Strange aspect issue

[GruvSyco]

It's probably something I just don't know but...

If I save something I do in Aura that is set up with one of the animporphic settings and open it in Photoshop, the aspect is all off. I checked the Canvas size in PS and it looks the right but everything appears to be stretched vertically. Anyone have any ideas?

[Danner]

D1 (720 x 486) Video pixels are not square, that means that everytime you work with graphics for video on a computer monitor they will look strange.
Aura has an aspect ratio corrector wich helps you see your graphics with the aspect ratio as it would look on a TV monitor, you can adjust the aspect ratio in aura to several different aspect ratios and the only thing that changes is the way you look at the image, not the image itself. If you are working with images not intended for TV or for 640x480 then square pixels will work better so turn off aspec ratio in Aura.

[GruvSyco]

Thanks found that in Aura... I wish there was a way to toggle something like that in Photoshop.

[sierra]

This post made me realize how foggy I am about aspect ratio. If I am making a project that will go on TV (I surmise from the manual that is 720x486) I do need the aspect ratio to be 1.0, correct?

If I make the project in 640 x 480 (is this the size for video?) I also need the aspect ratio to be l.0?

I have stuck to 640 x 480 without really being clear as to why one would do that. The little A is lit up on my view window and I just leave it on. But I don't know why.

My target is TV, video and also I want to put my stuff on cd/dvd.

Do I have to change the size when I want stuff on TV as opposed to video? Or cd?

Thanks Sierera

[SBowie]

Originally posted by sierra
This post made me realize how foggy I am about aspect ratio. If I am making a project that will go on TV (I surmise from the manual that is 720x486) I do need the aspect ratio to be 1.0, correct?

If I make the project in 640 x 480 (is this the size for video?) I also need the aspect ratio to be l.0? This is device dependant, as is field dominance ("ODD or EVEN" first, or "A or B" depending on who is speaking). It's necessary to know a) PAL or NTSC resolution, b) field dominance and resolution specs of the output device. Many M-JPEG and DV systems use 720x480 'Even first,' while the Toaster and many higher end systems prefer '720x486 Odd.' Aspect ratio can vary with some systems, as well.

Originally posted by sierra

I have stuck to 640 x 480 without really being clear as to why one would do that. The little A is lit up on my view window and I just leave it on. But I don't know why. Computer monitors use square pixels. Video devices mostly do not. The "A" gadget on the Aura project window border toggles the current display to either appear with aspect correction (according to the current projects aspect ratio setting) or not. It is useful to judge final appearance, compensating for the squashing effect of rectangular pixels -- however it has no effect on the output files.


Originally posted by sierra

Do I have to change the size when I want stuff on TV as opposed to video? Or cd?
Thanks Sierera It's likely that the software you use to convert to MPEG1 or 2 for CD or DVD will allow you to compensate for these issues. The critical thing then remains that you have the settings correct for your video output device.

[paulfierlinger]

Siera,
now that you have the explanation, here is the simple answer without the explanation: Make all your projects NTSC, 486x720 with an aspect ratio of 0.900.:)
Paul F.

[paulfierlinger]

..and I forgot; keep the A button lit. If you had a TV monitor (which I think you should get), you would see that the image on your monitor -- the way your finished project will always look -- never changes whether your A button is lit (square pixels) or not lit (oblong pixels). The only reason for keeping it on is that you will see your drawings as you want to see them on TV (square pixels). If you drew your pictures on the flattened pixels, they will look proper to you at the moment, but once you would transfer that to TV, everything would become elongated upwards.

Paul F.

[SBowie]

Originally posted by paulfierlinger
Siera,
now that you have the explanation, here is the simple answer without the explanation: Make all your projects NTSC, 486x720 with an aspect ratio of 0.900.:)
Paul F. Unless you are using a Toaster[2]...

[paulfierlinger]

Hmm... I didn't know that. Siera is using Premier, I think. In which way is Toaster different from what I said?
Paul F.

[SBowie]

T[2] RTV files are D1, 720x486, odd field first, Paul. The VTNT (ver. 1) was, as you mentioned, 720x480. As an unofficial general rule, it seems devices that use 720x486 are odd field dominant, while the 480 devices are even.

[paulfierlinger]

The VTNT (ver. 1) was, as you mentioned, 720x480.
I did? I don't recall.
Paul

[SBowie]

Heheh - ok, let's be precise: you mentioned 720x480 ... and I mentioned that the VTNT used that standard. :)

[SBowie]

Oh wait - I just looked back up at your post and noticed you had written 486x720. With all the resolutions whizzing around in that discussion, I hadn't noticed the transposition, just caught the "0" on the end. You're right, and I get to eat humble pie. It's OK, it's an acquired taste, but it grows on ya! ;)

[paulfierlinger]

I see how that can happen. I'm used to saying 486 first from another forum. One of these days I'd like to find a good essay on what transpires in the human brain when processing e-mail.
PF

[SBowie]

Heh - ought to be a grant available for that! ;)

[sierra]

You two are rich mining for someone like me. You have been so generous in so many threads. This forum leaves nothing to be desired.

Thanks again. Sierra.