Aspect ratio adjustments

Does anyone know if there's some kind of hardware device that can take an anamorphic signal through firewire and squash it down to a 16:9 letterbox on a CRT preview monitor?
I have an old CRT preview monitor that doesn't do 16:9, but I hate editing timelines with anamorphic clips distorted to letterbox. Don't want to buy a new monitor yet because I suspect I'll be buying an HD monitor in the next 6-12 months anyway which will definitely do 16:9 switching.

You need a monitor designed to display 16:9
As a stopgap measure, drop the 16:9 sequence in a 4:3 sequence. This will add the letterboxing and will play on your std TV in the proper aspect ratio.
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Similar Messages

  • Inserting clip into sequence: aspect ratio adjustments

    I just made this page Aspect Ratio Adjustments available to whoever is curious to know what is the rational behind the values of +Aspect Ratio+ and Scale evaluated by FCE whenever it inserts a clip into a sequence.
    This was inspired by Michael in his thread Still Photo Aspect Ratio Confusion: the topic is a bit complex to be handled with a Q&A approach. So I tried to summarize the results of various tests I made, with 3 examples showing step by step what logically happens in FCE in this process (what really happens... is a different matter). All results were tested in FCE 4, but this doesn't mean there are no errors or misinterpretations. So any comment is really welcome.
    Piero

    Thanks Martin,
    if you have any suggestion to make it clearer or more complete, please...
    BTW have you ever read the document Computer Industry Mass Confusion on Pixel Aspect Ratio?
    From this document (that seems to me pretty complete and written by people that know what they are talking about...) and my experience on the FCE "aspect ratio adjustment" behavior, I would conclude that FCE does not use the "correct" pixel aspect ratio definition, whatever is, but the simplified one based on the 640/720 and 768/720 fractions (for 4:3 frames)...
    What's your opinion ?
    Piero

  • Correct Aspect Ratio for 4:3 and 16:9 SD output

    Hi guys,
    I've built a slideshow in FC with HD settings (1440 x 1080px), exported via compressor and imported into DVDSP. That's all fine however . . .
    The output requested is a DVD playable at 16:9 SD and this is where I have a small problem with the first tests I've done.
    To cover all bases, my DVDSP settings are SD 4:3 and HD 1440 x 1080i, 16:9 PanScan and Letterbox. The end result played back on the Mac looks great and the aspect is spot on. The ultimate test was to play it on 2 different DVD players on 2 different PAL TVs and the result is world's apart even after playing with the respective aspect ratio adjustments on the TVs.
    My problem is that I don't know what these DVDs will be played on and concerned they'll be cropped off or distorted and unwatchable.
    Is there something I'm missing or a way to avoid this uncertainty? My deadline is imminent and any help would be priceless.
    thanks guys
    Chuck

    What you should do for SD is export the FC timeline out to an SD preset (either PAL or NTSC as applicable) and you need to set the tracks to 16:9 Letterbox, not Pan & Scan or Pan & Scan Letterbox. The track will be 16:9 on 16:9 screens and letterboxed on 4:3 Screens. (You can also set up your own SD Compresser settings, make the aspect raito 16:9.)
    People can always mess with settigs so there is no 100% way to ensure it will always look correct, but the above takes care of matters for the most part.
    As an aside when you say world's apart, what was happening?

  • Understanding aspect ratio after a year

    So it's been a year since I started learning FCP and among the kazillion things I don't understand, the one I most need to finally get clear about is a aspect ratio phenomenon with my setup, and all projects I've done so far.
    I am still viewing my work on my Apple Cinema display, so am not monitoring on an actual NTSC broadcast video monitor. This fact may be at the heart of my situation. Nonetheless, I humbly ask you to take pity and help me understand what is going on.
    Here's my situation:
    I have been doing all the shooting for my projects using a Panasonic AG-DVC 30, a mini-DV standard def camera. The camera's manual states that by default it shoots in standard 4:3 aspect ratio -- and that's what I've been shooting.
    When I log and capture in FCP I use the Easy Setup for DV NTSC. As I am viewing and logging the tapes, the aspect ratio looks correct. BUT, when I actually have it do the capture, the Capture Window stretches the image out a bit wider. Happily, when I go to work the captured clips in my Final Cut DV-NTSC Sequence, the aspect ratio looks perfectly great and normal.
    Problems again occur when I export the finished video. I export a self-contained Quicktime movie with "Current Settings", which gives me a QT movie that is 720 x 480 pixels. SADLY, when I view that exported QT movie in Quicktime Viewer, it looks too wide again (same as the Capture screen). BUT, if I place it in DVD Studio (or iDVD) it looks normal again.
    IT GETS WEIRDER: In order to try to correct my possible problem I've also tried exporting using the Self Contained Quicktime "DV-NTSC 48kHz 4:3" setting in the pop up menu (instead of usung "Current Settings"). The movies I export that way look consistently normal, aspect ratio-wise. Upon examining the properties of those (correct looking)resultant movies in Quicktime Player, it tells me that the pixel dimensions are 640 x 480.
    Why would my 640 x 480 pixel QT exports look OK when I view them in every software?
    Is this happening because I am viewing on a computer monitor and the various software apps are doing aspect ratio adjustments (for square vs rectangular pixels) for my display ...sometimes, but not all the time?
    This is such a fundamental thing to know that I feel really dim for being confused. Thanks in advance for taking time to read this and hopefully setting me straight.
    Dual G5/2.5GHz/4.5 GB, internal ATA, G-SATA 500   Mac OS X (10.4.6)   Final Cut Studio 5.0.4

