flip video without re encoding

[simoo]

how flip video without re encoding
like this

[Attachment 85305 - Click to enlarge]

[Selur]

Assuming it's H.264: ffmpegs bitstream filter h264_metadata allows to signal that the video should be flipped horizontally on playback,...

[simoo]

What about x265?

[Selur]

https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-bitstream-filters.html#hevc_005fmetadata => nope
Depending on the container you use, adding some flip horizontal metadata might be available, but fewer players will support it.
For mp4 video:

ffmpeg -display_hflip -i "Path to source video" -c copy "path to flipped output.mp4"

should work. (see: https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-all.html#Video-Options)
I attached an example.
The mp4 is correctly flipped horizontally when played by Chrome or ffplay, but MPC-HC for example flips the video vertically instead.
(iirc. mov also has such a flag too)
If the flag is in the container, the video format itself should not matter assuming it's supported by the container, but the downside it, this has to be specifically supported by the media player.

Cu Selur

[noemi7]

Interesting. I changed container from mp4 to mkv, and it displays correctly in MPC BE, and VLC. Chrome doesn't open mkv.

[simoo]

Is there an easier software?

[Selur]

Maybe. Don't know of anything more simple than calling a simple command line, but there might be a GUI which allows this and I simply don't know it.

[videoAI]

@ simoo

AI Summary:
# True flipping always requires re-encoding
# Meta Data flipping flag update doesn't need a re-encode, but doesn't work for most players, containers, and codecs.

[simoo]

Thank you all