I am new to VideoStudio - I have version 8 running on a PC with XP.
I have been creating multimedia cdroms and dvds and saving in two formats MPEG1(PAL) for cdrom and MPEG2(PAL) for dvd. As well as using video footage, I have added images. The video footage looks ok, but the images appear distorted (elongated) almost as if they have been saved as 16:9. This happens in both formats. I use Nero to burn cdroms and dvds btw.
I have read the "procedures" but cannot see an answer there. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong please?
1 / Keep Aspect Ratio
This will maintain the ratio of the image, fitting the image to the centre of the screen.
2 / Fit to Project Size
Distorts the image to fit.
You can change the settings File / Preferences / Edit tab
Or
Select image in timeline Re-sampling option ( left hand panel )
If you are using the image library, select your aspect preference before inserting to the library.
I don’t know why but it seems to make a difference.
Thank you both for your replies. Yes 'keep aspect ratio' is selected under preferences.
Some of the still images are captured from the accompanying video, some are not. Some of the images are elongated, some are not. There doesn't seem to be any consistency between the two sources (from the video or from file) as to whether they end up distorted. No settings have been changed in Ulead from when I started the project.
I have made various changes to the content, adding production music and voice over later and have rendered it perhaps 3 times in the different formats, I know that this can degrade the original footage - but would it contribute to the distortion?
Finally it seems that although I have 'keep aspect ratio' selected, it has actually delivered 'to fit project size' ?
Any further thoughts? I'll check that useful link too Trevor, thanks.
I've recently had to struggle with this same problem. My already-short daughter lost a couple of inches of height and gained a couple of inches of fat. Not the most pleasant thing to see happen.
I was advised to change my setting from "Keep aspect ratio" to "Fit to project size." I did that and the problem was solved, and I thanked the forum member who'd advised me.
Then the next time the shortness happened again, in spite of the new setting. I lost sleep over it. I could actually SEE the image shorten down at the moment it was saved!
Finally I hit on this very hands-on solution: I took a ruler and measured the height of the new fat image, down to the last millimeter, and compared that to the original height. There were distinct lines at the top and bottom, so it was easy to measure. I got a ratio of 90% approx. So I just took every still image to Photoshop and increased the vertical by 111%. That brought the images back to normal. My daughter is delighted with them.
Thank you Keith - I thought I was just being a noob! I enjoyed the description of the reaction of your daughter and am glad that you have found a solution, I will try that in future.
Sadly, as I have added voice over and music (this is not a solely for home use project) I cannot go back and redo the images, as I will also have to redo the music, transitions and voice over(not my voice). This means living with the stretch-marks or starting the whole project from scratch, which is not an option. The 'customer' is forgiving and quite happy with the result (the occasional stretched image is acceptable in this case), my personal standards are disappointed at the result.
Many thanks again for the support and useful tips.
Hi
I have had problems in the past when importing images not only to the timeline but to the library.
This is not easy to explain.
Start a new project, select a portrait image ( taller than wide, just to exaggerate the effect)
Import the image to the library twice.
1 / From file preferences set Keep Aspect Ratio
Import the image to the library.
2 / File preferences set Fit to Project Size
Import the same image again.
You now have two thumbnails of the same image, you would expect that the images would view the same from the library.
The thumbnails look the same in the library.
Click each image to see the result ion the preview screen.
Same image but the aspect ratio is all messed up.
Now change the File Preferences back to Keep Aspect Ratio
There is no difference to how you see the images in the library or preview screen.
Images imported to the library reflect the preferences / properties set at the time of importing.
This could be very confusing.
I felt sure that when importing to the timeline the same occurred,
I have just checked, the images take on the file / preferences settings each time, unless VS 9 has changed.
No matter.
Which aspect to use.
Ideally if your images are the same size as the frame then you should be able to use any option.
Capture frame as still image will give you an exact match.
Using Fit to Project will in most cases stretch and distort the image to fit.
Using Keep Aspect Ratio will fit the longest side, tending to leave a border on the other.
Be aware that what you see in the library maybe not what you get in the timeline.
