Anamorphic and letterbox footage

hi, I have shot some footage, some letter boxed, and a couple of scenes were anamorphic, I am now wanting to capture them in order to edit it, but i dont know how to make them compatable with each other. Could someone please run through for me how I set up my project etc in order to do that? Cheers.

Dude... I love posting -- especially when they ask me a direct question.
Check this thread again... I answered a question you asked as a reply to one of MINE.
Since I actually DID answer your question -- check #3... you can thank me.
I especially like answering posts of people who don't even take their own time to figure things out on their own. Seems you have to jump in and ask questions you don't want answered because you are too lazy to even TRY it yourself.
Go back to bed and pray for some thick skin... you're going to need it where you are wanting to go.
Good luck
CaptM

Similar Messages

Mixing anamorphic and letterboxed footage

Is it possible to mix anamorphic and letterboxed DV footage in Final Cut?
I have a project that was shot on both formats.
How should I proceed?
Thanks.

And, if I need to, can I convert the final video to true 16x9 anamorphic, so it'll play full screen on a 16x9 monitor or theater screen?
Yes, but it will look like crud. This question gets asked a bunch so there are lots of responses out there explaining why this will be the case.
Oh, and if I need to convert the whole video to 4x3 full screen for intranet distribution, is it possible too? Thanks.
Yes, cropping and/or reducing the size for internet or intranet distribution can be accomplished using Compressor or QTPro.
Good luck.
x

Widescreen and letterbox using same anamorphic footage

Is there a way to take a single source file that is anamorphic 720 x 480 (1.20) and have two buttons: one widescreen and one letterboxed -- so those with widescreen tv's can watch it in it's native aspect ratio, and those with 4:3 tv's can select the letterboxed version.
Right now, I am taking the anamorphic QT source file and placing it in it's own track, and then downconverting the anamorphic master making a letterboxed QT file and placing it in another track. I'm probably doing this the long way around, but it works. Just looking for a quicker way.
Thanks.
David Barker

Encode the track as 16:9, do not make another version that is letterboxed, then set track to 16:9 letterbox in the inspector (NOT pan & scan or pan&scan/letterbox)
The track will be 16:9 on 16:9 tvs and letterboxed on 4:3 (though people can mess with their DVD PLayer and TV settings)

Mixing "letterboxed" and "squeezed" footage in the same sequence

This is a good one. All footage shot on a DVX100, which has 2 ways of getting widescreen: squeeze and letterbox.
We shot 2 tapes worth of footage three weeks ago using squeeze for widescreen. I have since made a rough cut of all that footage.
Today, we shot the remaining scenes, but they were shot letterbox for widescreen (due to a communication errore between myself and the DP).
We discovered this halfway through shooting today, and decided to keep shooting letterbox because it will be easier to convert the squeezed footage to letterbox than vice versa.
Oh, and the squeezed footage is all outdoors, the letterboxed all indoors, so matching isn't an issue.
My question(s) is (are):
How would you deal with this (reshoots are out of the question)?
Is there a simple way to convert the footage I've already edited without losing the edits?
Is there a magical fix that will fix it without any effort on my part? (just kidding about that last one)
Thanks!
Jason
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Thanks for the tips!
What is your final output hoping to be? Do you need
anamorphic enhancement? (ie. you're outputting to
DVD, or for display on a 16:9 monitor, or for film)
It will be on DVD ultimately, but projected digitally for the premiere and possibly sent to festivals. It just needs to be widescreen, enhanced or not.
I take it your existing sequence is 16:9?
Yes.
If so...
1. Open a new 4:3 sequence in the timeline.
2. Drag your existing 16:9 sequence into the 4:3
sequence but don't let go of the mouse
3. Press and hold the Command key, then release the
mouse.
4. The contents of your 16:9 sequence should
now be inserted (as letterboxed clips) into the 4:3
sequence
I'll try this when I get home.
Or, when you meant 'convert the footage,' where you
talking about the source files?
If it's as easy as those steps, great! However, the two formats need to output to DVD together. I assume this will simply add more render time to that end?
I don't care about the source files if I can ultimately output it harmoniously.
Thanks again!
Jason
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

