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questions about file size for still photos in fcp and using jvc video
hi all,
I have a two part question. I am about to edit together a 45 min. film for an artist for a gallery showing. The film involves 6 parts, 3 of them being 3, 5.5min videos shot on the JVC HDV camera, the other three parts will be comprised of 1200 still photos. Each photo will be about 5 or so seconds in length when placed on the timeline. After editing in FCP, it will be exported and sent to photokem to make a 16mm print of it to them loop at the gallery show .
#1: the still photos originated as 35mm photos that are now digitally scanned as tiffs and lower versions as jpgs. How should i import them into FCP, and what file size should i use, how low can i go (dpi wise) and (resolution wise) but still keeping a solid resolution for the projection in the end. for example 300dpi or 72dpi? etc….what resolution do i knock them down to. Is the size dependant on what the size of the video is? FYI: the projection will be on a looped 16mm projector in the gallery probably at a size of say 10′ x 10′ wall approximately.
#2, the artist told me the footage he shot originated as TOD files from the JVC camera. He also has all of the footage converted as M2V files. What would be the smartest approach with keeping the resolution of the footage but also converting them (i would assume to quicktimes) to then work in FCP. Should i try and obtain these original TOD files or will m2v files suffice for final cut……..do i change M2V files in quicktime pro to quicktimes?
hope im making sense here……
whomever might have some insight, it would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!
much thanks in advance
Jason
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3 Replies
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Hey Jason,
The Image size of your stills will depend on what format you intend to edit in which I am assuming is HDV? Will you be adding any motion effects to the stills (zooms, roatation etc) or just laying them down on the timeline one after another? PNG image files work well with FCP.
M2V isn’t a great format to edit in, especially if you are looking to transfer to 16mm for delivery. M2V is a delivery format and heavily compressed and is not an editing format.
If memory serves, TOD is JVCs name for mpeg. I don’t think FCP handles TOD files, you will need to use something like MpegStreamClip to convert them to a useable format. But I would be cautious in this approach and do some test runs, especially if you are planning to transfer to 16mm. More info on The COW here https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/232/257 -
Hey simon,
much thanks for responding so quickly. Ok, so if I was importing the “video” files in the HDV format as m2v files at say (1280 x 720) resolution, if that is what the artist shot the video in etc………the stills would be sized to somewhat that pixel resolution. But what about the dpi? Could I go as low as 100dpi or even 72dpi for each photo and still have the clarity when then printing and blowing it up after?
In terms of (motion effects to the stills (zooms, roatation etc) I am not doing anything like that. Just one cut to the next in terms of the photos. We might have a mask over the entire timeline of photos that sort of works like a source of light and the outer edges are darker and siloheted, that might be created in after effects…….but the images will remain the same size on that timeline.
So you think PNG files over jpg’s……..is there a way in FCP in the preferences to import all of the still PNG or JPG files as the same duration (for ex 5 seconds each)?
Lastly, I figured M2V files were compressed files. Im wondering if i can take the TOD files through quicktime pro or something like that……..
Much thanks simon for all your help so far
Jason
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As DPI is really a print term, the comparable for video (SD and HD) would be 72dpi. There is no point bringing your images in at a higher dpi unless you plan on zooming in. (If you want to zoom in 50%, bring the pics in at 144dpi etc..) Stick to 72 and FCP will have less to render, and the images should look as sharp as possible.
It won’t matter if you are viewing it on a projector, 14″ TV screen or 30″ computer monitor, 72 is 72 no matter how its viewed, the pixels will just be bigger.
PNGs are much better than jpegs. Jpegs are heavily compressed. You set the duration of your still images from within FCP User Preferences. (Check out Photpshop for batch automation to convert all your jpegs to pngs too)
You will need to convert the TODs for sure. I have never tried converting TODs but QTpro may handle it, if not MpegStremClip should work fine. It’s a free app too. Well worth a look!!
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