mix between 4x3 and 16x9

[sadude]

Im creating some digital signage ads for a client now and i am trying to work out a correct aspect ratio for the ads.

the client has 2 types of screens one is 4x3(or actually 5x4) the other is 16x9

i dont want to have to make 2 seperate ads for each type of screen so i came up with a ratio of 1580x1080 which i calculated to be somewhere in half way point of the 2 aspects.

i make the ad in after effects at this magic ratio i call it and then import it to primier pro and squash it to a 4x3 ratio.

so on a 4x3 lcd screen it is slighlty squashed and on a 16x9 screen it is slightly stretched.

Is there a better way?

here is the ad in its 4x3 ratio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZg8qis8fMs

 

[milksac]

The typical way to handle 16:9 and 4:3 output is to design in HD protecting for a center cut version of the spot. This means all the relevent information is in the center of the frame. The graphic treament extends to the edges of the frame, but none of the critical information is placed on the edges. When you design this way you can do a center cut downconvert to SD (essentially lopping off the sides of the frame) without compromising critical content (i.e.; the clients phone number doesn't get cut off).

This is of course a compromise in design, restricting certain elements to a certain portion of the frame. But it's the only way to create content for both ratios without doing the work twice.