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Correct Comp Settings
I’m a graphic designer and new to AE. I know my question is truly a basic one so I am hoping someone can help as I think I am overlooking something. I have to create a new comp at 720 X 480 NTSC DV (square pixels) at a ratio of 4:3. I can’t seem to set these specifications though in the comp settings. When i choose NTSC DV it switchs the dimensions and when I change the dimensions it switches the ratio. Again, I know I am overlooking something basic so any help at all would be most appreciated.
PS – I am new to the site and I love it!
Thanks for help – Angie
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6 Replies
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in digital ntsc your pixels are not square, they are refered to as .9 (1 would be square) or non-square. what this means is that your pixels are 10% shorter than they are wide.
you can work in square pixel in ae if you’d like, many actually prefer to, but your comp will no longer be 720×480 it will need to be 720×540. also note that if you want to render something for broadcast, tape or dvd you will need to make it conform to 720×480 size (or 720×486) and a .9 pixel aspect ratio.
Kevin Camp
Designer – KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
Thanks for the help – i really do appreciate it. What is confusing me is that my boss needs me to deliver my comp to him though at 720 X 480, square pixels with a ratio of 4:3. He wants to insert my comp with some footage he has which is at 720 X 480 NTSC DV square pixels – and then will render for web at 320 X 240 square pixels.
So does that still mean though what i really want to do is set my comp at 720 X 540 square pixels? Sorry, I’m still alittle confused.
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[Angie373] “720 X 480, square pixels with a ratio of 4:3. He wants to insert my comp with some footage he has which is at 720 X 480 NTSC DV square pixels”
i’m a little confused too… or maybe your boss is a little confused.
720×480 isn’t a 4:3 ratio, it is a 3:2 ratio. and, as far as i know, ntsc dv only comes in one size and that’s 720×480 with a par of .9.
i’m not sure of the workflow that is being used here, it is possible that all the 720×480 dv footage has been converted to 640×480 (or possibly, 720×540 – although upscaling interlaced footage can be problematic) making it 4:3 with a square pixel, and now matching footage is needed to put it in that timeline. but an easier and more common workflow would be to keep everything dv native 720×480 (par of .9) and then, at the end render as 320×240 sq px for the web.
you may want to know what his footage actually is… ask to see it, or to get a sample. check the size… if it is 720×480, it can’t be 4:3 and square pixel; if it is 640×480 or 720×540 then it is 4:3 with a square px… either way set you comp to the footage that he is working with, if it matches his footage, then it will fix his workflow and be consistent for the final output.
Kevin Camp
Designer – KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
First – thank you so very much for your help. I was going crazy yesterday. He doesnt always provide accurate information. He definitely does import his video at 720 X 480(0.9) – so i believe you are 100% correct. He inisted on that PAR of 4:3 which was driving me nuts…
So then in AE CS3 the proper settins woudl be to use the preset NTSC DV which would give me:
720 X 480 locked aspect ratio 3:2
PAR – D1/DV NTSC (0.9) (frame aspect ratio) of 27:20
and an FPS of 29.97Which he htne can output in premiere at 320 X 240 sq pixels.
That seem correct now to you? Geez this was driving me nuts – I had already even created one comp with the wrong specs to begin with! Thank you so so so so much for your help.
Did i say Thank u? 🙂
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yep, this sounds correct.
and if he is importing the ae project into premiere, then you don;t need to worry about render settings, interlacing and codecs, so you should be good.
Kevin Camp
Designer – KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW -
Awesome. Thanks again so so much. You just gave me back my sanity 🙂
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