Not sure if this is the right place to post this but here goes....

I've shot footage with the XL2 in 16:9 aspect ratio. I can bring it into FCP just fine but whenever I try to export it via Compressor for web distribution, I get a 4:3 movie with black bars on the top and bottom. I can't seem to figure out how to export it so that it just displays the 16:9 image. When I set the export option to Anamorphic, I get a 16:9 file but I still have the black bars and it looks like its shot in Panavision, except that the images are then stretched.

How can I export a plain 16:9 movie? Thanks.

Matt

Matthew,

You are the lucky one, at least you figured out how to use the Compressor. I couldn't which is why I'm using the QT engine.

I use the QuickTime conversion, custom size and specify the number of pixels appropriate to 16:9 (say, 320:180).

As far as quality of formats are concerned, a friend of mine had posted results of his tests here (just in case).

http://www.davidglover.org/QuickTime.htm

Best

Thanks Valery,

I would imagine with FCP 5 there's got to be some way to do this that I just have not figured out yet, but in the mean time your suggestion worked great just setting the custom size to 16:9 ratios. Thanks.