I just shot a piece in the normal aspect ratio and my producer wants me to edit a seperate version of it in the letterbox format. Is this possible? I know you can add the letterbox filter in FCP but wouldn't this chop off part of the image? Any suggestions on how I can make this possible? Thanks!
Letterbox format
- Thread starter molocono
- Start date
Staven
Well-known member
When you say normal aspect ratio I'm assuming you mean 4:3? If so all you can do is add a widescreen matte over your existing project to make it letterboxed.
Go into the video filters and open MATTE. In there you will find WIDESCREEN. Double click widescreen and you can set the aspect ratio/amount of letterboxing by clicking on TYPE.
Now, as you thought you will be cutting off some of your 4:3 picture. If you have the movie completed as one long clip in your timeline, you are limited to having the matte the same over the entire movie. But, if you still have the film cut in individual clips, you can drop a widescreen matte on each clip, then using the OFFSET function, move the matte either up or down to get as good of a frame as possible(ie not cut off someones head). **Be aware though that in FCP4.5 the offset can make your image "soft", you may need to try different offsets to have it stay in focus.(ie, if offset-45 makes the image go soft, try 44 or 43 and it may go back to normal.) **You'll need an external monitor/tv to truly see if the image goes soft or not. Turning the matte filter on and off once you apply it is a good way to see if it affects the image.
Recommended ratio for matte? I'd say try 1.78:1. Makes it anamorphic, but doesn't cut off too much. If it cuts off too much try 1.70:1
good luck.
Go into the video filters and open MATTE. In there you will find WIDESCREEN. Double click widescreen and you can set the aspect ratio/amount of letterboxing by clicking on TYPE.
Now, as you thought you will be cutting off some of your 4:3 picture. If you have the movie completed as one long clip in your timeline, you are limited to having the matte the same over the entire movie. But, if you still have the film cut in individual clips, you can drop a widescreen matte on each clip, then using the OFFSET function, move the matte either up or down to get as good of a frame as possible(ie not cut off someones head). **Be aware though that in FCP4.5 the offset can make your image "soft", you may need to try different offsets to have it stay in focus.(ie, if offset-45 makes the image go soft, try 44 or 43 and it may go back to normal.) **You'll need an external monitor/tv to truly see if the image goes soft or not. Turning the matte filter on and off once you apply it is a good way to see if it affects the image.
Recommended ratio for matte? I'd say try 1.78:1. Makes it anamorphic, but doesn't cut off too much. If it cuts off too much try 1.70:1
good luck.