How to import AVI file into Ae project with different resolution and fps

[Kevin Camp]

[Dave LaRonde] “No one can tell you what to do about the resolution until you can determine the resolution you need to deliver.”

the reason that’s important is that by adding a pulldown the the 24p footage to be able to mix it with 29.97, you will be interlacing it. once it is interlaced you won’t be able to scale it (or rotate it, or reposition it vertically)…

so if the delivery is 1440×1080, you’ll resize the 720p24 footage to that then render it to 29.97 with a pulldown.

however, if you have that 720p24 footage as the original comp, you may be able to rework that to at least be 29.97, render it and use that. that could be as easy as changing the comp’s frame rate from 24p to 29.97, or dropping it into a 29.97 comp and rendering…. but that would only work well if the comp did not use any footage or pre-rendered animations that were 24p.

as far as looping the footage to make it longer, and easy way is to select the footage in the project window and choose file>interpret footage>main and set the number of loops at the bottom. you may also need to drag the outpoint of that footage layer out in any comps that it is used.

Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW

[Phani Mahavrathayajula]

Hi Dave,
Thanks for the explanation, but here are the actual numbers after I revisited and followed your steps. I am using CS5.

1). In the CS5 Ae project panel I imported the .avi file. Its properties say:
1280×720(1.21), Separating (Lower), 0:00:05:01, 12 fps.

2). So, I conformed it with interpret footage to 29.976 fps. Because, ultimately I want this to be embedded in my comp of 1440×1080 29.976 fps. In the interpret footage window, at the bottom under “Other Options”, Pixel Aspect Ratio changed it to HDV 1080 (1.33) from D1/DV NTSC Widescreen (1.21) because, I will be working with HDV footage.

3). Created a new comp of 29.976, added this interpreted footage.
4). Opened render queue and added the 29.976 comp to it. In render queue settings, changed field render to Upper field first and for 3:2 selected the first one WSSWW from five. It shows under “Frame Rate, sampling @ 23.976 fps” Use this frame rate: 29.97. Don’t know why the frame rate sampling is at 23.976 even though the interpreted footage is conformed to 29.976 and the original was 12 fps.
5). Rendered it. After rendering, the video quality is blur, the graphic elements have artifacts or haze.

I appreciate if you can help me by reading the above steps how to get a crisp sharper movie rendered.

[Phani Mahavrathayajula]

Hi,
Ok, understand, it was my mistake in putting wrong numbers. I was given a 12fps avi file and want to use it for watching it on a NTSC TV, not film, what should be my steps? Please see the attached files.
1294_screenshot20101117at3.30.39pm.png.zip

1295_screenshot20101117at3.31.07pm.png.zip

In interpret footage, conform to frame rate of 29.97 fps. Should I have to change any thing under the sections “Fields and Pulldown” and “Other options”?

Fields and Pulldown contain 1). Separate fields: 2) Preserve edges (Best quality only) 3). Remove Pulldown

Other options section contain Pixel Aspect Ratio and Loop.

Then, next step is create a new comp of 23.976 right? Tried both 23.976 and 29.97 and added the interpreted footage to it. But I see the blurred edges. Rendered it with 3:2 pull down added. It didn’t work.

In simple words, let me know if you were given a 12fps avi file and ask it to use with a 1440×1080 HDV video footage on a NTSC TV, what do you suggest? I appreciate your prompt response.