Simon Bonner
Forum Replies Created
-
Last thing, just to remind you that there are different types of “widescreen” (square pixels, non square 1.42) so make sure you know which one to use (probably non square if this is for tv)
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysFX -
To discover the aspect ratio of your footage, take one of your assets and import it into AE. Assuming AE interprets it correctly, you’ll be able to select it in the project panel and at the top of the panel will be given some info on pixel aspect ratio and frame aspect ratio. E.g. 720×480 (1:42) would mean you had a standard definition NTSC 16:9 footage.
Then you can just produce motion graphics that match this.
You problem in FCP might match a similar one I had when first using Premiere. In prem you have to specify an aspect ratio for your project when you begin, which can be any number of settings including widescreen. If you get the setting wrong and then bring in widescreen footage, it will be cropped / have letterboxing etc, basically things you don’t want. So make sure your FCP project is widescreen, if that’s an option.
Though it would be better to know what type of footage you’re working with so you can tailer your AE work to it, if worst comes to worst you could do as you say and add letterboxing. Go to the “preset” page at Andrew Kramer’s videocopilot.net and download the letterboxing preset. The video will show you how to work it.
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysFX -
No, you won’t get the letterbox with this preset. It’s set to be viewed on widescreen TVs without letterbox and on standard TVs the letterboxing will be applied automatically.
Perhaps the letterboxed footge you have in FCP is standard 4:3 footage with a letterbox applied to make it appear as though it’s 16:9. Is this the case?
If you’re not sure, is there any way you could you let me know what FCP is interpreting your footage as? I don’t use that programme so wouldn’t know how you would check this, you may have to consult it’s help files.
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysFX -
re: 16:9, hit cntl+k to bring up the comp settings and change the preset to widescreen (for tv viewing) or widescreen square pixel (for computer viewing). The non-square pixel one won’t look correct in AE unless you hit the toggle pixel aspect ratio button in the comp panel (like a square with an arrow on top), but will render fine.
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysFX -
Hi again,
I, and I’m sure several others, would advise you not to output your audio from AE. It just doesn’t do a very good job. If you absolutely have to do it the way you describe, how about rendering video from AE as lossless avi / QT animation, then importing it back into Prem, lining it up with the preexisting audio, and making one final render.
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysFX -
The page you’ve found is about something else: it shows a way to stop you modifying your mask accidentally.
Masks take their position from the layer they’re on. If you move the layer, the mask moves too. One way around this is to use a matte. Make a new, comp sized solid. Turn off the eye switch for it so you can see the layers beneath. Then draw a mask on the solid. Place your text beneath the solid and change the trkmat option of the text (if you can’t see it, right click on the timeline title bar and choose columns > modes) to alpha matte or alpha inverted, whichever works for you.
I have a quick video tutorial on this here.
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysFX -
Use time remapping. Highlight your layer and go to layer > time > enable time remapping. Two keyframes will appear at the end and beginning of your layer. Move the final one nearer the start to get the effect you want. The more you move it in, the stronger the effect. For more on this, check your help files or see Aharon’s podcast here at the cow.
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysFX -
Well, yes, it does. But it has a Z value which controls how far back in Z space it is.
A simple way to demonstrate this is to place 3 small solids in a new comp. Make them 3d, then position them at various Z distances. Add a camera and make the Z value of its point of interest = the Z value of the middle solid. When you use the rotate camera tool, the camera will rotate around this middle solid.
In your main comp, just reduce the Z value of the POI nearer to you and you should get the effect you want.
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysFX -
You need to change the point of interest of the camera. Switch to top view using the menu in the composition panel to see what I mean.
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysFX -
Ah, sorry, Stan – I’ve not come across this kind of compatability issue before.
Simon Bonner
youtube.com/simonsaysFX