16X9 in quicktime?

Jack Daniel Stanley

Jack Daniel Stanley

Moderator
Staff member
Hi.

-----LATER MODIFICTAION TO POST:
Here is the link with corrected aspect ratio (thanks Proximity).
http://live-theater.org/logo16X9.mov
You can still view the link with incorrect aspect ratio below-----

First Grab Post. Have had camera about a week, and I've mostly been trying to get that razor sharp focus / resolution wit the anamoprhic adaptor that I've seen on other peoples posts (Deadkidz particularly) and having little luck.

But I've been playing around with a company logo trailer.

Here's the link:
http://live-theater.org/logo.mov

Can't figure out how to make it 16X9 when I export, though.

It's not quite 4:3 and not quite 16X9. Notice the bicycle tires are still a little oval shaped.

And yes, it was captured and editied on a 16X9 timeline and looks correct when played in FCP.

So how do I get 16X9 aspect ratio for web and what are favorite codec / compressions. Sorenson seems to make a big difference.

Here's the link again:
http://live-theater.org/logo.mov

Any other feedback on it would be cool.

Equipment:
Anamoprhic Adaptor
100a
Century Optics LCD Hood 16X9 interpreter / magnifier
FCP HD 4.5
G4 17" laptop 1.67 GHz, 1.5 GB ram, 80 GB hard drive
Canon ZR
Film Effects & Magic Bullet

thanks!
 
In Final Cut Pro, you can choose to see your video as square pixels. Maby if you check/uncheck this, the results will vary. But if will not effect your export. - If you want to stretch or squeeze your export, just customize your export settings in Quicktime. By setting a custom size for your video. Like 320x180 is a widescreenformat. - Anyhow, just a tip that may not suit your prodject: Dont use sorenson. If you have Final Cut Pro 4.5, (HD), just use Compressor and make life easier. In Compressor, try out H.264 :D
 
Yeah... and "other feedback".

- Cool video, like the concept. Only the animation seems to have been produced by you using Final Cut Pros basic motions tools (center). It looks more than OK, but needs more work to give that "pro-touch".
 
Looks good...maybe try adding a shadow to the text..cuz the sun light facing downward and it would look cooler with a shadow...and try to make the text go behind the pole....then it looks like it really is in the scene with the biker...but its still good...those last 2 touches would make it perfect.
 
Nice look and feel. The text needs some work. It's not strong enough and it should definitely stay up longer or fade out with the rest of the video, at the end.

Nice stuff, overall.
 
Thanks and Corrected Clip

Thanks and Corrected Clip

Thanks for the feedback.

Figured out the aspect ratio thing. (Thanks Proximity!)
I was dividing from 720X480 (which is divisible by 16 but not by 9) and trying to set the clip aspect that way that way, rather than multiplying by 16 and 9. As it was posted it was at 360 X 240. Now it is 400 X 225 ... I would say "duh" but why is my 16X9 anamorphic timeline at 720X480 vs.720X405 which would be (16 times 45) by (9 times 45)? ... hmmm....

Here is the coorected aspect ratio:
http://live-theater.org/logo16X9.mov

Proximity et al:
How might I go about making the text animation look more pro? It was done just in FCP.


bickHawk542
I did have the text going behind the pole for a while by matting out the pole. But it was a big pain and this version is a prototype. I will probably add that back. What’s the best way to do so?

For example, there is a midget that lives in the quarter whom we’ve seen on more than one occasion in full on bds&m gear or, alternatively, dressed as Alice from Alice in wonderland. I need to introduce myself to him and ask if he would be kind enough to walk from right to left a beat after the bicylcer clears the screen. Idea being not so much “hey look at the freak” as “look at the vast diversity of species existing in our sort of ‘social rainforest’ that is the French Quarter".

I have no idea how to go about making shadows. I was also thinking that the text could wrap against the back wall, changing its shape like it was a shadow. But again, no idea how.

Also, if I had a person walk back across the text, would I have to film that person against a blue screen, or could I just follow them with a matte that would block out the text. The only mattes I have any experience with are in FCP, and as near as I can tell they are all very geometric and hard to work with.

PK
When you say stronger do you mean more opaque? Or less lame? I like the semi translucent quality … but maybe the text would play better if it had some sort of outline .. or if it was more pro looking (i.e. less lame). And yeah, I think the text should stay up a little longer, but I like it being taken out by the bicycle bell (I think) rather than fading at the end.

What software are you guys using to work with text for pro results.

Also – surprised no one commented on the blue graduated filter applied in post. Maybe it works as the whole thing looks sort of watercolorish, but I think it bleeds onto the rooftop too much and stays prominent too long.

Thanks again for feedback.
 
Before I say anything else, I just need to point out that when I suggest something, I write it flat out such as I would do it my self.

Text looks fine in 16x9. You can add a shadow to any object in Final Cut Pro. Underneath the basic motion tools, spend some time with it to find out how it works. If you want to make the text go behind to pole, you need to de-interlace the video, export one frame, use photoshop to extract just the pole, the shadow is not going to be a problem there. And then import the pole to Final Cut Pro and place it over the old pole, but not until the first biker had gone by. Use the same tools as you did with the text to center it over the old pole. To make the text blend better with the wall, try setting the text layer as "multiply" under its layer settings, this will go for th shadow also. Lastly, I would start the kerning effect (spreading the letters) a few frames before they stop on the wall, to make the motion flow a bit more. And de-accelerate the text dynamicly instead of static. (if that made sence?)

Theese suggestions might not work, but they are pretty easy to do, so I would try theese out first.
 
Thanks Proximity,

Yeah its de-interlaced, was sahot 24pa, removed 2:3:3:2 pulldown in capture and editied on 23.98.

Will try the photo shop pole thing. Sounds easy except that the frame is never quite still, always panning a little. Is this how people are doing things like makeing the egg fly around in the egg thread - with a photoshop object and motion in FCP.

Suggetsions on smoothing out the stop and kerning effect are good. Will do.

PK had a very effective effect .... in his title for Romance is Dead which can be viewed at his website - which is pretty cool: http://laundryday.com

Would like to hear how you did that PK.

Thanks
 
i agree with PK the text needs to stay up longer when it has reached the place where it stays. Although you have time to read it as it moves its nice to read it in its entirety after it has stopped. And it should definetly not just cut out, either fade it out or do some type of effect to transition it out more smoothly.
 
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