2.35:1 Once and For All!!

aravance

aravance

Well-known member
I don't know if this is good enough to stickie....or whom to ask...but I hope this helps.

After searching through the forums about this, I wanted to create a central thread where all those in need of exporting their videos in the coveted 2.35 aspect ratio could go.

These are the particular settings of the step-by-step process I used:
A) HVX 16x9 footage (720p24pN)
B) Final Cut Pro 5.1.2
C) Compressor 2
**For footage/programs other than this, you may need to adjust settings/formulas accordingly. I haven't tried it with 1080i footage or with mini-DV footage, but the concepts should be the same**

-------------------------------------------
--STEP 1--

To begin with, make sure you keep this aspect ratio in mind and frame accordingly during the filming process. You can buy or create your own 2.35 masks to fit your LCD screen or feild monitor to help with the framing. Or you could wing it at your own risk. The following thread goes into more details about LCD masking during production:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=74706



--STEP 2--

After you are done editing your video, you need to go ahead and apply a widescreen matte that'll maintain this aspect ratio. In FCP, you would go to Effects >> Video Filters >> Matte >> Widescreen >> 2.35:1.

This option allows you to move your footage around inside the matte for reframing, which is nice. However, it is of opinion that this method degrades the quality of the image.

There is another method that has been stated in this thread:
(credit to Brian C. Weed)
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=76577

1) Create a black matte using the video generator and put it on the timeline on top of your video track.
2) Go to Effects >> Video Filters >> Matte >> Mask Shape.
In the filter controls, set your Horizontal Scale too 100, and your Vertical Scale to 75.55.
3) Click the Invert box.

(If you want to know where I got 75.55, the aspect ratio of 2.35:1 for 720p footage is 1280x544. 544/720 = 75.5555....)

After rendering, export the video. Congrats. You've just created a 2.35 aspect ratio.
Slap it on a DVD and it should work.

If you are asking yourself, "Can I get rid of the black bars on the DVD?" The answer is obviously NO.
The black bars preserve the aspect ratio.
Without them, you'd just get 16:9 or 4:3 depending on the TV.

Now for Web use or quite possibly a film out, we can get rid of those pesky bars. Onwards.


--STEP 3--

I utilized Compressor 2 in order to get rid of the bars.

Bring the exported video file into Compressor. Click whatever compression you want (if any) and then go to the Geometry Settings in the Inspector.

Change the Frame Size to Custom. Then go to Constrain to Display Aspect and change it to 2.35:1. Then you can enter in whatever size you want your video in the Width and Height and it should follow accordingly. (for example, a width of 1280 gives you a height of 544. 1280/544 = 2.35)

Now to get rid of the bars, don't mess with the cropping buttons in the Inspector (it won't get rid of the bars). Instead, go to your Preview window to crop the footage. Change the height until the Top and Bottom both read 88.

My math/logic if you are interested is...
1280/x = 2.35. 2.35x = 1280. x = 544.
720 height - 544 height = 176.
176/2 (for top and bottom) = 88.

Click submit and BAM! You should be good to go.
-------------------------------------------------------------

I'm sure there are other ways and maybe even better ways to do this.
So please tack on any other methods you think are exceptional.

I am human, so there could potentially be some errors in my process/logic, but I haven't found any yet.

Cheers!!

~ V
 
Nice post Aravance! I can't wait to give this a try. This thread should be a sticky most definitely. :thumbsup:
 
Excellent post (can't believe I just now found it)

Anyone else have other ways to export 2.35:1 WITHOUT the balck bars? or is this the standard??

EDIT: after searching around a bit, I found another thread that explained how to achieve the 2.35 IN FCP.

Sure. I did all my editing, color correction, compositing, sound, titles, etc. in the standard FCP sequence (imported 24pa squeezed 16:9 footage with the Remove Advanced Pulldown setting, and dropped the clips straight into the default timeline),

then, after some help here on the forum, created a new sequence within the same project file and adjusted only that sequence's settings to: 720 x 303 for 2.35:1 (in the sequence settings dialog box make sure you select "custom" size or it will keep defaulting back to 4:3 or another standard format) - also check the correct aspect ratio.

With the new sequence set up, I copy everything from the original sequence and paste it into the new one. I did have to readjust some files to fit better. Especially photoshop files. They tend to distort first.

Do you have a widescreen matte filter applied from FCP? I don't know if that would mess it up or not.

If this doesn't help, give me more details about the project (size, filters, adjustments, etc.)

Still looking, but I'll post my findings here. Also still awaiting other people's workflows on getting to 2.35:1
 
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you know, technically, "2.35:1" has really been 2.39:1 since the early 1970s. if you truly want to replicate the "scope" aspect ratio, this is valuable information.
 
Zak Forsman said:
you know, technically, "2.35:1" has really been 2.39:1 since the early 1970s. if you truly want to replicate the "scope" aspect ratio, this is valuable information.
Click to expand...

2.40

many films since the original advent of 2.40 were scoped to 2.35 (forget the reason). only since the early 2000's have films again been shot and outputted in 2.39 or 2.40 (ie: Black Hawk Down, Minority Report, Bad Boys II, Christmas with the Kranks).
 
And please remember the majority, if not all, "scope" films are shot with a special 2x anamorphic lens and are not "hard matted". I do not like the look of hard matted 2.39:1. True 2x anamorphic unsqueezed to 2.39:1 is quite breathtaking. A well written page on the subject is found at the below link. Instead of all the mini35 hype I wish someone would make a nice affordable 72mm mount 2x anamorphic lens for the DVX. I have the 16:9 anamorphic and it is a fave of mine but I want a 2x anamorphic with my DVX.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anamorphic_widescreen
 
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Artscroll said:
And please remember the majority, if not all, "scope" films are shot with a special 2x anamorphic lens and are not "hard matted". I do not like the look of hard matted 2.39:1. True 2x anamorphic unsqueezed to 2.39:1 is quite breathtaking. A well written page on the subject is found at the below link. Instead of all the mini35 hype I wish someone would make a nice affordable 72mm mount 2x anamorphic lens for the DVX. I have the 16:9 anamorphic and it is a fave of mine but I want a 2x anamorphic with my DVX.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anamorphic_widescreen
Click to expand...


it would have to be custom made by one company. at this stage in the SD vs. HDV/HD game, I don' t think anyone will buts out one of those for the DVX. Maybe for the HVX, but after the RED has finally come out.

Thanks for the link
 
I've jerry-rigged a 2x anamorphic cheapo 16mm projection lens onto smaller cameras with way less than a 72mm filter ring and it is quite nice if you don't mind cheap glass. It is a focus nightmare but can be done for a limited amount of shots. Its impossible to find a large 2X anamorphic in a good price range (aka less than $400) that is meant for filming and not projection......I wish a manufacturer would recognize the need for it, especially with so many consumers now with the ability to desqueeze footage in post.
 
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