4:3 to 16:9 aspect ratio conversion in QT

All,
I have a video file that came in at 4:3 and because of the way it will present on the web, the video needs to drop into a 16:9 format with black side bearings.
Is this possible in QTPro? Do I need to look for another app to perform what seems like a very simple operation.
mjb

Is this possible in QTPro?
Yes.
Do I need to look for another app to perform what seems like a very simple operation.
No. Simplest option would be to layer a black (or other color) background frame of the appropriate size behind the video and scale its duration to match the duration of your movie (i.e., a simple "Add to Selection & Scale procedure), set layers to ensure the movie is above the background, center or offset the video layer where you want it in the player, and save the result using the "Save As..." option to place everything in a new MOV file container. No re-compresion is applied, so the whole operation is very quick taking only enough time as is required to copy all of the data to the new file.

Similar Messages

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    Melanie Dupre wrote:
    does anyone know approximately when DVD players started coming with Aspect Ratio Conversion Hardware as a standard feature? (I have a really old (pre-millenium) JVC at home that doesn't have that.)
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  • Can someone help me with aspect ratio conversion in DVD Studio Pro?

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    Patrick,
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    I am using Premier Pro and Photoshop CS5 in Creative Studio CS5.  I have read and understand several help articles on square and rectangular pixels used for various video aspect ratios.  I am using the camera button on the bottom right of the Program monitor to captue a frame and save as a jpg file.  When I open the jpg file in Photoshop to edit for a DVD disc cover using the Elliptical Marquee Tool with a fixed ratio of 1 to 1, the result is not the circular image I need but wider.  This must be an aspect ratio conversion that I am missing.  I have seen conversions that correct this by lengthening the height but the image is also lengthened and thus results in a distiortion.
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  • PAL aspect ratio: 720 x 576 is not 4:3

    I've just "Shared" my first movie using Full Quality. I thought it looked a bit odd. Comparing the original with the compressed version in Quicktime, the QT version is obviously narrower.
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    Read all about this nasty aspect ratio stuff from "A Quick Guide to Digital Video Resolution and Aspect Ratio Conversions":
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  • FCP QT Conversion, Why result in wider aspect ratio ??

    When I export "selfcontained" QT from FCP, it is in the same aspect ratio as I see in canvas (4:3), however when I export the same project "using QT conversion", the exported movie file is saved and plays in wider ratio.
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    Hi Joe,
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  • Aspect ratio problem with Quicktime Conversion from FCE HD 3.5

    I have a FCE 3.5 HDV project (16:9 aspect ratio) which I am trying to export using Quicktime Conversion for eventual web-streaming. I have tried various settings including "maintain aspect ratio" and the "letterbox" options. After every multi-hour attempt, the end result is just what I need, except the aspect ratio is always 4:3 and vertically squeezed.
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    I too have been having some problems, same software. Export to iPod completely ignores the intended aspect ratio and is non-adjustable and squeezes the footage. It looks fine on the canvas but gets messed up on export. A 4:3 video that should be 640x480 ends up being 640x426, and a 16:9 video that should be 640x360 looks to be getting 640x426 as well.
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  • HandBrake Aspect Ratio Settings Conversions

    HandBrake is an super program for converting your DVDs into a format compatible with your 5G iPod. I spent some time figuring out how to convert widescreen movies to either the 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio using the crop settings in this program, and I thought I'd share them here. I'll assume a basic knowledge of HandBrake and skip all the settings except for cropping (they are covered very well in several other threads). I'll also assume that you're using the H.264 option, although most of this is relevant if you're using MPEG4 as well. To begin, click on "Picture Settings", this is where you adjust the height, width and crop settings.
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    From 2.35:1 to 16:9 - Width crop setting is 96
    From 2.35:1 to 4:3 - Width crop setting is 156
    From 1.85 to 16:9 - Width crop setting is 18
    From 1.85 to 4:3 - Width crop setting is 98
    From 16:9 to 4:3 - Width crop setting is 86
    Powerbook G4 1.5 Ghz 15   Mac OS X (10.4.3)  

    Some of the reasons for the dreaded '34506' error:
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  • Can anyone tell me if Quicktime Pro retains aspect ratio once a video is rotated?