FCP 7 Captured/Imported letterbox footage incorrectly marked as Anamorphic

I recently installed FCP 7 and captured 24pA footage with the Easy Setup for 23.98 with Advanced Pulldown Removal. The footage was not shot anamorphic but was shot letterbox (on DVX100b). FCP batch captures the footage and I notice afterward that the anamorphic box checked on all the clips (and correspondingly visually distorted). I notice the same after I import 24pA footage (non-anamorphic) that I had already captured into new FCP project, also setup with the 24pA Easy Setup for Capture and Sequence.
This is fixable by unchecking the anamorphic column for each of the clips, of course, but it's tedious and shouldn't be happening i the first place.
Why is FCP 7 interpreting all new letterbox footage as anamorphic? I checked the settings for the Easy Setup and the box for anamorphic is NOT checked! I did not check non-letterboxed video. Also, the pixel aspect ratio. is set at CCIR601 on both the capture and sequence settings. Any ideas about the letterboxed video? Thanks.

I don't have an answer to your core question, but I own the DVX100B and shoot/capture at 24PA/advanced pulldown removal. However, I either shoot SD or I attach anamorphic lens adapter for 16:9.... have never tried using either Letterbox or Squeeze mode.
Reading through "The DVX Book" by Barry W. Green, he suggests that Letterbox mode is useful for simulating a wide screen look on a 4:3 TV screen, which is what you may be trying to achieve, but if your viewers are watching wide screen, you would get better looking results using the Squeeze mode.
My workflow is designed to create deliverables that are properly formatted for 16:9 flat screen displays because the majority of my clients and end users no longer own a CTR monitor or TV.
Eddie

Using both "True Widescreen" and letterboxed 4:3 to create a widescreen dvd

Hi! Please can you help me with some widescreen problems?
I recently filmed a stage play with two cameras - one recording in 16:9 "True Widescreen" and the other (an older camera) filming in a "false" widescreen: letterboxed 4:3.
On top of this the camera I'm using that has a firewire connection to the Apple is the older camera that plays back the "True Widescreen" tape squeezed.
How can I capture both of these tapes and export them as a widescreen DVD? - it doesn't matter if there is some loss of quality through resizing (The way I did it before on a much cheaper editing system was to import both as they were and then resize the height of the squeezed true-widescreen back to the same shape as the letterbox widescreen).

You need to do it the other way - you need to stretch the letterboxed footage's height to the True Widescreen's dimension, which btw is refered to as Anamorphic. Then you need to tell the system that it is anamorphic footage (there's a checkbox for this in the properties window).
After you cut it together, export it and tell DVDSP that the footage is Anamorphic and it will set it up to play back widescreen in widescreen capable TVs and it will letterbox it for the less capable out there...
Patrick

Combining anamorphic and SD Formats

We have a rough cut sequence (footage shot in "squeeze mode" on DVX100B), with anamorphic setting. Now we need to add some letterboxed clips.
What is the best way to combine the two without distorting any images?
Thanks.
Russ

make your sequence anamorphic, and edit as normal but you will have to resize the letterbox shots, in Basic motion tab bring the scale up to 133, and if the aspect ratio is wrong, look under the distort menu and cahnge the aspect to 33% (i think or is it -33%) sorry it late and im not infront of the mac, but it will be aparrant when you try it

Beginner question: can i have 16x9 and 4x3 footage on the same timeline?

Hi,
I am assembling a highlight promo reel for somebody and i have 16x9 and 4x3 footage. not sure what to do or which footage to convert, since i need them both for the promo. any suggestions would be appreciated, or please direct me to a past discussion.
thank you
-shelby

If the majority of your footage is 4:3 work in a Timeline that is 4:3.
Your 16:9 footage will letterbox automatically to fit with black bars at top and bottom.
You could also cache the 4:3 material with the Widescreen filter to fake a 16:9 look.
If the majority is 16:9, use a 16:9 Timeline. Your 4:3 footage will pillarbox -black bars at left and right.
You could fill that area in by placing a copy of the 4:3 above itself on the Timeline. Enlarge and blur the lower layer to give your clip a complimentary "border". Simply blowing up 4:3 video to fit a 16:9 Timeline will make it look horrible.

16 x 9 anamorphic or letterbox?