    Yes, it's the difference between square and rectangular pixels. The capture window displays the rectangular pixels without correcting them for display on a square-pixel monitor like an Apple Cinema Display. The Canvas and the Viewer do correct for that by default. When you export to QT using current settings, you are exporting rectangular pixels because that's what the current settings are. The QuickTime player isn't correcting for the different pixel aspect ratios on playback, but if your final destination isn't the QuickTime player, that's not important.
    Since you seem to be exporting the QuickTime movies in order to make a DVD, you shouldn't try to "fix" the pixel aspect. Leave it alone and your DVDs will be fine.

  • Aspect Ratio Settings - Quick Adjustments?

    G'day,
    Learner here, film student...
    So, I stuffed up the pixel aspect ratio settings of my Sequence... but only realised after cutting etc, so now I have heaps of little bits of clips to have to go into Motion tab and correct...
    Is there an easier way?
    Cheers

    So... my question is... If I now fix the Sequence settings to 1920x1080, Square PAR, and XD Cam... will Final Cut look to the original (clean) files, or will it look at the render files it's already (degraded) from the original ones?
    There are sequence presets for XDCAM. Open the Sequence settings (command + 0), and try loading the one that matches the video format of your clips.
    Before creating a new project in Final Cut Pro, you should always check your Audio/Video settings. Easiest way is to choose an Easy Setup, in the Final Cut Pro menu.
    I am guessing you are still using Final Cut Pro 5.x.x. Final Cut Pro 6 automatically sets the sequence settings for you the first time you add a clip to a sequence.
    In FCP 5.x.x you can use the following tip
    Editing non-standard FCP codecs
    Good luck!
    Next time you post a question, you should include as much info about the problem as possible. At least tell us what video format and versions of software you are working with. That will make it so much easier to help!

  • How do I restore all images in a collection to original imported aspect ratio?

    Typically I select all images in a catalog, resize the first image to 640x480.  I then right click on the first image (all images are still selected) click on Develop Settings, Sync and choose to sync only the aspect ratio.  All images are then cropped to 640x480 like the first image, which I then export to a folder.
    I then need to restore all images to the original aspect ratio for building a slideshow to export to my website.  I've followed the same procedure i.e. selected all images, click on the first image, change aspect to original, right click on first image and sync aspect ratio for all images.
    The problem is that the rest of the images do not return to their original aspect ratio but revert to 4x6 aspect ratio instead of the original size when imported.  I've changed the lock to unlocked and tried both but still no result.  Now I have to select each image individually, open the crop dialog and choose custom to get it back to the imported aspect ratio.
    How do I batch restore all images in a collection to the aspect ratio when imported?

    Rotating an image is adjusting its crop rotation and crop size.  You originally said you wanted things back to import state which presumably was full resolution w/o any adjustments to ratio, size, or rotation.  If you are wanting to do things in the middle of your other processing I'm less sure what to tell you.
    Taking a crop that you have at 3:2 and setting it to 4:3 shrinks in the longer sides, and resetting the ratio to 3:2 shrinks down the shorter top and bottom--this is how it always works, because a crop box is not ever expanded by setting the ratio to something different, and changing the ratio back and forth like that makes the crop-box smaller and smaller. 
    Are you having an issue because you want to fiddle with the crop in the middle of other processing every time, or is this a special case because you've moved on in your processing after asking your question some time ago? 
    If you routinely need to do this, an easier way might be to export the images at the 3:2 crop, then reimport those JPGs, change the crop on those JPGs, only, then re-export them a second time, and be done with them.  This sounds like you're making proofs?
    If you are making proof-sized images at a different ratio?  Why not just export the 3:2 images at a smallish size, perhaps with a watermark and not have to worry about making them 4:3 ratio?
    Another alternative would be to print the images to JPGs instead of a printer, and set the paper size to a 4:3 ratio and turn on the Fill option--which will chop of the long sides automatically as it prints them.

