Please help. importing images from Photoshop into fcp, sizing

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

[celeste] “In the past I have resized all my imges to import into a fcp project
is it still essential to save psd still image as 720 X 534 Std.
720 X 534, and then change the image size to 720 X 480 and uncheck constrain porportions to prepare for fcp import or will FCP 4.5 automatically resize image?”

You still do that with PS7 and FCP.
Its not FCP that changed, but the “new” Photoshop “CS” that has the added “DV” setting.

Its not “essential” to do this but it is the proper procedure.

[celeste] “If images have been saved as 640 X 480 or another setting, would it be possible to re-save the initial psd file as the correct image file for correct viewing in fcp. is this 720 X 534?”

Yes, but the quality might suffer a bit as the pixels will be slightly “enlarged” and “smoothed” by PS.

I suggest that you EXPERIMENT with a few of these images in FCP.
Try some images in FCP at their (unaltered) 640 x 480 (or whatever) size and then try the same images after you “up-size” a COPY of them in Photoshop.

You’ll need to put each of them on the timeline, render them, and view them on an external video monitor to check which versions look best.

[Tom Wolsky]

For DV material going to FCP start at 720×540 and resize to 720×480. For SD material start at 720×547 and resize to 720×486.

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

Well, there appears to be a bit of discrepancy regarding the DV “creation size”.

Depending on who you read, its 720×534 or 720×540.

https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/basic_ps.html

https://www.geniusdv.com/photoshop%20final%20cut%20pro.php

Does not compute, Will Robinson.

[Bret Williams]

Well it does compute. Very simple math. SD is 4:3. 4/3=1.3333 720/540=1.3333, 648/486=1.3333 and therefore working in SD (720×486) is 720×540.

If you want to work in DV which is 720×480, you’re working with 6 less lines. The ratio is easy to figure out. Since 648/486=1.3333, then DV ratio in terms of square pixels would be six less lines, 648/480=1.35 and 720/534=1.3483, which is close enough.

But I didn’t know there was any controversy. I thought everyone knew that DV was 1.35 aspect pixels, and that SD was 1.3333. Heck, it even says so right there in Photoshop when you create a new doc. SD 601 NTSC 720×540. Or Standard NTSC DV 720×534.

[Celeste]

Thanks for your input. So, to confirm: if the scans are being saved in photoshop 7.0 as
720 X 534 std ntsc (a preset) this should be fine for fcp editing. I had done some tests, brining them into fcp and the image was squished or did not fully fill the canvas.

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

[Bret Williams] ”
But I didn’t know there was any controversy. I thought everyone knew that DV was 1.35 aspect pixels, and that SD was 1.3333. Heck, it even says so right there in Photoshop when you create a new doc. SD 601 NTSC 720×540. Or Standard NTSC DV 720×534.”

Did you READ the two links I provided, (and Tom Wolsky’s post) which is WHY I consulted to the sources I listed.

Here they are again:

https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/basic_ps.html

https://www.geniusdv.com/photoshop%20final%20cut%20pro.php

[Tom Wolsky] “For DV material going to FCP start at 720×540 and resize to 720×480. For SD material start at 720×547 and resize to 720×486.”

So, there IS a discrepancy in reading knowledgeable sources.

[Bret Williams]

I don’t need to read the links. I can do basic math. And I’ve NEVER heard the specs Tom mentioned. They in fact, don’t add up. They’re incorrect.

[Bret Williams]

I don’t need to read the links. I can do basic math. And I’ve NEVER heard the specs Tom mentioned. They in fact, don’t add up. They’re incorrect.

[Celeste]

I understand that the images need to be saved as 720 X 534 and then saved as 720 X 480. After additional research and speaking with an experienced editor he noted to me that even if images are left as saved as 720 X 534, these images *can* be adjusted in fcp to match correctly. Is he wrong?

[Alexander Kallas]

To avoid confusion and get your work done, upgrade to CS and use the video size presets,
Worth the money to avoid errors and allow faster workflow.
Cheers
Alexander