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I ‘m stuck. Don’t know how to fix image sizes
My first project is all messed up with trying to get the multiple cameras to produce similar size images during playback. When checking the frame sizes and codecs, I see they are all different then my first intentions. When FCP asks..do you want to match image size to sequence, I said yes. I think this is where most of my problems began. My question is do all the frame sizes have to be exactly the same, and do all the codecs? Also is my project fixable somehow to alter the existing clips so they match and it plays back with a fairly consistent image in widescreen?
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5 Replies
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[Craig Johnson] ” My question is do all the frame sizes have to be exactly the same, and do all the codecs?”
No, frame sizes do not all have to be exactly the same. You set up FCP to edit in whatever frame size you want the final product to be and then start editing in that type of timeline.
The codecs should match if you want optimum picture quality but they do not necessary have to match. FCP will render the frame sizes and codecs that do not match. However, know that FCP is limited in the codecs that it will edit with cleanly.
Know that if you’re mixing interlaced material with progressive material, you’ll have mixed results in the final product. FCP is not that great in mixing those two.
If you’re mixing frame rates, you can have mixed results as well.
[Craig Johnson] “Also is my project fixable somehow to alter the existing clips so they match and it plays back with a fairly consistent image in widescreen?”
Yep. Set up a new timeline the way you want it to be. Frame Size, Frame Rate, etc… Just use an Easy Setup, that’s the easiest way to get everything correct.
Create the new timeline.
In the original timeline, copy all.
In the new timeline, Paste
All of your clips will drop into the new timeline, if FCP asks you whether to change anything in the timeline, say “No.”
Select all of your clips in the new timeline.
Right click on any clip and select “Remove Attributes.”
Select Basic Motion and Distort and click Ok.
This will remove any re-sizing and re-formmatting that FCP did to your clips when you dropped them into the timeline. Now you can go through the clips and resize them to properly fit into your timeline.
In either the User Prefs or the System Settings (I’m not in front of an FCP system right now) there is an “Editing” tab and in there is a setting to have FCP automatically scale any incoming clips in a timeline. It’s in the lower right of the tab. Un check that to prevent FCP from automatically resizing clips as you move them into a timeline so you have total manual control of each clip as they come in.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media“Foul Water, Fiery Serpent” Winner, Best Documentary, LA Reel Film Festival.
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Walter, your detailed response was so generous. I’m really stoked to try this and fix this long drawn out project. This first project with FCP has been quite the learning curve and so much is yet to be figured out. Your my new best friend. Need a kidney or anything?
Many many thanks.
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The fix walter laid out for me made tons of problems go away and on a sequence by sequence basis, when played back in the canvas, they look pretty good when using the “Fit All” selection. I do notice that the percents next to the “Fit All” button change during playback of the clip, meaning I would guess, they are different in size and the “Fit All” selection is making them all the same size. I am only guessing. Will these percents be how the final product looks(different), or will it look like the “Fit All” playback in the canvas?
When I chain the sequences together and render, there are some pretty strange changes in playback. I get some of my HD video that was shot in 1080 showing as a tiny thumbnail size video. I did a command 0 and it wasn’t showing 1080 anymore but numbers and codec that are all together different.
Some of my stills look great! They are showing with bars like you would expect and the size and resolution are very nice, but then the same camera with the same settings played back with everyone looking wide and fat in other sequences. Frustrating.
Is this going to be micro surgery to go in and manually change 2 hours worth of clips and stills? If so, how would I go about that?
I really don’t like being new at something…
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Hi Craig,
Up to your post its seems like you were dealing with dozens of different file sizes.
There are no so many, and FC works without problem on mixing them in the same time-line.
Does all your footage have the same time bases?
rafael -
Hi Rafael,
Thanks for your reply, I thought maybe no one could help further at this point. I have no idea about “time bases” but would love to understand. I did, with the help I received here, take 3 sequences out of my 8 sequence project and fool around enough to get some of the image sizes better, but I don’t know why whatever worked did work and can’t replicate it over other parts of the same sequence. I think the image quality has suffered too. Jagged lines and screen door effect. I’m still trying to figure these nuances out but when you upgrade FCP, there is little information that comes with it. I do notice that if I change codec on one clip, it seems to change it on all the clips in the sequence and then doesn’t save it even after rendering. I’m confused.
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