... is one cropping content or not?
you are trying to use 1 instance of an application to do two contradictory things... don't do that

Basically, I suspect you are thinking about this wrong... Sounds like what you really need is 2 separate Recording instances
1. to record display window [training video material] ... and you don't actually need OBS Studio for that... could use something like Windows Recorder.. or OBS Studio in Portable mode, if reason to use OBS Studio.
2. for OBS Studio instance being used as training material (could be any app)
your issue is trying to use the same App instance to record itself.... doesn't work at times for exactly the reason you are running into

Beware hardware resource impact of running 2 separate real-time video encoders

 

[helloistvan]

you can't do what you are asking... with a single instance of OBS Studio...
You can't decide to not show something... and still show it... as that is pointless/silly ... is one cropping content or not?
you are trying to use 1 instance of an application to do two contradictory things... don't do that

Basically, I suspect you are thinking about this wrong... Sounds like what you really need is 2 separate Recording instances
1. to record display window [training video material] ... and you don't actually need OBS Studio for that... could use something like Windows Recorder.. or OBS Studio in Portable mode, if reason to use OBS Studio.
2. for OBS Studio instance being used as training material (could be any app)
your issue is trying to use the same App instance to record itself.... doesn't work at times for exactly the reason you are running into

Beware hardware resource impact of running 2 separate real-time video encoders

I came here with an honest question and return get negative criticism. As an IT professional why would you tell someone that the solution they are looking for is silly?
A logical explanation describing the technical aspects of my problem would have sufficed. Forums are for non-judgmental assistance. Everything else please keep to yourself. Thank you Lawrence.

As for my question: I'm not sure if I was clear enough on what I'm trying to achieve. I will try to explain what I'm looking for:

- I want to record a region of the screen, which is not limited to a specific app's window, but is specified by width and height or drawn freehanded.
- I also want to be able to see the specified region (as a visual aid) while recording.

As you pointed out, basic screen recorders can do that. I would assume that OBS, a highly customizable screen recorder would also have the options of the basic ones?

 

[khaver]

Here's what I would do. Create a wallpaper for your desktop that has a frame on it that is the size and shape of the area you will be cropping in OBS. Now, while streaming, drag your windows into this frame area. You also might want to make a tape frame on the monitor as well just so you can make sure you get everything you need to show inside the frame.

 

[helloistvan]

Here's what I would do. Create a wallpaper for your desktop that has a frame on it that is the size and shape of the area you will be cropping in OBS. Now, while streaming, drag your windows into this frame area. You also might want to make a tape frame on the monitor as well just so you can make sure you get everything you need to show inside the frame.

Thanks khaver! I need the frame to sit on top of all windows. So I guess I'll go with the duct tape :)
I'm still confused as to why there isn't a feature for this.