Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - Best way to finish mixed format sequences

alistaircotton · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:45 pm

While this query is not for stock, I'm hoping one of the video editor on the forum could assist with a query from one of my clients.

They have asked me to put a simple video sequence together for playback at an industry show. There are three video files. 1280w x 960h, 640w x 360h and 1280w x 720h.

I'm using Adobe Premierre Elements which seems to be able to take all the file sequences reglardless of the missmatch . . . but what is the best way to mix them together? Or what would be the best size proejct file for this mix of files.

The output would be on computer screen at an industry show.

Edit: Premierre Elements is already letterboxing the segments - so they don't look bad right now anyway.

asterone78 · Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 74

The way I see it you have two options,

1) Set your project to the size of the largest clip and stretch the smaller clips to this size (keeping aspect ratio intact) and accept the lower resolution of these smaller clips, or keep them the original size and accept the border around them (add an interesting background)

2) Make the project the size of the smallest clip size and reduce all others to this size (keeping aspect ratio intact), no loss of resolution here, however if you full-screen this on the computer screen you will have to accept the lower resolution.

And of course the third option is to make the project the size of the mid sized clip and stretch/reduce the size of other clips, this may be a compromise position.

In the end you will have to accept lower resolution no matter what as your hamstrung by the lower sized clips. Its the rule 'GIGO' "garbage in garbage out"

But really it shouldn't be such an issue since the end use isn't going to be on a large screen format and 640 clips wont look so bad stretched out.

Good luck, sounds like a fun project.

alistaircotton · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:23 am

Thanks asterone78. Seems all quite logical. I'll check it off to see what makes the most sense with the relvant clips.

Regards
Alistair

alistaircotton · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:05 am

Thanks again for your advice. In the end the final version was supplied as SD 4:3 since that's what most of the footage seemed to be happy with.

Client happy - so all good.

asterone78 · Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 74

Great!

happy clients are the best :)