Help me understand Frame Size pertaining to Aspect Ratio

railroadguy · Post by **railroadguy** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:32 pm

I asked this yesterday but did not explain myself very well, so I'll try again.

I created a movie containing titles and images with fades and sound. The aspect ratio is 16:9. When I output to an MP4, it looks fine viewing with Windows media player. But when I then convert this to Flash file, it comes out in 4:3.

What I don't understand is, If I specify 16:9, why can I not output an MP4 in that same ratio frame size. The user defined frame size is grayed out and all I have to select from are standard 4:3 frame sizes.

How does one output a wide screen frame size when all the editing was done in 16:9?

I did an output to WMF. Again, I can not change the Frame Size BUT I can select the Aspect ratio which I set at 16:9.
Why does the outputted WMF play wide, that is apparently maintaining the aspect ratio, with no squeezing of the images, but yet when looking at the properties, show an actual frame size that "should have" squeezed the images? This then is the problem when converting to Flash as it only looks at frame size and not aspect ratio?

Bottom line question, if I edit in 16:9 why can't I specify a frame size to match that ratio in all outputs?

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:40 pm

Hi Dan

Not an easy subject to explain.

First I am in England and use Pal system, the standard frame being 720 x 576
I know that you are the US using Ntsc and your frame size is a little different, but the rules still apply.

Aspect Ratio 4:3 is 720 x 576 (notice that this is not 4:3 ratio)

The pixels are stretched to fit 4:3.

In the same way 16:9 widescreen uses the same number of pixels 720 x 576
These in turn are stretched to fit the screen.

Basically the pixel is not square, they are rectangular. More so for widescreen.16-9.

This is how the widescreen effect is created for dvd video.
-----------------------------------------------
If the pixels were square then we would use 768 x 576 for 4:3 and 1024 x 576 for widescreen.

Now I am getting a little out of my depth.

Video files wmv for instance for the internet as far as I know are square.

Bottom line question, if I edit in 16:9 why can't I specify a frame size to match that ratio in all outputs?

Cos some pixels are stretched and some are not, some are rectangular and some are square.
Clear as mud

Now I am Confused

Trevor

railroadguy · Post by **railroadguy** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:39 am

Thanks for the reply. The light is beginning to come on now.... however dimly

I have found a program that will allow me to input an MP4, or any other format, and specify the exact output frame size into a Flash file and even a player if I wanted. In my case I wanted 480x270 and it worked like a charm.

I guess not one piece of software can do everything we users can dream up

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 12:42 am

What's the program's name? And is it freeware or shareware or commercial? In any case, it might be useful for other users...

Post by **Ron P.** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:28 am

Here's one that I have Ken,

SwishVideo 2.0

SWiSHvideo supports:
¡P AVI files (*.avi). Codecs for those files may be required. SWiSHvideo uses both ACM and DirectShow decoders. Formats like DivX, Xvid, DV, MJPEG, MPEG4 have been successfully tested as well as many other formats.

¡P MPEG 1/2 files (*.mpeg, *.mpe, *.mpg). Depends on Windows Media Player version and updates.

¡P Quicktime movies. Requires Quicktime Player installation which is freely available from the Quicktime site.

¡P Windows Media files (*.wmv, *.asp). Depends on the Windows Media Player codecs installed.

It creates a flash file (SWF), FLV (Flash Video File).

railroadguy · Post by **railroadguy** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:38 am

Sorry, I should have said that. It called Snosh (www.snosh.net) Looks like $54 bucks and it will function 15 times on the trial. Took me a whole 10 minutes to figure it out and allowed me to output 480x270 or anything I wanted.

I did post a Members Video link to the project I uploaded using this, but the posting disappeared a few minutes after it went up. (Must have broken a rule here, sorry

Is there a place here to post links to members video demos?

railroadguy · Post by **railroadguy** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:42 am

Never mind. It was moved to Video. That's where they go

Post by **Ron P.** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:42 am

I think it may have been moved to the appropriate forum. It's still up, located in the General Discussions/ Video Forum.

Here's a link to your post..
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 7665#97665