16x9 Production

kosstheory wrote on 11/19/2002, 3:44 PM

a few questions about working with 16x9 production.

1. If my camera has no support for 16x9, is it it still feasible to produce 16x9 video using vv3? If so, how? What are the correct steps to take (i.e. the steps that will generate the highest quality possible).

2. I have tinkered with this a bit, and it doesn't seem to be sufficient to simply apply the 16x9 black bars as a media level event. The resulting image when displayed on a 4:3 NTSC TV has some of the horizontal information stripped on the left and right sides of the screen, and the black bars at the top and bottom do not appear to be as large on the TV screen as they do on the computer preview screen.

3. Is there anyway to be certain that what is in the preview monitor will be what is output to the T.V. without having to eyeball the output?

Thanks

Comments

Tyler.Durden wrote on 11/19/2002, 5:39 PM

Hi Koss theory,

If you have the correct dimensions for the letterbox, you should be OK. If the letterbox frame is different on a TV it is most likely because TVs overscan, and clip some of the image, while your computer monitor does not.

I cannot account for information lost at the sides.

Are you producing for true widescreen sets or standard 4:3 sets? You might consider shooting anamorphicly if you intend to produce for widescreen sets. There were some topics regarding anamorphic methods recently that you might search here for.

HTH, MPH

FuTz wrote on 11/19/2002, 7:51 PM

You can always "make your own" by using caches (ie creating the black up&down bars). You draw these in a program like photoshop with alpha channel (transparency) and lay it over the whole film afterwhile.
Be SURE to stick some pieces of black masking tape on your camera LCD viewer to have the same proportions when you shoot to have the proper framing...
ADVANTAGE: you can shoot "interlaced". I never tried but some people on this forum seem to tell it's superior quality (?!?).
Knowing this now, you're free to shoot even in 18:3 if you wish !!! :P! :D