aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

Rich Lee

Rich Lee

I shoot Pirates.
Im working on this little template that will let me print out aspect ratio guides that will fit on the dvx lcd screen.

I measured the size of the actual lcd screen, and created it in illustrator. i created a 1.85 guide inside that, as well as a little crosshair and and some other little tick marks. its kinda like a ground glass for an lcd screen. now for the cool part. i am going to print it on a piece of acetate (transparency), and cut it out. it should then sit just inside the frame of the lcd screen. ultimately im going to hunt around for some sticky transparency film. like the kind they use on new displays for cell phones, you know, the kind you peal of as soon as you open the box.

here is a little version of the template. it could be reworked for any aspect ratio or whatever you want.

DVXGG_185_03.JPG


the one thing i havnt done yet is measured how much the lcd screen crops down the actual image recorded to tape. once i have that measurment i can adjust the template to match more closely what is real 2.35 or 1.85 or whatever....

anyway, once im done with it, if this is something anyone is interested in let me know. i can post the illustrator file.

btw...does one of these exist already? i might be wasting my time....
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

I've never heard of someone actually doing it, though i know that different forms of the idea have been kicked around. Nothing this inctuitive though, I would be very interested in getting your AI files, it sounds fairly simple to make, but if your already doing it than I don't mind moochin! ;D
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

I've done this and i was very pleased with mine. Although I don't know what the LCD crops, but I would like to. I just usually guess.
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

You mean I shouldn't have painted my LCD with magic markers?

UGH!

CaptM
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

hey rich, you could try using injet printable window decal film. the stuff that sticks to glass or smooth surfaces with static. used to be able to get it at best buy, but you might try office max or somwhere similar.. otherwise lots of places sell it online. thats a great idea, and i think ill print up a set for my lcd too. framing guides for for 2.35 and 1.85 as well as 16:9 would be very very handy.
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

iamloser- great! thanks for the tip, i wasnt really sure what the film was or where to get it. i will probly pick some up today or tomorrow and test it out.
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.


Ok, so i finished the template as far as i am going to finish it for now. I never had a chance to measure the amount of crop on the lcd. But, for now, im fine with these guides, even if they are off by a bit.

DVX-GG-01small2.JPG

so thats what they look like right now...

All you have to do is buy some "window decals" inkjet film from office depot or staples (thanks imloser for that info!). Print the .ai file. and cut them out along the outside black line and place them on the lcd. i added little tabs to the side, so that when you want to take it off, its really easy. I tried it once without the tabs and it was a ***** to get off.

Anyway, i have been messing with them today, and i must say, they are really cool! i love it....Very helpfull.

here is a link to the ai file. modify it all you like...

http://www.rich-lee.com/DVX-GG-01.ai

peace
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

The picture is broken... Just FYI.
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

yeah, the bandwidth on my site was just killed...gotta make more compressed movies...should be back up soon
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

i got this idea from someone else a while ago, it is the easiest way i know to make sure you know where center is.

i have been meaning to remake mine with more marks than just center.

the best material i have found is the little palm pilot screen protectors they sell.

they are cheap and supposedly don't leave a mark.

anyplace like compusa has them on the little display thing that is full of small palm pilot add-ons.

matthew
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

hey rich,

if you print somewhat light grey over the areas you want out of frame, it will make them grey, but still transparent on the film so you can see your readouts underneath and such. of course you have to experiment to get the right amount of transparent grey or whatever color you want to use. cause some printers use more ink than others. pending the settings and such. also just a suggestion, but you should move the tab to the top or bottom corner on the side, and it will make the removal even easier cause you can pull from a corner then. you can also print out big greyed out rectangles from the entire sheet to use to stick to a smaller onset or production monitor instead of using tape. i had to start thinking of ideas cause the pack has more than one sheet..lol

i suppose i could always snap some digital pics of desirable local parking stickers, and print some out for parking during run and gun shoots... ::)
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

thanks imloser, the sticker placement change is a good idea i will do that. i did do the 50% grey to see what is was like. i didnt really like it, just a personal prefference i guess. and yeah, i was also trying to think of ways to use the rest of the sheet. maybe making smaller versions for the eye piece? or maybe just some bullshit ones that i can slap onto some crew members cars like " i like little boys" and whatnot

peace
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

thanks for taking the time to put this together for us rich!! you the man
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

You just beat me to the idea of making one for the eye piece. The question is how you get it in there.

Last time I was shooting 2.35 (2.39) I fed LOTR into the DVX and made markings according to that. Not sure if the results are dead on but I would think so because it was a anamorphic encoded DVD.

BTW has anyone else tried to lay down letterbox bars in post only to find out that the DVX bars dont match up to the 16X9 or 1.85 presets in Sony Vegas? Whats the deal? Could the letterbox generated in camera on the DVX not be exactly 16:9?
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

..correct , it not exactly 16:9 .. its a little tall. 372 pixels high-- end result.. nobody really notices or cares. ..i mean you have to ask yourself.. how long did you go without knowing?.. and now that you know.. is is imperitive that you take extra steps to change it because its actually somehow negatively affected anything youve done in the past?
you might find that most widescreen/16:9 things are a little off, but the standard for DV 16:9 format is not true mathematical 16:9 either anyway.
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

After runnig a quick test built-in letterbox in DVX100 (not A) is actually more like 1,66 to me.
To make my LCD markers, i hooked up the DVX to the mac and displayed MB letterbox from After Effects, seems pretty accurate.

Nico
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

if you measure it out, on a 4:3 display the in-camera letterbox on the original DVX100 is about 1.72:1 - which is so damn close to 1.78:1 that you could easily frame everything in-camera and not worry at all about composition...
 
Re: aspect ratio overlay for dvx lcd.

On the camera, I turned on the crop bars, marked it with a piece of tape that I drew a marker line on, applied to the LCD screen and turned the crop bars off. Seemed to line up just right when I turned bars on in post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top