I have the 8.0.2 update, and I've imported my .mxr files into AE. I drag the clip onto the New Comp icon, and the clip in the comp has an incorrect aspect ratio.
I highlight the clip in the Project Window and its properties are:
960x720 (1.33)
Millions of Colors
dvn7
Interpret Footage reveals:
HDV 1080/DVCPRO HD 720 (1.33)
And the Composition Settings are:
Preset: DVCPRO HD 720 29.97
Width: 960
Height: 720
Pixel Aspect Ratio: HDV 1080/DVCPRO HD 720 (1.33)
The clip's icon in the project window looks correct by the way.
I have been experimenting with various comp and clip PAR options and the only solution seem to be to adjust the scale (which I'd rather not do).
Re: P2 Interpret Footage by Dave LaRonde on Feb 15, 2008 at 4:17:17 pm
[Whitlock Dunbar]"The source footage was shot vertically (rotated 90 degrees); once I rotated it everything was cool. "
Unfortunately, it won't remain cool after it's been rendered. It will look too tall & skinny, or squeezed horizontally if you want to refer to it that way, if you compare it to the original footage.
I suspect you're unaware of the Pixel Aspect Ratio Compensation switch at the bottom of the comp window. When you toggle it on, you see the video in the proper pixel aspect ratio, but it looks jagged and stair-steppy. When you toggle it off, things look squeezed horizontally, but nice and smooth. But when you render, things will be in proper pixel aspect ratio AND smooth.
So why didn't is look funny when you rotated it? You were looking at fewer horizontal pixels. There was less horizontal squeezing going on in the particular view you used. It didn't appear quite as bad, but the distortion was still there.
Consult AE Help for more information on the Comp Window switches, specifically the Pixel Aspect Ratio Compensation switch.
Re: P2 Interpret Footage by Brian Kim on Feb 15, 2008 at 9:45:17 pm
"Unfortunately, it won't remain cool after it's been rendered. It will look too tall & skinny, or squeezed horizontally if you want to refer to it that way, if you compare it to the original footage."
Hi Dave,
I just realized in one week I'm about to find myself in a similar situation where I'll be taking DVCProHD 1080i footage shot vertically (rotated 90), keying out elements, and bringing those elements into a composition where our background plates were shot standard (horizontally oriented).
I know my keyed elements will be tall and skinny, and I had been anticipating that scaling them down vertically is a better option than scaling them wider in order to achieve the correct proportions, however since I saw your feedback in this post I was wondering if you had any other suggestions or advice on how to retain the best resolution/avoid pitfalls.
Will mixing these orientations bug AE CS3 out at all?
Re: P2 Interpret Footage by Dave LaRonde on Feb 15, 2008 at 11:19:00 pm
Y'know, I think I was very wrong in writing that. AE is REALLY good at handling pixel aspect ratios, no matter what. I don't know what I was thinking.
I frequently turn a camera on its side to do chroma keys of people, and if I'm feeling paranoid about pixel aspect ratios, I'll make a square-pixel comp, and scale the footage to fit the comp (cmd-option-f mac, ctl-alt-f win). Then I KNOW it's going to be right.
But AE knows how to handle standard pixel aspect ratios, and it knowsby the footage's resolution. For example, AE knows that 720x486 has a pixel aspect ratio of 0.9. What if you give it footage that's 720x490? It's clueless. It's not a satandard resolution.
In your case, if you're feeling paranoid, the square pixel comp you'd want to make is 1920x1080.
