Export-Quicktime Movie Clips Stretched

[dcho787]

I export from FCP and the exported file's aspect ratio looks stretched out. I look at the properties and the aspect ratio is still the same (720x480), but when I look at it it looks stretched out (noticeably). Also, when I play the exported file out of FCP, the quality looks a lot worse. Help?

 

[filmguy123]

Are you shooting anamorphic 16:9 footage? If so, this footage is always stretch at 720x480, it's just that Final Cut automatically corrects for it. QT plays it back as stretch. You can leave the footage at 720x480 and when using compressor or DVD studio Pro, just make sure you have the 16:9 boxes checked.

To play back correctly in quicktime, hit apple+J and go into the video track settings. Change the resolution to 853x480 (this is resolution that FCP automatically unstretches to when 16:9 flag is checked).

If you save the file at 853x480, it is no longer anamorphic (at least I *think*, since if you tried to unstretch that it would become very stretched... now you are dealing with native res... someone correct me if I am wrong...)