Turning 4:3 SD project into 16:9 Hi-Def

[Chris M.]

I have an old 4:3 video production (shot originally on S-VHS) that I wish to re-orient to true 16:9 and then rotoscope into Hi-Def using a Mac-based program.

First off, can VT5 get my project into 16:9 format from 4:3? For starters, all I really need is to effect the perfect letterbox size and be able to shift my picture up or down behind the letterbox to correct the framing... and then be able to render to Mac compatible file with widescreen signature. Am I right?

Can anyone tell me how to set this up? Thanks.

[bbeanan]

It is in the toolbox...

or use the control tree...

or use clip properties F8

this is the MOST basic of tasks...

[SBowie]

I have an old 4:3 video production (shot originally on S-VHS) that I wish to re-orient to true 16:9 and then rotoscope into Hi-Def using a Mac-based program.Going from 4:3 to HD is pretty straightforward. Let's suppose you have the original production in the form of a single DV-AVI file. You might, for example, simply create a new 720p SE project, drop the 4:3 file on the timeline, then use the Positioner to scale it up to fill the frame. If will automatically be cropped top and bottom when you do that. (You will be free to move the 'over-size' image on the Y axis to assist in composition.)

"Rotoscope" is a term that can have somewhat different (if related) meanings according to whether the person using the term is an animator or a compositor:


If you are speaking as an animator (and thus you plan to manually trace the video later to get a painterly effect) I'd take some other preliminary steps first to cut down on the amount of work involved.

If you are simply meaning to either use roto methods to pull a matte using rotosplines (not that that isn't still a fair amount of work) or run the video through a 'cartoon look' plugin like ToonIt (or app, like Studio Artist) you're probably good to go without bothering.

[Chris M.]

Thanks, Steve. Do you know of any good Windows app's that will add data in auto-rotoscope to obtain HD (like Studio Post)?
Cheers.

[SBowie]

to obtain HD (like Studio Post)?Do you mean "Studio Artist"? That is, to process video in an attempt to come up with a painterly or cell-look result, a la "Scanner Darkly", etc?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXpGaOqb2Z8

[bbeanan]

Check out ToonIt... it is on sale over at Digital Juice like half off...

http://www.digitaljuice.com/products/products.asp?pid=954

[Chris M.]

Yes, Steve. I meant Studio Artist, which I am impressed with. I don't have access to a Mac, though. Synthetik told me years ago that they were working on a PC port but... I somehow don't think that will happen. I'm looking for something similar as a standalone auto-rotoscoping app for Windows.

And, thanks, Brett. It looks like ToonIt is a plug-in for Premiere, Final Cut and Avid. Have you used it with VT5?

[SBowie]

I haven't checked out ToonIt personally, but also noticed the DJ deal. There's probably a demo. As you have VT[5], you might be interested to know you can do excellent rotoscope work in Aura - the hard way, of course .... that is, over-painting frame by frame. If you're that ambitious, email me direct and I'll give you some pointers on reducing the workload.

Even apart from that, you can get a result that is adequate for some purposes even using plugins in Aura (or AE, or what have you.) I've got some 'humans' samples somewhere on my HD, but here are a couple of files showing various painterly effects I did in Mirage (all of which could be replicated in Aura).

p.s. - everyone I ever spoke to who had worked with Studio Artist said it was capable of great results, but that it was far from easy to attain them (just fyi).

[bbeanan]

I have not used it just saw the deal right after I reread your post... Looks pretty cool.

I guess I cheat a bit... I have VT5, another SpeedEdit laptop, Premiere, Avid, After Effects, and Vegas. I use the program I need to get the job done. Granted 99% of the time I use SpeedEdit (actually I can not remember last time I even fired up the other apps., other than After Effects)