    I'm reluctant to purchase Quicktime Pro until I know the answer to this question and Apple Support doesn't seem to have anyway to ask, so I thought I'd try this group.
    I took some videos with my iPhone (the long way), and need to be able to rotate them and convert them to avi files.  I understand that Quicktime Pro can do the rotation and conversion, but I saw one review that said the aspect ratio is not retained, i.e. the video comes out flattend (wider).
    Can anyone tell me if this is still true with QT Pro, or if there are other solutions for resolving this outside of QT Pro??  I have tried a number of other converters, and found one that rotates, but aspect ratio not retained.
    Thanks in advance for any help shared!!!

    I took some videos with my iPhone (the long way), and need to be able to rotate them and convert them to avi files.  I understand that Quicktime Pro can do the rotation and conversion, but I saw one review that said the aspect ratio is not retained, i.e. the video comes out flattend (wider).
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    SAMPLE ROTATED FILE
    Can anyone tell me if this is still true with QT Pro, or if there are other solutions for resolving this outside of QT Pro??  I have tried a number of other converters, and found one that rotates, but aspect ratio not retained.
    As indicated above, the file plays correctly for me in various media players and all media "Inspector" windows, including other third party media information utilities, confirm the correct dimensions and aspect ratio as displayed. As to AVI conversion, I test converted the uploaded file to AVI (DivX5/MP3) at original dimensions using VisualHub. (Also tried the VideoMonkey AVI encode but it limited the source 720p file to a 720x480 output and I did not know if you were agreeable to such a restriction.) Suggest you run similar tests with your preferred Windows converters to confirm/refute results on your system.

  • Still Photo Aspect Ratio Confusion

    Apologize for asking a question on this topic as I have been through the forum and realize the topic of aspect ratio comes up often. I have not however seen this question answered. Quick background:
    -Working with HD Video footage imported as SD as I am burning non-HD dvd's and I have heard the conversion in IDVD and Toast from HD is not great;
    -Using photos imported from Aperture in FCE;
    -Sequence is NTSC anamorphic as I want 16:9 but without HD;
    My question is about the aspect ratio of still photos when I bring them into the timeline. I have experimented with saving photos in different aspect ratios: 853x480 and 720x480. When I import into FCE the 853 shows a square pixel and the 720 shows a NTSC pixel. From what I have read this is due to the way FCE interprets the aspect ratio and assigns an pixel aspect. When I view each in the viewer they both look correct when I click the corresponding pixel aspect from the top of the viewer. It is when I move these to the timeline that I get confused. The 853 gets an adjustment of 18.52 and the 720 gets an adjustment of 33.33. What do these adjustments actually represent? Is it a percentage, a number of pixels, something else? When I read about it in the Manual it seems to state that FCE adjusts for the difference between the still and sequence, but then why does it adjust the 720 since it has the same pixel aspect as the sequence? I then tried changing the Pixel aspect of the 853 in the browser to NTSC and moving it to the timeline. I get the same 33.33 adjustment. The 33.33 does not look correct in either of them, but when I change it to 18.52 it looks correct (with the pixel aspect at square, with it not checked it looks "skinny" or squished).
    Only thing I can think is that it has something to do with the anamorphic adjustment and the squeezing that goes on with it as 18.52 as 853 (widescreen) is 18.47 percent wider the 720.
    At this point I am really not sure how these will display when I make a dvd and display on a widescreen tv. I would prefer not to do this by guessing or looking at the picture, but instead by understanding what FCE is doing and making sure I have the settings and adjustments correct.
    Sorry for the long message, but would really appreciate any advice

