Aspects extend to methods, systems, and computer program products for video bit stream decoding. Aspects include flexible definition and detection of surface alignment requirements for decoding hardware. Surface alignment requirements can be handled by render cropping (e.g., cropping at a video output device), through adjustment and modification of original syntax values in a video bit stream and relaxed media type negotiation in a software (host) decoder. Resolution changes can be hidden with the aligned surface allocation when applicable. Performance can be improved and power consumption reduced by using hidden resolution changes.