widescreen

[kelleen]

I am wondering how to give my video clip the widescreen effect (black on the bottom and top). Do I need to capture the video in a 16:9 format or is there a 'filter or command' that can be used somewhere in VS?
thanks.

[jparnold]

Firstly I don't know of any filter which will result in black bands top and bottom.
One method is as follows -

You could create a MASK by creating an image of the correct image size (720 X 576 for PAL) with black bands top and bottom and a color in between which can be MASKED out later. I suggest using a bright PINK but can be any color.
Place your images on the TIMELINE and the IMAGE clip on the overlay track and select MASK AND CHROMA then select APPLY OVERLAY OPTIONS, click on the SIMILARITY color eye dropper tool then click on the color between the black bands. Change the COLOR SIMILARITY TO MASK and change it to 100.

Another method is as follows -

You will need to start a project in 16:9
The import your 4:3 clips etc and place them on the OVERLAY TRACK.
Right click in the clip which you you added to the overlay track and select FIT TO SCREEN then right click again and select MAINTAIN ASPECT RATIO.
You can also (instead of the method above) place your 4:3 clips onto the TIMELINE and use the DISTORTION ATTRIBUTE.
This will result in your 4:3 clips being stretched to fill a 16:9 image which will then (when rendered) result in an image with black bands top and bottom.