Hi everyone,

Sorry for the urgent post but I need to create a presentation to be shown on a SONY PFM321C1E (PLS8) 32" plasma and I am getting really confused about what resolution/pixel aspect I need to use.

The monitor has the following spec:

Panel Resolution 1024 x 852 pixels
Pixel pitch 0.84 x 0.39 mm
Active area (W/H) 715.68 x 399.36 mm
Color system NTSC, PAL, SECAM, NTSC4.43, PAL-M, PAL 60
Sampling rate 13.5 to 140 MHz

I am aiming to make a presentation to be run from a Windows PC using After Effects (Quicktime final output).

I sent a test of 1024x852 (square pixels) to the hire company and they said it had black bars to the left and right sides.

Can anybody suggest what resolution and pixel aspect I should use?

I assume that 1024x852 rectangular pixels is the way to go? Do I want to use the D1/DV PAL widescreen (1.42) or am I getting confused. Also am I better sticking to a standard PC resolution (i.e. 1024x768) seeing as this will be providing the RGB feed?????

I think I am also getting worried about the fact that the laptop providing the movie will probably be a 4:3 screen.

Panic panic panic

Alex

Moved to our Digital Compositing and Effects (since it involves After Effects).

Use any 16:9 format. I suggest just going with the preset ones - DV widescreen should be fine for most purposes.

Can you tell me what you're playing it with - quicktime player, or after effects, or something else? Also, what's the connection to the monitor: rgb, s-video, dvi...?

1. the display device is not interpetting the signal correctly from the computer, there should be a menu setting to adjust on the display

2. the PC driving the display is not talking to it correctly - happens all the time. force the PC into the correct res, try again

3. rental co is techno-illiterate on the fine points, until you get them on the phone and persue the issue, then they usually come around and say" all I had to do was change this one setting....."

its either #1, #2, or both. don't panic... ever! ideally go to the rental co and set the thing up yourself going through all setting properly. or set up for 1280X720P 16:9 square pixels, thats what the display really wants, but is less PB overhead than a full 1920X1080 whose pixels aren't displayed anyways.

Steve Oakley

Can you tell me what you're playing it with - quicktime player, or after effects, or something else?

Quicktime was my plan as I have Quicktime Pro

Also, what's the connection to the monitor: rgb, s-video, dvi...?

Normal RGB 25pin D-sub

Thanks Steve,

1. the display device is not interpetting the signal correctly from the computer, there should be a menu setting to adjust on the display

In the past I have had to use the Zoom control to solve this - it does have some squashing effects though.

2. the PC driving the display is not talking to it correctly - happens all the time. force the PC into the correct res, try again

If the PC is a normal 4:3 (non widescreen) can it be 'forced' into a widescreen mode or do I need to choose the closest size overall. With Quicktime you can play the video full screen, I wonder if this uses the video size to determine the resolution or if it is still constrained by the PC set-up.

Would a widescreen laptop make a difference?

3. rental co is techno-illiterate on the fine points, until you get them on the phone and persue the issue, then they usually come around and say" all I had to do was change this one setting....."

Very likely... The last company phoned me up half way through an exhibition with the 'brain wave' of setting the PC to 800x600 which made b*gg*r all difference. What was particularly annoying was that I had sent them a test resolution video in advance that they said looked perfect... I woudl pop in but they are 300 miles away...

its either #1, #2, or both. don't panic... ever! ideally go to the rental co and set the thing up yourself going through all setting properly. or set up for 1280X720P 16:9 square pixels, thats what the display really wants, but is less PB overhead than a full 1920X1080 whose pixels aren't displayed anyways.

OK thanks for this. I will go for this idea and if it dosen't fit then I guess Zoom will be the only option.

Many thanks for all your ideas I appreciate the help.

One more thought.

If the spec says 0.84 x 0.39 pixel pitch is it true I need square pixels?

This seems very unsquare to me or is it not related?