Removing Letterbox remain in 4:3

F

freeheellife

Member
I wasn't able to find an answer to this question through a search, if anyone could help.

I have some footage shot in Letterbox 4:3 and am wondering if there is a way to just remove the bars so that it can be mixed in with Normal 4:3?

thoughts?
thanks
 
I'm new to the DVX but I'd have to say no- if you shot the footage in fake 16:9 (4:3 with a letterbox mask) then that letterbox is burned into the image forever- from my understanding anyway.

If you can't remove it, the only other options I can think of is stretching the video image out (so the letterbox is not visible- you'll lose quality), or letterbox masking everything else.
 
Depends on the footage....

PROBLEM 1. Footage was shot 4:3, captured as anamorphic & FCP is letterboxing the footage....

SOLUTION 1. Look at the clip information & uncheck that is it anamorphic. Footage will go from being displayed as 16:9 to 4:3. No loss to picture quality.


PROBLEM 2. Footage was shot 16:9, letterboxed to 4:3 (black bars burnt into video).

PROBLEM 3. Footage was shot 16:9, FCP letterboxes the video on the 4:3 timeline (black bars are added to the video to preserve the aspect ratio).

SOLUTION 2 & 3. Use the motion tab & scale footage to match height of 4:3 content. You'll be loosing footage on the side of the frame. You should then PAN & SCAN the footage to keep most important pieces of the video in the frame. (You will keep your verticle resolution in #3, lose some resoultion in #2.)


PROBLEM 4. Footage was shot 4:3, incorrectly squished to 16:9 w/ black bars brunt in.

SOLUTION 4. Use the motion tab to distort the footage so that the verticle picture is stretched to the top & bottom of the screen, while keeping the horizontal the same. You'll lose some verticle resolution, but video will be in the correct aspect ratio.
 
Thanks for the posts guys. I'm going to try scaling up and I'll let you know if that works. i'm starting to realize the advantage of shooting in squeeze or at least 4:3 and letterbox in post.
 
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