cropping images for 16:9 TV and Video Preview

stevem99 wrote on 9/19/2009, 11:16 AM
I am trying to determine the best aspect ratio in order to create a widescreen dvd for a 16:9 TV. I will be using DVD architect for authoring the NTSC DVD. When setting up the project I choose DVD Widescreen. When I crop the image in event pan/crop I can right click the
image and choose "match output aspect". This fills the Video Preview window perfectly.
If I choose "16:9 widescreen TV" from the drop down presets at the top of the event pan/crop
window, I get narrow black bars in the Video Preview. The Video Preview aspect is set
at 873x480 and I don't know if it can be changed to 853x480 which is standard 16:9 widescreen TV. Which is the optimal way to crop the pictures? 16:9 (853x480) or 873x480?
If it's 853, then I guess I will just have to deal with the black bars in the Video Preview.
I don't want any cropping or stretching in the final TV picture. Thanks for any advice.

Comments

B Mark wrote on 9/19/2009, 12:37 PM
You didn't say what format your source video is in . If 4:3, I don't see how you're going to get around cropping when changing to 16:9. You can try this method from Eugenia for 4:3 to 16:9.
http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/12/12/from-43-to-169-with-sony-vegas/ .
stevem99 wrote on 9/19/2009, 1:53 PM
I'm using images that can be cropped on all sides. I don't crop them manually. I just want to
know what aspect ratio to lock in, in the event pan/crop window as I pan and/or zoom the image. Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I'm new to movie studio. I know it should be either DVD widescreen which is 873px wide or 16:9 TV which would be 853px wide. I guess when I used the DVD widescreen project setting and then then saw the narrow bars on the sides of the Preview Video when using the 16:9 TV preset in crop/pan it caused me to wonder which is optimal for TV. Thanks.
stevem99 wrote on 9/19/2009, 2:45 PM
OK... I'm getting closer to figuring this out. In DVD Architect there are 2 settings for widescreen DVD: 720x480 and 704x480. The 704x480 is 853x480 and the 720x480
is 873x480 when PAR is applied. My images can be cropped either way. I think
with 720 there is a 3% overscan which probably doesn't matter?. Since movie studio
has a preset project setting of 720x480 widescreen I guess 873 is what I should use.

I guess I answered my own question... LOL