HD 4:3 no black bars

[Brian Charles]

If I understand your question, you need to produce a 4×3 version of a 16×9 animation without any letter boxing or side pillars.

A simple way to do this is to put the 16×9 Composition (or better still the 16×9 render) into a 4×3 NTSC Composition and scale it to fit the height. Then render.

[Steve Roberts]

Your original comp is 16×9. Wide.
The client wants 4×3, which is 16×12. Narrow.
You made a mistake by working in 16×9, or your client changed the specs late in the project.

You have two choices if you want no black bars:
1) squeeze the original so it all fits on the screen. This will look strange.
2) cut off the left and right sides of the original. This will lose image on the sides.

Here is one way to render:
1) drag the comp into a new DV NTSC comp.
2) scale so the original comp fills the new comp (cmd+opt+f), or scale so the original comp is cut off on the sides (cmd+opt+shift+G).

If you can convince the client to use black bars, then scale the original comp (in the new comp) using cmd+opt+shift+H.

Render the DV NTSC comp.

[Walter Soyka]

[david hueso] “I have to deliver work In Ntsc 4:3 without black bars above and below … 16:9.. “

Is anamorphic 16:9 delivery an option? Here, a 16:9 comp is squished horizontally and then re-expanded on playout. This will be up to your broadcaster, so make sure you have specs from them.

Also, you need to consider the different frame rates; you were working in 24 fps (perhaps truly 23.976), and you need to deliver 29.97 for NTSC. Do you intend to add a pull-down, resample your work in AE, or do a standards conversion?

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
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