Hi drummer grl,
Some of this just echoes Adrian’s excellent post, and some of this may not specifically apply to your questions, but for what it’s worth here are some more thoughts on aspect ratios in general.
(If any of it is inaccurate, I would welcome any member chiming in and setting me straight. I have learned so much from so many forum members, and I appreciate every bit of it.)
drummer grl wrote:
I did one and set the size for 960 x 540 and opened it in PD with aspect ratio set to 16:9 it just didn't look right. Maybe I need to play with it a little more.
- 4:3 -
If you have an image you want to use (be it either found or created), you can use the following formula/math to get a perfect 16:9 or 4:3 “fit” in the viewing pane.
For instance, in a 4:3 aspect ratio project, which in PowerDirector is typically 640x480 for standard definition. If you have an image you want to use that’s say... 1530x1250. Upon dragging it into the timeline, you’ll get those black bars on the sides. However if you import that image into a photo editor, and take the first number (1530) and multiply it by 0.75 (e.g. 1530 x 0.75 = 1147.5), and edit/crop/resize your image to now be 1530x1148, you will now fill the 4:3 screen without having those black side bars.
In short, if you take any image and multiply the first number by 0.75, and then crop/resize as described above, you will get a perfect 4:3 image that fills the screen.
I often put a white border around an image that is not the correct size for the aspect ratio I’m using. I then crop this image to the correct size (using above formula), with the image centered/placed where I want it to be in this white field. Then using a photo editor’s “Clone” tool, I capture little parts of the image or it’s background, and use them to fill in the white border. The result is that I now have a manipulated and properly sized full image, for what ever aspect ratio I’m using.
- 16:9 -
For 16:9 projects, same as above, but multiply the first number by 0.5625.
As far as your question about the best size for the best quality. Even though I am not a techie with respect to the technical architecture of PD7 and computers, OS, etc, it would seem to me that if one were to create an image in say MS Paint or Photo Shop for a 16:9 project, that one would want to start with a canvas if you will, of at least 1280x720, as that is one of the default sizes for a 16:9 video. And I’m assuming that the larger the image’s size, the greater it’s detail will be for HD projects.
drummer grl wrote:
...so I can view it on a 16:9 tv do I open PD with ratio set at 16:9 and put the 4:3 video in it knowing the video will not fill the screen?
If you want to create a 16: 9 project, then yes, you have to have PD’s aspect ratio set to 16:9 “before” you begin creating it. And you do have some options with respect to what you can do with an older 4:3 project that you now want to incorporate into a 16:9 project, by doing the following...
Open PD > set aspect ratio to 16:9 > load a clip (originally produced in 4:3) into the Master Video Track > right click on clip in the timeline and select Set Aspect Ratio > choose... The Aspect Ratio Of The Video Is 4:3
Now you will be presented with some options in the drop down box. You will need to experiment with each of them to see which one best suits your project. I often employ the “Use CLVP To Stretch Clip” option. But it can give a weird over stretched look to it some times, and it isn’t always the best option. Again, you just have to experiment to find what works best for that project.
Another option is to drag your previously produced 4:3 vid into a PIP of this new 16:9 project. With your 4:3 in a PIP of this new 16:9 project...
highlight clip > click Modify Tab > un-check the Keep Aspect Ratio box.
Now you can customize the size and aspect ratio of your 4:3 clip in the 16:9 viewing pane.
Or, get creative! Add a little flair to your new 16:9 production by creating a template to frame your 4:3 footage and images. For an example of what I mean, see the first few seconds (or as much as you can stand, hahaha) of the video at this link...
http://seemyworldonvideo.com/view/385/jitter/
Just some thoughts drummer grl. Good Luck.
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