Pixel Aspect Ratio - Display

mfhau wrote on 5/4/2005, 5:11 AM
I am using the PAL DV(720x576, 25.00 fps) with a PAR 1.0926 (PAL DV) project template to input many pan and scan PNG stills of all different shapes and sizes plus some DV video.

In order to have the stills display properly (I am using a scan of a Circle to test this) I must change the PAR of the stills from 1.0 to 1.0926. (I thought Vegas after it gives stills a PAR of 1.0 would manage this) Ok, following advice in this forum and elswhere - in Stream Properties I then hit the "Save settings to video profiles for future Auto-detection" button for Stills 1 - so that I can have PNGs with a PAR of 1.0926 but whenever I bring another PNG into the project it's PAR is 1.0 - what am I missing???

I think this PAR thing for stills is enough to send most sane men mad - having read everything in this forum and other stuff which just says put them on the timeline and Vegas takes care of it - I am still none the wiser and can't understand why the PAR in this case has to be changed form 1.0 to 1.0926 (mind you I get the maths) to display the stills properly!!! I suppose I am saying that I accept that Vegas is doing the right thing - but why isn't obvious.

(This post was rewritten from the bottom of another thread on a similar subject - it was being negelected)

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 5/4/2005, 6:01 AM
I just tried creating a cirlce in a 787x576 still image file and dropping it onto a PAL timeline. It came out a circle. I didn't set any aspect ratios at all. None, nada, zilch.

Do you have the preview window set to "Simulate device aspect ratio"?
Marco. wrote on 5/4/2005, 11:31 AM
These are the two ways to go. Either import 720x576 graphics and change the aspect ratio to dv properties. Or import 787x576 graphics and don't change anything.

Marco
mfhau wrote on 5/4/2005, 1:42 PM
Thanks for that - that I undersatnd.
My probelm is that my still is 1413x1472 and many other different sizes as I wish to zoom in significantly.
Match Aspect Ratio is checked automatically and the preview is screen is set to Simulate Aspect Device Ratio.

To display properly I have to change the PAR of the PNG still to PAL DV - 1.0926. I'd like to automate this using the the "Save settings to video profiles for future detection", but it doesn't work or I am doing something wrong. (Also does anyone have a script to change PARs ? that would be handy-Searched hi lo.

Chienworks wrote on 5/4/2005, 1:59 PM
Are you sure you have your monitor set to a screen PAR of 1.0? If you run a resolution of something like 1024x768 or 1280x960 you should be ok. If you use 1280x1024 then you could actually have a screen PAR of 1.0666... which could be confusing the issue.

If i set the image to 1.0926 then circles come out oval distinctly wider than the are tall. If i leave it at 1.0 then they stay circles. You should not have to be changing the PAR.
rmack350 wrote on 5/4/2005, 2:10 PM
The key test would be to spin the circle in Vegas. It should always look the same as it spins. If it looks like an oval but stays that way as it spins then the PAR is fine but the monitor is off.

Rob Mack
mfhau wrote on 5/4/2005, 11:11 PM
Well blow me down – we have an expression in Australia – it’s called dickhead!!

I have been using Vegas for 3 years and have never been stumped liked this. Let this be a lesson to others. I don’t normally use this particular PC for editing btw.

It was the monitor – An Acer 712 at 1024x768 – bought it 2 years ago at a knock down price – like it was A$100 to A$200 cheaper than it’s nearest rival – this explains why – It must have the weirdest shaped pixels. As soon as I opened some of the pics on a Samsung Syncmaster – not a problem – circles were circles.

Thanks fellas for putting up with me – at least I’ve got my sanity back- and the books etc are right - Veags handles stills no problems!!!

What’s the magic attribute with regard to pixels one should look for when buying a monitor?

Also I’ve examined the Vegas Properties.ini of the weird pixel PC and there are 6 keys numbered 9 to 15 all for what I presume are PNG files – are these OK to delete as I don’t need them anymore?

(Also changed the Subject to be: Pixel Aspect Ratio - Display - just in case there is some other poor soul out there who wastes 3 days trying to come to terms with such a problem - there's gotta be some one as stupid as me!!)