Images supplied on VS10 install disk don't fill screen

[jparnold]

I have searched all forums for anything about 16:9 and cannot find anything apart from a tutorial on converting 4:3 to 16:9.

I have just started my first 16:9 project and want to import some of my own images (maps etc).
I have checked all images supplied on disk VS10+ installation disk and bonus disk and they are (size) 720 X 480 (NTSC video size).
I thought that there would be some for 4:3 and some for 16:9 but anyway added one to the timeline but it displays in the preview window with black borders on all sides. My captured video displays with black borders top and bottom ONLY as I would suspect.
Is there a tutorial created by Steve or anyone else which explains how to use images with 16:9 projects? If not can someone please explain what size (pixels) images need to be for proper use with 16:9 projects.
Thanks

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi John

Widescreen 16:9 uses 720 x 576 frame size.
To produce the widescreen the pixels are stretched into an oblong shape.

If you were to use square pixels you would need 1024 x 576. (for Pal)

Images us square pixels.

If you want to fill the frame use 1024 x 576.


To check the frame size.

Select a frame
Switch to project playback
Tools-Save current frame as Image.
Right click the thumbnail in the library select properties.
Notice the size of the image.

Trevor

[jparnold]

Thanks Trevor.

I just did a "Save Current Frame As An Image" (from a 16:9 video clip) and sure enough it produced a picture 1024 X 576.
I understand that 16:9 uses rectangular rather than square pixels and that the video image is recorded as 720 X 576 pixels.
Do I assume correctly that if I want to create still images (eg maps) to add to my 16:9 project I should create images which are 1024 X 576 before importing them onto the timeline? Remember that I shot my video as TRUE 16:9 (I have a Panasonic GS400 which shoots true 16:9 video) and have captured that video with VS10+ set to 16:9 aspect ratio
OR
Place the image file into the overlay track and drag it (stretch) out to fill the area for 16:9

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi John

I use the same camera in widescreen---Panasonic GS 400, very nice indeed.

If you want to fill the screen without distortion then you have to produce an image to 16:9 ratio. This equates to 1024 x 576 (use a calculator to check ratio)

If you used 320 x 180 images they would fit to screen but stretched, in proportion, but look very pixelated. Very Poor.

I would use 1024 x 576 minimum for my images.

If you intend to use the Pan & Zoom then use larger images, but maintaining the same aspect ratio.
This will allow zooming in without loosing much quality.

Using earlier versions of VS---- I found it best to use frame size images, but VS 9 / 10 seem ok handling larger images, but still maintaining the aspect ratio.

768 x 576 for 4 x 3 and 1024 x 576 for widescreen
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The last slide show I made I used 2048 x 1152 images, double the frame size.
Used Frame based for the Mpeg, the quality was excellent.
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To help identify the frame in the preview window, change the background colour.

Read my guide to 16:9 A look at Widescreen from the link below.

Hope this helps

Trevor

[jparnold]

Thanks Trevor.

Yes I too discovered some time ago that you could use images many times larger (in pixels) than 720 X 576 as images in VideoStudio and this was the best way to go if you planned to zoom as the image when zoomed is not pixelated as much if at all (depending on the number on pixels in the zoomed image). I have used images as large as 2880 X 2304 successfully.

Is there a TIPS and TRICKS section here and if so is this mentioned?

Not the same subject but do you have a wide angle adaptor for your GS400 and if so have you found that it crops the corners just a very tiny amount (well outside the title safe) when using 16:9? The amount is just noticeable so I'm hoping it will not be noticeable when the finished DVD is viewed on a TV.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi John

There are no tips and tricks section as such.
But the forums tutorials do document some methods of creating slide shows.

There have been many postings on images and quality, but no definite solution.
Opinions from users differ, some prefer Bmp types others Jpeg.
As I mentioned earlier, the later versions of Video Studio seem to be better at controlling image quality.

My only criteria is to use images the same aspect as the video frame.
This does involve some work using the image editor.
If the quality is good then its worth the effort.
--------------------------------

Tightly cropped images could be a problem with overscan.
So I went through a phase of creating a 10% black border to all my images (batch convert of course)
The results were good, the whole image was viewable on tv, the transitions looked better having a black border to a flying box for instance.

Using the overlay tracks can produce good results having several images within the same frame.

I produced an intro of images filling a quarter screen in turn, then a final image overlaid the middle.
Loads of ideas.

GS 400 Camera
I do not have the wide-angle lens, so cannot comment too much on the vignette.
You could zoom in a little, just to overcome the corner crop.
I realise this may defeat the wide adapter use a little.

All the Best

Trevor