Title Safe

[Aaron Neitz]

How do you mean? Like a 4:3 safe in an HD world?

[Ingo Helbig]

Yes I’m working on a project in 16:9, which will be delivered in 16:9, but the client requires supers and translation text in the lower third to be within 4:3 safe so that viewers receiving the program on SD monitors will still be able to read all the text. I am unable to find anything in
FCP that allows me to adjust the guides on the title safe screen.

Thanks for your help with this

[Andy Mees]

its not included but its on my wish list:
* Enhanced overlays for 16:9 canvas aspect including, but not limited to, 4:3 safe, 4:3 guides, 14:9 guides, center cross, and fully user adjustable guides

in the meantime there’s a free plug from Digital Heaven, called DH Guides that gives a user adjustable guide generator

https://www.digital-heaven.co.uk/freeware/dh_guides.php

[Ingo Helbig]

thanks andy. I’m new to FCP and the forum Appreciate the help.

[Andy Mees]

your welcome mate

FYI there’s also a rather overpriced plug from Digital Heaven called DH_WideSafe which is exactly what you need, but all things considered its not really worth the price.

you can download a photoshop file from the bbc that you can use as an overlay … it shows all the guides you need.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/tvbranding/picturesize.shtml

[Zane Barker]

[Ingo Helbig] “I’m working on a project in 16:9, which will be delivered in 16:9, but the client requires supers and translation text in the lower third to be within 4:3 safe so that viewers receiving the program on SD monitors will still be able to read all the text.”

if it is delivered in 16:9 then the DVD’s you give them will just be letter-boxed and have black bars on the top and bottom when viewed on a 4:3 TV

So I really see no reason at all to keep all titles within a 4:3 space.

The only reason I can see to have all the titles fit in a 4:3 space is if you are actually going to deliver both a 4:3 and a 16:9 product.

Just explain to the client that a 16:9 DVD will just show as letter-boxed on a 4:3 TV.

Don’t let technology get in the way of your creativity!

[Bret Williams]

Another easy trick I have used in the past is to simply create a 4:3 seq, turn on title safe over black, and then, at 100% size, do a screen shot of just that area (shift+cmd+4 then draw marquee) and import the screenshot and key it or overlay it with “screen” composite mode.

It would be nice if FCP had rulers and guides like Ps, Ae, and Ai.

[Tom Wolsky]

Nice one Bret. Also if you have Photoshop you could make a DV standard preset with guides but with transparency. Snap lines or two or three pixels to the guides and save it to use as an overlay. Should be real-time on most systems.

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 3.5 HD Editing Workshop”

[Walter Biscardi]

[Zane Barker] “if it is delivered in 16:9 then the DVD’s you give them will just be letter-boxed and have black bars on the top and bottom when viewed on a 4:3 TV”

He does not mention DVD in his post so I have to assume he’s talking about a broadcast show.

We have to do this all the time and network actually supplied us with an overlay. As soon as the Blogs are working normally again, I’ll upload an overlay that we use.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

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[Adam Taylor]

i think overpriced is a bit inflammatory. If, like me, you use it for every job you do (and mine are all 4:3 safe on 16:9, then its worth paying for the ease of use.

However, if money is the overiding factor then the cheapest alternative is use a chinagraph pencil to mark your video monitor.

adam

Editor/Mixer
Character Options Ltd
Oldham, UK