portrait/pivoting monitor AE comp setting

[Kevin Camp]

what is going to be playing the rendered source… tape deck, dvd, computer using a computer media player (like win media player or quicktime) or computer using dvd player software.

if it is a deck, dvd player or computer using dvd player software then the final render will should probably be 720×480, 1.21 par and either 29.97fps or 23.976fps. you could work with a comp that is vertical (480×872, square pixel) then drop that into a standard widescreen comp with the same frame rate and rotate it 90 for render.

if the file will be played via a media player, then you may be able to keep the render vertical too, so the 480×872 comp should work for the final.

Kevin Camp
Senior Designer
KCPQ, KMYQ & KRCW

[Walter Soyka]

[Maryanne Hamill] “m doing SD so I set up a comp for NTSC D1 Widescreen, Width: 486 x Length: 720, Pixel Aspect Ratio: D1/DV NTSC Widescreen (1.21). Then created another comp the same except Width:720 x Length: 486 & brought the 1st comp into it. Then rotating the comp. When I did so I had to stretch the comp wider which doesn’t seem right. “

The pixel aspect ratio does not “rotate” when you swap the width and the height, so this could get very confusing very quickly.

Like Dave recommended, I’d work in a 9:16 square pixel comp, then nest and rotate it in a 16:9 widescreen SD non-square comp for output for standard definition video devices. 720×486 is a curious choice. For any kind of digital playback, I’d expect a 720×480 requirement for SD.

I’d consider working in HD anyway — the monitor almost certainly supports it. You can render out to SD today, but if the playback equipment gets upgraded as the project continues, you can render out clean HD instead.

As Kevin mentioned, a computer-based player MIGHT support display rotation, which would mean that you could render your 9:16 comp — but in that case, it would probably prefer square pixels.

You’ll need to find out a little more information about how this will be played back so you know best how to deliver, and therefore how to set up your comps.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog – What I’m thinking when my workstation’s thinking
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[Maryanne Hamill]

I’ll try the 540×960 approach.

Thanks in advance, Maryanne