From CS3 I rendered out a short film to DVD at 16:9, 29.97, NTSC.....
The original files in Premiere files are 1920 x 1080 so I can still render it to Blu-Ray.
My question relates to some film festivals projecting the movie from Digitbeta and Beta SP, which I assume I can somehow transfer to.
However, they ask the Digital Aspect Ratio. ....16x9 (letterbox) or 16x9 (anamorphic).
Since my original files are widescreen 16x 9, which would the digital aspect ratio be, letterbox or anamorphic?
Near the top, on the right hand side, is where they specify the aspect ratio: http://www.sdff.org/pdf/SDFF.%202010.%20Entry%20Form.pdf

Your dvd will be anamorphic. (squised)
Letterbox means widescreen within a 4x3 screen with black bars top and bottom.

Pan-Scan and Letterbox??????

What is the difference in the Display Mode of 16x9 Pan-Scan then 16x9 Pan-Scan and Letterbox???
Thanks

What you want to use is Letterbox, not Pan & Scan or Pan & Scan/Letterbox. (Using both allows the user to choose which one)
From the manual (do a search for Pan-Scan for more info in the PDF/manual)
The pan-scan method of displaying 16:9 video on a 4:3 Monitor was developed as a compromise between letterbox, which displays all the video content but with black bars at the top and bottom, and the only other alternative: filling the enitre 4:3 screen, but cropping some of the content.
Broad stroke - Pan-Scan uses "vectors" to control what part of a video is shown.
Final Cut and DVD SP cannot add the vectors and if you set the playback it may lead to results you do not want (i.e., only center part of the video being shown.)
Practically if you shot 16:9 and really shot with 4:3 in mind, the outside areas may not be needed, but you need to look at the footage....

What is the best way to import and export footage from the 5D Mark II?

Hello,
I've just finished shooting what I am considering to be my directorial masterpiece. Shot it on the Canon 5D (1080p, 24fps), and the footage looks amazing. Now I am ready to start editing and have been using premiere lately, but I have yet to figure out the proper pipeline. I want to know the best way to retain resolution before I delve into this project.
My questions:
1) What is the best way to start a new project and import the footage without having to render whilst editing, so as to retain all resolution and originality of the source footage?
2) What is the best way/ codec/ format to export this same footage once editing is complete so as to retain that crisp 1080p for which the 5D is so recognized?
3) What is the best way/ codec/ format to import and export/ render between premiere and after effects? I am speaking mostly of vfx and color correction. I also have some 30fps footage that I intend to slow down in AE and then import into premiere.
I know this is pretty broad, but as a solo filmmaker I really need someone's guidance. I rarely ever finish my films with the same, crisp look as the footage. I need pipeline help, and really appreciate it!

ascreenwriter wrote:
Hello,
I've just finished shooting what I am considering to be my directorial masterpiece. Shot it on the Canon 5D (1080p, 24fps), and the footage looks amazing. Now I am ready to start editing and have been using premiere lately, but I have yet to figure out the proper pipeline. I want to know the best way to retain resolution before I delve into this project.
My questions:
1) What is the best way to start a new project and import the footage without having to render whilst editing, so as to retain all resolution and originality of the source footage?
2) What is the best way/ codec/ format to export this same footage once editing is complete so as to retain that crisp 1080p for which the 5D is so recognized?
3) What is the best way/ codec/ format to import and export/ render between premiere and after effects? I am speaking mostly of vfx and color correction. I also have some 30fps footage that I intend to slow down in AE and then import into premiere.
I know this is pretty broad, but as a solo filmmaker I really need someone's guidance. I rarely ever finish my films with the same, crisp look as the footage. I need pipeline help, and really appreciate it!
1. Follow the advice above. Also use the Media Browser to import the footage in case you have spanned media files. Import files with the Media Browser.
2. It largely depends on what you wish to ouput to: Blu-ray, web, etc. This FAQ gives the best answer: What are the best export settings?
3. Use the Replace with Adobe After Effects Composition function.

Log and transfer footage from Panasonic GH1 into FCE

I have already read the few threads discussing importing AVCHD video from the Panasonic GH1 camera into FCE. I was expecting that the 1080x24 (wrapped in 60i) would import OK but the 720x60p would not. However, so far, I have had both formats import using the log and transfer just fine. These have been only short clips roughly a minute or less in length but no sign of FCE crashing when importing the 60p footage.
So, is this considered normal or has something in the most recent OSX updates fixed this FCE capability?

