Semicolons in timeline

Knifecycle

Newbie Location: London Joined: Nov 13, 2017 10:28 Messages: 2 Offline

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Dec 13, 2017 19:52

What alien creature designed semicolons into the timetine? If anything, use the universal, international, standard colon or, better yet, a single dot (period, full stop). Semicolons (03;24;02;12) are not only bizarre but incredibly noisy - especially in the tight space provided for the timeline. The universal, international, standard time display would be 03:24:02:12, which is still noisy but at least familiar to humans living on Earth. Far better to display time as 03.24.02.12

Myk

Senior Member Location: The Hartland of Michigan Joined: Feb 05, 2015 16:09 Messages: 205 Offline

Dec 13, 2017 20:47

I think 03.24.02.12 looks more like a date. But I agree the ; is alien.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Dec 13. 2017 20:50

Jets2011

Senior Contributor Location: Canada Joined: Sep 29, 2006 05:26 Messages: 760 Offline

Dec 13, 2017 21:56

Hello,

It is not alien, it's a common way to signify that the project is using drop frame timecode for NTSC video:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMPTE_timecode#Drop_frame_timecode

If you don't like it, just go to General preferences and switch to non-drop timecode.

Dave

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Dec 14. 2017 01:19

Knifecycle

Newbie Location: London Joined: Nov 13, 2017 10:28 Messages: 2 Offline

Dec 14, 2017 04:50

Quote Hello,

It is not alien, it's a common way to signify that the project is using drop frame timecode for NTSC video:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMPTE_timecode#Drop_frame_timecode

If you don't like it, just go to General preferences and switch to non-drop timecode.

Dave

Many thanks for this info. Interestingly, the article you referenced has the following section:

"While non-drop timecode is displayed with colons separating the digit pairs—"HH:MM:SS:FF"—drop frame is usually represented with a semi-colon ( or period (.) as the divider between all the digit pairs—"HH;MM;SS;FF", "HH.MM.SS.FF"—or just between the seconds and frames—"HH:MM:SS;FF" or "HH:MM:SS.FF". The period is usually used on VTRs and other devices that don't have the ability to display a semi-colon."

From a design perspective, I'm surprised anyone would use a semicolon when a period (.) is available. With increasingly sophisticated graphics often shrunk into smaller spaces, noise is the enemy of functionality. Every redundant pixel should be removed. I'd recommend to Cyberlink that the next version of PowerDirector switch to periods from semicolons.

BTW, cool icon (and well designed). CF-104 Starfighter?

I've never figured out why my icon looks like crap on some websites (this one, for example).

Jets2011

Senior Contributor Location: Canada Joined: Sep 29, 2006 05:26 Messages: 760 Offline

Dec 15, 2017 01:20

Quote

From a design perspective, I'm surprised anyone would use a semicolon when a period (.) is available.

Hi,

Well...because it was a decision made by an engineer I am sure, not a graphic artist type of designer. So not suprising

Thanks...you are close. The logo is based on the Royal Canadian Air Force's logo (a tribute to them). It is for the NHL hockey team in my hometown, i.e. the Winnipeg Jets.

Dave