• Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy

  Quicktime Changing Frame Sizes and Aspect Ratio

  Posted by Jeremy Bird on September 27, 2008 at 5:37 pm

  Can someone tell me why, when opening movie files in Quicktime, the frame size and aspect are different than the original file size? For instance, when I open a 720×480 movie it shows up as 853×480, stretching it out as a result. 853×480 is what it says in Movie Properties (under Window in the toolbar).

  I have “movie size” set to “actual size” in the prefs. What can I do to get QT to actually DO that?

  (This could be problematic because I’m working on a project with an unusual size of 400×192 and I need to make sure it stays that way on delivery)

  Thanks!
  JB

  Jeremy Bird replied 17 years, 7 months ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Tom Brooks

  September 27, 2008 at 5:46 pm

  Try searching QT Player Help on “encoded pixels.” Your answer is in properly setting the viewing aperture of the player so that you can see the movie in the form that you need.
• 

  Jeremy Bird

  September 27, 2008 at 5:56 pm

  Thank you for your incredibly prompt and helpful response!

  JB
• 

  David Roth weiss

  September 27, 2008 at 5:57 pm

  [Jeremy Bird] “(This could be problematic because I’m working on a project with an unusual size of 400×192 and I need to make sure it stays that way on delivery)”

  Jeremy,

  You can’t just make up non-standard pixel dimensions in FCP. Unlike Compressor, Motion, and programs such as After Effects and the like, FCP was designed to input and output standardized video formats that adhere to the standards of video dispalys, video tape decks, and video cameras.

  The other apps I mentioned are made for outputting to all formats and any pixel dimensions, including those like the web, which have no standards.

  So, you need to edit in a standardized format and then use Compressor to output in a non-standard format, otherwise FCP will distort your video in its effort to stretch it to one or another of the video standards it recognizes.

  David Roth Weiss
  Director/Editor
  David Weiss Productions, Inc.
  Los Angeles

  POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

  A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
• 

  Jeremy Bird

  September 27, 2008 at 6:15 pm

  Thanks David.

  I have been using Compressor to crop and export, not FCP, with no problems. I was mainly worried about delivering this odd frame size to the client and having them view it in Quicktime with the same stretched result.

  JB

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