The program is usually able to ingest 24p and 60p footage fine, but upon exporting it will be conformed to the frame rate of your sequence. Since FCE doesn't support custom sequences all exported movies are either in 29.97fps or 25fps. Problems also sometimes arise where the program interprets your footage as 29.97fps instead of what it actually is, causing the audio to drift a bit as well.
Better to stick to what the program supports: 50i/25p and 60i/30p. If you need the functionality of 24p or 60p you should upgrade to Final Cut Pro.

When I capture from my camera in anamorphic and the picture is smashed down and cut at both sides, what capture settings shall I put?

please tell me the correct video-settings for capture and sequenze. Actually my camera films in anamorphic and when I capture the images is cut at right and left. So I changed the settings to anamorphic, but it doesn't work well. The image is smashes down and cut at right and left. I don't understand why. Can you help me to put the correct settings for my case? Thank you

monikaka wrote:
I'm talking about Final Cut Pro.
This is the FCP X forum - you should ask this question in the Final Cut Studio forum:
https://discussions.apple.com/community/professional_applications/final_cut_stud io
Andy

Good website for After Effects templates and stock footage in UK?

Hello all,
Can anyone recommend a good websites for downloading AE templates and stock footage in the UK please. I see plenty of gt American companies/ websites but I am reluctant to use templates and videos that are mastered in 29 frames and not 25 frames (UK).
Many Thanks
Joel Watt

Session timeouts.... I really do think it's the server. AE doesn't care for specific network stuff, it's all just volumes/ drives to the program. To avoid these issues, you would have to shorten the refresh cycles on your server availability broadcasts or the "keep alive" cycles on the connection/ session settings themselves. I'd know how to do it on Win Server, but I have no clue with regards to XServe configuration. Still, certainly some simple console commands and a restart of the server software should be able to take care of the matter.
Mylenium

Editing SD and HD footage together in one project in FCE

I have both SD and HD footage that I have imported (in addition to still shots) into a project, which is now ready to edit in FCE. This is my wedding video and I would love to avoid as many problems as possible before I get too far down the road in editing. Is there anything I should know about combining the SD and HD footage in FCE? Are there certain settings that I should check before editing? I am concerned about aspect ratios and how that might ultimately skew the picture when burned to a DVD. Any basic guidelines that you could provide would be very helpful. Thanks!

This is great information, thank you. After reading the responses, (and doing some additional research) I think I'll try create a shortened version of the video using only the HD footage and share via youtube and/or vimeo. I would also like to produce a longer video (under 1 hour) that includes both my DV and HD footage and burn that DVD for a few people. Given that I will be burning this to DVD, it seems that I should downsize the HD footage before editing to have it all at the DV level for one sequence in my FCE project. I have two questions for creating this longer video with the output to DVD:
1) How to downsize the HD footage: there seems to be several suggestions for this process, so I was wondering which is the most effective (and least time consuming). Please note that I have already loaded all the clips (DV and HD clips) and still photos into a new project, which took some time. I hope to be able to leverage that effort in some way (so I don't have to start from scratch again).
     a) Convert the HD footage using Streamclip before bringing it into the project
     b) Select the HD clips and export using Quicktime Conversion, select the DV codec, and resize for DV aspect ratio pixels (either 720 x 365 to match 4:3 DV aspect ratio, or 720 x 405 to match the 16:9 DV aspect ratio)
     c) Put all the HD clips in the project and do a batch export to DV
     d) Create a DV sequence in FCE and drag all HD clips to the timeline, which will automatically downsize them and will then require rendering
     e) Create a DV sequence in FCE and drag all HD clips to the timeline, then highlight all the HD clips, go to Modify > Fit to Sequence, which should resize it to match the sequence settings
     f) Resize the HD footage using a 3rd party app called Compressor before bringing it into the project
2) Do I still need to crop the footage even after downsizing the HD footage? I assume that "crop" means that the image will stil be too big for the DV level editing, so part of the image will not fit, so I will need to scale it (or something like that). Is that right? It seems very labor intensive to do that for every clip, hopefully this is not the case.
Thank you for your help!

Anamorphic and letterbox footage

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