QT files are not being played at the right height on laptop - why?

Question

Hello eveyone,
The QT files imported in my MacBook pro are HQ but are being played 1280 x 405 (for the length of the screen, but not at the right height). I can't even play view them with the Actual file feature. The Movie Inspector tells me the clipes were shot normal (1920x1080) yet I can't se them properly.
I tried on a different MacBook pro and I have the same problem.
Does anybody know why? What should I do?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Actually, there is no problem with the original files.
Since I do not know how you came to this conclusion or if it is correct, my first thought is, "Show me the proof." I.e., post a captured image of the "Inspector" window for the player you are currently using. This will tell me which QT player you are using, whether the display is controlled by scaled dimension or aspect ratio settings, whether the file was encoded anamorphically or non-anamorphically, and whether the encoded aspect ratio matches the current display aspect ratio. It won't tell me the true aspect ratio of the video but a look at people and objects in a single video frame will normally disclose whether or not the display aspect is reasonably close or not.
If I import them in say Final Cut Pro, I can see them properly...so it's only the Quick Time on our laptops that display the clips wrong.
This isn't really helpful since FCP has settings that allow the user to both change and scale display dimensions and aspect ratios. QT 7 Pro will allow you re-scale the aspect ratio of a display but not alter its encoded aspect ratio while QT X will allow you to resize the display scale but only in reference to its encoded aspect ratio. Neither will allow you to display a file at dimensions greater than your current video card settings (i.e., where actual dimensions are greater than screen display resolutions for the encoded aspect ratio). In a similar manner, "fit" and "fill" option availability will also depend on the device/player and available screen resolutions/aspect ratiios which you have yet to indicate for either platform previously mentioned.
The full length of the screen, but not the full height... Do you have any advide on how to get the settings done? I looked into the QT settings and coulnd't find the right button/panel...
As previously stated, the first step is to determine if the files are being displayed correctly—i.e., at their correct aspect ratio for the allowable display space available for the current screen resolution available on the platforms being used for viewing. For instance, are you viewing in the full screen mode, or with menu bar being displayed and/or with the dock in or out of active display. These settings plus the video card screen resolulution will determine the maximum number of viewing pixels available fort the display height. Once the scale height is set by the QT player, then QT app will scale the display width to what it believes is correct display setting. If the aspect of the display is correct for the scaled height and width, then the file is being displayed correctly at the maximum display height available and there is nothing wrong and nothing to be corrected either in the file or the media player other than your desire to play a file at dimenensions larger than available for your display. (I.e., this is equivlent to saying you want to display a 52 inch diagonal picture on 32 inch HDTV—"it ain't gonna happen."
On the other hand, if the aspect ratio is incorrect for the maximum display height available for the app, system, and platform being used for viewing, then all of the other things I mentioned come into effect with regard to correcting the embedded display settings within the file.
Example: If i take an anamorphically encoded 1440x1080 (1920x1080) file and display it on my monitor set to a resolution of 2560x1440, then I can display the file at its "actual" display size (1920x1080) or even scale it to 2560x1440 (Full Screen Display mode) but if I reset my monitor to a  4:3 aspect resolution of 1600x1200, then I cannot play the file at its actual 1920x1080 display resolution since its width is limited to 1600 pixels and when the 16:9 aspect ratio is applied to the 1600 pixel display width, the display height is limited to 900 pixels in a "Fit to screen mode."
If your source file was recorded at 1920x1080, then the file's aspect ratio is 16:9 (1.78:1). However, your 1280x405 screen size implies that either the file is now being displayed in the "Fit" mode with a changed aspect ratio of 3.16:1 (1280x405) or that you are viewing the file in the "Fill" mode which chops off the top and bottom of your 1280x720 (1.78:1) display. (I.e., the "Fit" mode will scale the display at its current aspect to fit within the available display area and yet allow you see the entire display area as a "scaled view at the correct aspect while the "Fill" mode scales the video to fill your entire screen even if this means losing the top/bottom or left/right portions of the display area when the monitor resolution aspect ratio and video display ratio are not the same.)
Therefore, if your file is correctly formatted as you claim, use the "Command-F" QT shortcut to view the file at its largest available dimensions at the correct aspect ratio on any platform and using either the QT X or QT 7 player. (Don't forget to set the QT 7 "Full Screen" preference.)