Resolutions I just don’t get it

[Noah Poole]

I would capture the screenshots at 1024×786 and scale them to fit in the FCP timeline. Use uncompressed 8 bit or DV NTSC for the sequence setting in FCP and export with compressor using the “dvd best quality 90 minute” setting.

[Jennifer Arani]

Okay I sort of follow you but I think I did not make myself clear. How do I scale down the 1024X768 in a way that the computer shots are clear as a bell? Not pixelated or blurry?

I think the key is in the way I export from camtasia.

[Dennis Leppell]

Like Noah said, export the screencapture at 1024X786. Part of the reason your existing workflow ends up not looking good may be because of pixel sizes. Make sure you are using a heavier type font, and any lines you have are at least 3-5 pixels thick. If in question about the font, usually making it bold will make things safe.

When you export, don’t use compression, and definately don’t use h.264 for this particular workflow. H.264 is intended as a final output, and not suitable for editing. Export a Quicktime mov using either animation, DV NTSC, or no compression, in that order of preference, with the export size as same as source. Here’s my reasoning.

Animation- Manageable file size, plays with FCP well, looks really good.

DV NTSC- This is the format you’ll be editing and ultimately outputting in FCP, so no render time….though since the screen capture is 1024×786, that point is moot.

No Compression- Best Quality, but the file sizes are huge and rendering would be long.

In FCP, you will use the scale function in the motion tab of the viewer window to scale it down….although this should be done automatically when you place the movie onto the timeline.

As for the settings in FCP, set the sequence settings to DV NTSC, at 720X486. This is standard size for Standard Def video.

When the edit is done, export—>quicktime movie. Make sure you check the box “Make Movie Self Contained”.

Open DVD Studio Pro, and create a new track. Now drag your newly created movie onto that track. Right click and select “First Play”. Delete any menu’s/tracks that may have been there when you opened the program. Insert a blank DVD and hit the Burn button at the top.

Done.

[Tom Wolsky]

Might I suggest Photo JPEG for this. DV really does not work very well with screen captures.

All the best,

Tom

Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP6,” “Basic Training for FCS2” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 4 Editing Workshop”

[Jennifer Arani]

THANK YOU for the responses:
I will experiment with this workflow.

Also to clarify. I am using camtasia to “film” a workers process in my companies computers and programs. So I can control the screen resolution and my capture resolution but not much else. It is more then screen shots as it films you real time well….it works ALOT like ISHOWU but for windows.

Thanks I will post back if the workflow works.

[Jennifer Arani]

Dennis

To be sure I have your instructions correct… The picture i am uploading — are these the right sequence settings?

[Jennifer Arani]

Okay the photo did not load sooo
Frame Size 720X480 NTSC DV(3:2)
Pixel Aspect Ratio NTSC-CCIR601/DV(…
Field Dominance – None
QT items
DV/DVCPRO-NTSC
100% quality

Is this correct? Please and Thanks

[Dennis Leppell]

Tom- I agree….but I’ve never seen Camtasia, so don’t know what it all supports. Animation codec was a shot in the dark, everything else was based on her info.

Jennifer- If you can use that codec, choose that over DV NTSC (in the order of preference I gave you).

And for the sequence settings, if that’s your FCP settings, go with it.

Don’t get spooked if/when you export from Final cut and view the movie file before going to DVD Studio Pro to burn it….DV NTSC Quicktime movies usually looks horrible played back like that (especially on a Windows machine). It will burn to DVD or recompress to other formats just fine.

[Mark Suszko]

If you are only ever going to show the screen caps full-screen, no closeups, you could get away with a lower rez out of Camtasia. The higher rez setting is so you can zoom in and pan around to blow up small details in Final Cut.