Exporting Woes (Anamorphic 24p footage becomes squashed 4:3 on export)

[Tom Wolsky]

“When I do this, my nice

[Will Keir]

Tom,

Thanks a lot. That was very helpful information. Still getting used to FCP and the little details. Much appreciated.

“The real question is why are you exporting and where are you trying to go to.”

I’m exporting files to be used by a digital compositor who will use Apple’s Shake to make composites for the clip. They’ll be opening the file with Shake, and I’m not sure if that program is going to recognize that the clip is anamorphic.

I’m sending these files online through my FTP to my compositor, so I’m taking other clips and trimming them down, and exporting them as streamlined as possibled so were not waisting all our time uploading and downloading.

I still have a bunch of questions about what happens with the anamophic footage, is there any articles that go further indepth on this matter?

But again, my main goal is to export trimed down, hassel free footage so my compositor can get the file, make the composites and send them back to me.

Will Keir

[Tom Wolsky]

You might check on the Shake forum, but I’m pretty sure you can set the anamorphic flag for the material inside Shake.

All the best,

Tom

Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop” Class on Demand “Complete Training for FCP5” DVD

[Lars Bunch]

Hi,

Yes, Shake can handle the anamorphic settings. Just make sure your compositor knows that the footage is anamorphic and that the resulting composite should be rendered with the same anamorphic squeeze and everything should work out fine.

Lars

[Will Keir]

Oh very cool, thanks a lot guys.

Will Keir

[Will Keir]

Hello guys,

I’ve been having all sorts of trouble with the QuickTime (actually called, “Final Cut Pro Movie Files”)

First of all, half my compositors don’t know what format this is because the file contains no info telling it’s .mov. Should I type .mov into the file name when I save it?

Several of the compositors are having trouble opening the clip even when I’ve told them it’s a Quicktime file. Could this because I named the file #3 Bridge Jump (Primary Shot) instead of 2_Bridge_Jump_PrimaryShot.mov ?

A friend told me that all files for VFX work shoudl only use letters, numbers and _ for spaces. Maybe this is the problem.

Either way, I’m very unhappy with the QuickTime exports. Is there another way to export the files to be exact Quicktime files with .mov file extentions and to be fixed in 16:9 windows?

Any help…would help,

Thanks,

Will Keir

[Kevin Monahan]

Sure. Just export with “File>Using QT Conversion”.

Kevin Monahan
Take My FCP Master’s Seminar!
fcpworld.com

[Will Keir]

Kevin,

what happens to the anamorphic footage when it exports at it’s current size
720×480. This is the 4:3 ratio. Wouldn’t the 16:9 be 720×423?

Exporting as 720×480, am I losing the sides?

Will Keir

[Kevin Monahan]

Enter values for the width and height so the desired height is 9/16 of the desired width (to determine this value, multiply the width by 0.5625),

Example frame sizes using this ratio:

If you are exporting from the native DV-NTSC frame size of 720 x 480, set the output frame size to be 720 x 405.

A smaller 16:9 frame size would be 400 x 225

By using the formula above, you can come up with your own values for smaller web widescreen aspect ratios.

More info in my 2002 Ken Stone article. Not much has changed since then – except the possibility to do this in compressor rather than cleaner.

Kevin Monahan
Take My FCP Master’s Seminar!
fcpworld.com