Pixels - Square vs: Rect

DavidBird wrote on 2/24/2003, 10:51 AM

I have created some motion graphics and text effects in Swish and exported as an avi....I realize that the avi has SQUARE pixels. I noted on the editing window of VV3 there is a check box for "square pixels". When I check the square pixel box, the preview is in proper perspective (4:3) ...does this mean I can use the square pixel option and use the footage (avi) as a layer or clip and it will not be distorted. In other words can I mix square footage with 4:3 footage and achieve the proper look.
Thanks in advance - David

Comments

wcoxe1 wrote on 2/24/2003, 12:59 PM

The way I understand it, the .AVI in Vegas is NOT square. Photos use square pixels. The ratio for .AVI is something like .9xx to 1.

Therefore, if you put something in it with square pixels adjustments need to be made. That is why, for most photo editors, which are using square pixels, it is best to send a photo to Vegas that is 655 x 480 in size, rather than the AVI size of 720 x 480. Once Vegas adjusts for the difference in pixel ratio, the 655 x 480 actually fills up the 720 x 480 space, without you doing anything.

Finster wrote on 2/24/2003, 1:39 PM

If I understand what you're talking about, the "square pixel" checkbox refers to the image in the preview window only, and doesn't affect the actual material on the timeline. This is to correct for the difference between computer pixels and TV pixels. A better solution is to have an external monitor to check if things look right because converting the preview window takes extra processor time.

If you do have material created with square pixels, (look at the media properties for the clip, it should say the pixel aspect is 1.0 rather than .9 something) you can open the pan-crop effects, right click in the center of the screen dislay and select "match output aspect."

Tyler.Durden wrote on 2/24/2003, 2:28 PM

Hi David,

You might find the tuorial on stills and aspect helpful at the site below:

HTH, MPH

Tips:
http://www.martyhedler.com/homepage/Vegas_Tutorials.html

DavidBird wrote on 2/24/2003, 2:55 PM

Marty,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH! (oops, didn't mean to shout!) I have been trying to figure out this aspect ratio thing for way too long. Thanks for being kind enough to share your knowledge with others.
Regards - David Bird