    Michael,
    sorry to disagree, but for sure I was not clear, and the topic is quite complex. So I decided to provide an overview (as much as I can...) of the various combinations of clips inserted into various sequences with all settings - possibly on my web site (I'm afraid other posters are getting bored about all this math).
    But since this is taking quite a bit of time, let me just tell you now where I disagree about your findings. When I'll have my overview completed I hope that will better explain what I mean.
    _Your point 1_.
    I'm pretty sure you (unwillingly) are importing your 16:9 square pixel NTSC clip into a +4:3 CCIR pixel NTSC sequence+ (not your original 16:9 anamorphic NTSC sequence). Please check your sequence settings by selecting the sequence in the browser in list view and reading the Frame Size, Pixel Aspect, and Anamorphic fields.
    a. If your sequence is in fact +4:3 CCIR pixel NTSC sequence+, by applying the formulas you get:
    - PARclip for +16:9 square pixel NTSC+ clip = 853/853 = 1 (as for any square pixel clip)
    - but PARseq is not 1 (as you write) but 640/720 (square/actual pixels) = 0,8888
    - Adjust = PARseq/PARclip = 0,8888/1 = 0,8888.
    - Since Adjust is <1 Motion Aspect Ratio = - 100* (1/0,8888 -1) = -12,5 as you experienced on FCE. BTW this means that the imported clip has to be squeezed vertically by 12,5% (as opposite of horizontally).
    b. If your sequence instead really is +16:9 anamorphic NTSC+ as you seem to imply, then 18,52 is correct as you confirm yourself with "Agree that in the four cases you list it agrees...": it is in fact the 2nd case in my 4 cases list.
    _Your point 2_.
    Here I suppose the sequence is +16:9 CCIR pixel NTSC+ which has PARseq = 853/720 = 1,1852.
    But I'm not clear what you mean by "720/640 NTSC clip". My guess is that you mean a +4:3 CCIR pixel NTSC+ clip,
    then PARclip = 640/720 (square/actual pixels) = 0,8888
    then Adjust = PARseq/PARclip = 1,1852/0,8888 = 1,3333 and Motion Aspect Ratio = 100*(1,3333 - 1) = 33,33 as you experienced
    _Adjust formula_.
    I think this formula in your earlier message is incorrect: Aspect Ratio (in Motion/Distort) = - 100 * (1/Adjust-1) if Adjust ≤ 1; seems like the formula: Aspect Ratio (in Motion/Distort) = 100 * (Adjust-1) if Adjust ≥ 1 works at all times including <1 as follows 100*(.875-1)=-12.5.</div>
    This not true (well it is true only for Adjust = 1...). As an example if Adjust = 0,8888 then 100*(0,5-1) = -11,12 (wrong value for this pixel adjustment), while -100*(1/0,8888-1) = -12,51 which is the correct vertical squeeze !!
    Why 2 different formulas are needed ? because when Adjust is >1 a +horizontal squeeze+ by Adjust is necessary to fix the pixel aspect ratio misalignement, when Adjust is <1 a +vertical squeeze+ is necessary by 1/Adjust... (figures will help as soon as they are ready for... publishing).
    I'm sorry these posts are so long, I try to make them as clear as possible, but the topic is a bit messy and, even if only fractions are involved in this math, their actual meaning is not always intuitive...I'd really appreciate any comment also by more experienced users of FCE/FCP...
    Thanks
    Piero

