Re: type and graphics question

Now square pixels do tend to look a bit crappy, especially in 16:9 - it's simply the fact you have quite reduced horizontal resolution that does it. Square pixels will look sharper (take a look at Photoshop CS and up, with it's pixel aspect correction, turn on and off and look at the difference).

The problem is that square pixels aren't actually what ends up on the tape. If you work in non-square pixels, what you see is what you get (it's pixel-for-pixel with what actually goes in the video frame). Working with square pixels there needs to be a scaling conversion at some point which can actually soften some details (especially fine vertical detail).

So while square pixels will look better on the computer screen and non-square pixels go through less manipulation between your creation and the tape.

I personally prefer to go non-square at all opportunities.