  • 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

  • Changing Aspect Ratio Question?

    I have just unwrapped and installed my new apple TV. Setup was the usual Apple synch
    However I've found someting tat is rather iritating and wanted to ask if someone can help me.
    When looking at the apple TV menue's etc the aspect ratio looks perfect on my 55" wide screen TV. and on my normal TV the current aspect ratio setting of the TV seems to work OK. I think I have it set to 16:9
    However when I either play a netflix movie or play a movie from my itunes library the picture doesnt fit and loks more like a 4:3 with black bars down the sides. I can stretch it out and it loks OK, but its very inconveniant to keep reseting the aspect ratio of my TV setup every time I use apple TV.
    BTW.. When I use the Wii to stream netflix it fits perfectly.
    I dont see a menu setting in apple TV to change aspect raitio..
    Can anyone help?
    Thanks,
    Steve

    There isn't one.  Its output is designed purely for 16:9 widescreen TVs.  Any adjustments thereafter must be made on the TV.
    If videos display incorrectly either the TV aspect ratio is wrong, TV is not widescreen, the stream (Netflix) is wrong or the local video file is wrongly encoded.  Of course if it's  a 4:3 film or TV show then it will display as intended with black bars on sides on a widescreen TV.
    When you say normal TV you presumably mean a non-widescreen TV?  AppleTV is not designed to output to 4:3 sets hence no onboard adjustments.
    AC

  • Aspect ratio problem - I think

    I've recently started using Compressor and have found it to be a very great app.
    However, I'm experiencing a problem that I can't seem to resolve.
    I shoot and edit HDV footage in FCP. After I generate a Quicktime movie (self-contained) - I'll fire up Compressor and add the .mov file. I wish to make a DVD so I select a setting (usually DVD Best Quality 90 mins.) and then click submit. Compressor generates two files that I drop into Toast and burn a DVD. The footage is in 16:9.
    I take the DVD out after burning in Toast and pop the DVD into a player.
    The problem is that the footage's aspect ratio is spilling over when viewed on a 4:3 aspect TV. This isn't good since my lower thirds get cut off. on the left by just a bit.
    So what can a do to remedy this? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

    So there's no way to compensate or correct in compressor other than to redo the titles in FCP?
    Hi,
    Your current self-contained movie has now become an independent movie from the original timeline and all tracks from your timeline are merged together into 1 QT movie.
    You can add text in Compressor as I said earlier but in this case you need to go back to FCP and simply do a few adjustments to your titles (being guided by the show title safe function), that shouldn't take long.
    You don't have to necessarily export as self-contained movie. By unchecking the self-contained box you create a reference movie (meaning that you create a file reference to your current edit without exporting/copying the correspondent media used) which you can import into Compressor.
    You can also send the timeline straight to Compressor (Export>Using Compressor).
    G.

  • Canon s95 in 3.3 RAW aspect ratio

    Hi,
    When I import Canon s95 in 3.3, RAW + JPEG with aspect ratio 3:2, I see the picture in 3:2 ratio.
    Nevertheless, the RAW has the full info (4:3)
    Is it possible to have it?
    Thanks

    Unfortunately, Lightroom does not read settings made by other software.  This probably would not be a solution for you.  But I wanted to create a series of images that would display full screen on my HD TV, 16:9 aspect ratio.  I selected all the images and then made the crop on the first one with auto sync enabled.  Then I went through the images, approximately 250, and found that I only had to make positional adjustments on about 20 of them.  In my opinion, I saved a lot of time.

  • Aspect ratio for stills in a video - Pre 11

    My camcorder is set to 16:9 aspect ratio.  Pre11 seems to know that and automatically uses that format.  My still camera is usually set to 4:3.  I frequently add some stills to my videos at the end - add some music and use cross dissolve transitions.  Those pictures keep their 4:3 aspect ratio (which I personally like for most stills).
    I am new to Pan & Zoom.  I notice that when using Pan & zoom the keyframes are 16:9 ratio.  This sometime requires too much cropping (especially if the still was a close-up).  Is there a way to make PRE11 use 4:3 ratio for stills using pan & zoom?

