cropping HD to SD at DVinfo.net

Joe Gaetani · May 18th, 2009, 01:13 PM

I have an HD project and one of the final deliverables is an SD version, 720x280 4:3. What is the best way to do this? Add black bars or crop it? I am using FCS 2.

I tried cropping it in Compressor, but its messing with the aspect ration.

Thanks.

Aaron J. Yates · May 19th, 2009, 03:11 PM

If your ratio is 4:3 then you're gonna have a resolution of 720x480, not 280. I don't know if that's why you're getting a funky aspect ratio.

You can do the bars or the crop, depending on how you shot your footage and how much time you're willing to spend. The bars are easiest and fastest and will work no matter how you shot. But if you shot with the crop in mind, centering the subject inside the 4:3 "safe zone" then you can crop, and it might look better.

Really, it depends on the look you're going for and what you think the audience would prefer. When I go to local broadcast (for now), I prefer to crop and not have bars.

Joe Gaetani · May 19th, 2009, 03:17 PM

Thanks for the response. Yeah, 280 was a typo - meant 720x480.

It was shot with a 4:3 crop in mind, so we ended up going that route. The loss of quality is a real shame when you go from HD to SD.

In Compressor, how would you go about adding the bars. I couldn't figure it out.
Thanks.

May 18th, 2009, 01:13 PM	#1
Joe Gaetani Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 33	cropping HD to SD I have an HD project and one of the final deliverables is an SD version, 720x280 4:3. What is the best way to do this? Add black bars or crop it? I am using FCS 2. I tried cropping it in Compressor, but its messing with the aspect ration. Thanks.

May 19th, 2009, 03:11 PM	#2
Aaron J. Yates Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kerrville, Texas Posts: 75	If your ratio is 4:3 then you're gonna have a resolution of 720x480, not 280. I don't know if that's why you're getting a funky aspect ratio. You can do the bars or the crop, depending on how you shot your footage and how much time you're willing to spend. The bars are easiest and fastest and will work no matter how you shot. But if you shot with the crop in mind, centering the subject inside the 4:3 "safe zone" then you can crop, and it might look better. Really, it depends on the look you're going for and what you think the audience would prefer. When I go to local broadcast (for now), I prefer to crop and not have bars. __________________ kerrvillephoto.com Photo & Video specializing in real estate and events

May 19th, 2009, 03:17 PM	#3
Joe Gaetani Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 33	Thanks for the response. Yeah, 280 was a typo - meant 720x480. It was shot with a 4:3 crop in mind, so we ended up going that route. The loss of quality is a real shame when you go from HD to SD. In Compressor, how would you go about adding the bars. I couldn't figure it out. Thanks.