  • Aspect ratio driving me mad

    Hi all.I live in Australia and have been having a hard time getting my head around this aspect ratio stuff. If you can be bothered I will give you the story of whats happening. I am recording my footage in dv wide screen mode with a sony HVRA1P. Next Step, I capture it into Final cut express HD. Once in, it is automatically given the anamorphic tick. So far, so good. Then Once I was happy with my project I saved it as a QT file - self contained. This is where the problems started. When I played the file back in QT, it was squashed into a 4:3 window. And when I burnt it to DVD, it also wouldnt play back in proper 16:9. Even though it was recorded in 16:9, and edited in 16:9.
    I was then told by the supplier of my gear that I would need a little program called "Anomorphicizor". Basically what it involved was dropping my QT file onto this icon and doing a 'save as' on the file. this actually fixed the problem. It played 16:9 on a widescreen and on a 4:3 tv it letterboxed - exactly what I wanted it to do. However it Is another step that takes time and because I have lots of projects to output, it becomes a longwinded process.
    Then one day I typed into google "16:9 files in QT". And I fell upon a site that had the following information:
    Exporting 16x9 QuickTime Final Cut Pro
    One of the really confusing issues about working with 16x9 in Final Cut Pro, is when you go to export a QuickTime movie and it comes out 4x3 instead of 16x9.
    When exporting a Final Cut Pro movie, the system will use the current sequence or clip settings. If you are working in DV-standard def, your footage was brought in at 720 x 480.
    Final Cut Pro uses an anamorphic aspect correction feature to make it easy to edit in 16x9. The problem is, when you export a QuickTime movie you end up with a movie that is tall and skinny squeezed into the standard 4x3 player window.
    So, instead export your final movie using QuickTime Conversion, and then specify a size of 865 x 480. Then, you will have a QuickTime movie that plays within a 16x9 window.
    This was very interesting reading, but still a bit confusing. Firstly it said that if I was working in dv standard def, my footage would be brought in at 720x480. This is not the case though. In my window the frame size is 720x576. It also suggests that I export my project using quicktime conversion and specify a size of 865x480, which will give me a 16:9 window. It did'nt say which compression settings to use so I just used DVPAL. Any I tried all of this and low and behold it actually paly back correctly and I didnt have to put it through the "anamorphicizor" program.
    Now, if you are actually still reading all of this, then thankyou. I guess to sum all of this up, - What is the best way to save my fcp project so that it will play back 16:9 in QT, and on a dvd player.? Thankyou in advance, Matty

    Thanks again Dave for getting back to me. All of your information is fantastic and is slowly starting to sink in. though if you could stay with me a tiny bit longer that would be great.
    Firstly: When I drop my QT file into the anamorphicizor program, the result is great. it plays back widescreen on a 16:9 set and letterboxed on a 4:3 set. This is exactly what I want it to do. The only problem is that its another step in what is allready a fairly time comsuming process, considering there are a lot of projects that i have to create. If I was somehow able to bypass this "anamorphicizor" step, it would be great.
    I think I mentioned to you that I did come across a web page that talked about exporting from QT. It suggested to export my final movie using QT conversion and then specify a size of 865x480. Now I wasnt sure if this setting was for ntsc or pal, but i tried it anyway. And it actually worked. It played back widescreen on a 16:9 set and letterboxed on a 4:3 set. - and I didnt even use the "Anamorphicizor" program. Is this the answer?. Is the setting of 865x480 correct? Are there other settings in the QT conversion stage that I need to be aware of - like the compression setting - least amount up to best quality? Am I asking too much of you Dave? I think I can answer that one! Thankyou in advance. Matty
    Your resolution is 720x576 regardless of whether it
    is 4:3 or 16:9. That's the native resolution for PAL
    DV/DVD, and other metadata are used to determine
    whether it is 4:3 or 16:9. If the clip is 4:3 then
    it should display at 768x576; if it is 16:9 it should
    display at 1024x576. See, the native pixel count is
    actually narrower (in your case) than 4:3 (for me
    it's actually wider). So if you look at an
    anamorphic clip, it will be squeezed into the 720x576
    narrower-than-4:3 window. But that's OK. All of the
    data is there; it will be stretched back out when you
    play back from a DVD. If you are going to a DVD, you
    don't really care if the data files play back
    stretched or squeezed or whatever on the computer, so
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