    Select your still on your timeline, then click the Adjust button to open the Adjustments panel. Open the Motion properties, then click the Show Keyframe Controls button (the stop watch) in the upper right corner of the panel.
    I show you step by step how to keyframe motion path pan & zooms in my books, if you're interested.
    http://Muvipix.com/pe11.php
    And, if you just want to learn the basics of the program, I've got a free 8 part Basic Training tutorial series for Premiere Elements 11.
    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/537685?tstart=0

  • Maintaining Photoshop aspect ratios in After Effects

    Hi there,
    I'm new to  adobe programs...
    I'm having a problem when i try to import a 720 x 540 photoshop image into After Effect at the same ratio. After establishing the same settings, my image in AE is slightly cut off at the sides (along the width), as if pillarboxed just barely. There's an outline around the image that seems like it maybe be closer to the 720 X 540 aspect ration, but i don't know how to make the image fill it up.
    Any suggestions?

    I your AE comp is 720 X 540 square pixels and your Photoshop file is 720 X 540 square pixels then the frame sizes match. If your AE comp is NOT square pixels or your Photoshop file was set to a non square pixel aspect ratio then AE will make the adjustments and you will see some distortion.
    You need to learn about pixel aspect ratios and you need to make sure that the source footage is properly interpreted. 720 X 540 is the old standard for NTSC 4:3 square pixels and it will fit perfectly in a 720 X 486 rectangular pixel composition if you're using a pre CS version of AE. The new standard for NTSC square pixels with a 4:3 picture ratio is 720 X 534. This will translate perfectly into a 720 X 486 frame. Unfortunately DV video and most DVD formats are limited to 720 X 480 so 6 scan lines are lost. The playback device strips them off anyway so there not really missed.
    To make your life easier just always plan on using the standard presets for your compositions and make all of your artwork square pixels. AE will properly interpret any DV footage you may import and will maintain a completely distortion free workflow. You can then use the Adobe Media encoder to render your deliverable DV or DVD product.
    I hope this clears things up a bit. Pixel aspect ratios confuse everyone at first.

  • Can I import with aspect ratio crop in Aperture?

    When importing images can I auto crop them to a specific aspect ratio?

    I find myself answering my own questions, well there is no way to save an aspect ratio as a preset, bummer. But I did find this article:
    http://aperture.maccreate.com/2010/04/19/a-way-to-create-crop-presets-in-apertur e-3/
    Have suggested to Apple, but really, it should be there anyway as some Adjustments can be saved already!

  • How to change from 16:9 aspect ratio to 4:3

    I've created a movie in iMovie09 using still photos that I cropped to the Widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. It looks great, but now I want to change it to Standard 4:3. I can do this under Project Properties, but then when I play it, the right and left sides of the photos have been cropped off. It wouldn't be so bad except that many of this photos have text which spans the width of the photo; the sides of the text are cropped off. What I'd like to do is have the movie show in letterbox with black at the top and bottom, and have the entire photo displayed.
    Any suggestions? I could go back to the beginning and recreate the movie with the 4:3 setting, but that will be very time-consuming. There ought to be an easier way.

    You have already taken the first step, which is to switch to 4:3 in Project Properties.
    Now, select a still and open the Rotate/Crop/Ken Burns Tool (on the middle bar). It sounds like it is set to "Crop". Change this setting to "Fit".
    Repeat for all photos.
    You can Edit/Copy the first still (after making the change). Then select the rest (using command-click or Edit/SelectAll). Then Edit/ Paste Adjustments.

  • FCP sets arbitrary -12.5 Aspect Ratio

    Folks
    I am plagued by FCP seemingly to arbitrarily slap a -12.5 Aspect Ratio on certain still images. Time after time I have to go through every image on my Timeline and "Red X" to clear this. My subjects of course look "fat" with this Aspect Ratio on—and my present project is made up of 90% stills.
    Why/how does it happen?
    How can I stop it?
    I Photoshop all my images and make sure they have correct parameters before importing them into FCP as .tifs
    Is there any way of "bulk/wholesale" checking/clearing all the images in the Timeline at once?
    Anybody help me, please? I sure would be grateful—as always!
    Regards
    Roy

    As the man said elsewhere:
    "When you drop a still image into an FCP Timeline, FCP will automatically scale and adjust the aspect ratio to match the Sequence settings. Since most image file are square pixel, if your FCP Sequence is one that requires rectangular pixels, FCP will adjust the image's aspect ratio to -12.5.
    If these still images are photographs, my suggestion would be to NOT prep them in Photoshop first. Instead, set Photoshop as the external still image editor in FCP's preferences. Import the photos and add them to the Timeline to see how they look on your external TV monitor. If you see any that need adjustment, then you can right-click and ""Open In Editor" (Photoshop) to make the needed adjustments."

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