Shooting in HD, Framing for SD -- Commercials

[rsmith]

I will likely be using an HVX200 for a commercial soon. However, I've never shot in HD while having to think about what the client will do in terms of cropping for SD.

If you notice, an HD commercial broadcast on ABC will be sparkling, but it's still cropped for the output to SD television users as well.

Basically, I don't know the underlying workflow for this process. Is there usually an in-camera option to guide framing in this regard? What will the client be doing (or that I could do as a test for accuracy myself) that enables them to crop for SD and retain the original HD for simul-casting?

 

[emretufekci]

Yes most cameras will have a 4:3 safe area for their viewfinders (i dont think 200 is one of them).

You can use a external monitor like the Panasonic line that will give you a 16x9 image with the 4:3 area being lighter for "SD safe".

As for the clients we provide them with 2 copies, one at HD 16X9 and one SD 4:3.

Hope this helps.

 

[clang]

Yeah, cropping is the downside of a dual format TV world. One way or another, you need to mark the 4:3 safe area on your viewfinder/monitor (at worst, marker pen on clear plastic taped on), and then make sure all the vital stuff is appearing in that safe area, so the footage will look good whether cropped or not.

Also check whether your NLE can display the 4:3 safe area on HD footage - that will be a time saver if your client does need both a SD and HD ratio version.

 

[cyclone]

Commonly called "shooting for HD but protecting for cneter extraction." This way, the stations create the Standard Def version from the HD for you. Just be sure that all of your titles are still in the title safe area once the center has been extracted by the stations. But I usually do what EMRETUFEKCI suugests: two separate masters - one in HD and one in SD. It's more expensive that way, but you are positive what the Standard Def. version will ultimately look like.