Snapshot produces wrong aspect ratio.

[Peem]

In VS x3, Edit, on a 16:9 project, I made a snapshot of the last frame of a MOD file clip taken on a JVC and placed it on the timeline so that I could pan and zoom to part of the frame. When I select the resampling option of ¡¥fit to project size¡¦ it sits there nicely in a 16: 9 ratio. However, as soon as I select the pan and zoom button the image contracts sideways to 4: 3 ratio. It seems that I can only select a ¡¥resampling option¡¦ OR ¡¥pan and zoom¡¦. I suspect it is because the camera changes the pixel aspect ratio to go to widescreen. The problem does not occur with MOV files taken at 16:9 on a Panasonic camera. Any suggestions please? Also, maybe someone could describe what ¡¥cache photos to memory does¡¦

[mitchell65]

Hi Peem
You are correct is saying that you cannot use the resampling option and the pan and zoom at the same time. The reason is that you would be trying to manipulate the image in the same basic way with two different methods. To illustrate this if you put your still image in the timeline, choose pan and zoom, by adjusting the zoom ratio you can create a full 16:9 ratio of the image that will fill your screen as the resampling option does. What I mean is you don't need two options to provide the same result.

[Peem]

Thanks for your reply John . Problem is I want the still image to appear to be a continuation of the video file so that I can zoom into a figure within the frame . Unless I select 'fit to project size' it is squashed horizontally to 4:3 and that is how it also appears when I select pan and zoom, which I must do if I want to custom zoom to the figure. I think what I need is a way to tell the program to save the image with rectangular pixels in order to maintain the wide screen appearance. I suppose I could re-sample it in some other program to the right aspect ratio and then reimport it but that is cumbersome if there is already a way within the program.

I should also ask if you can confirm that there is no way of cropping an entire video clip as you would a still photo , so that the subject of occupies more of the frame?

[Trevor Andrew]

I think what I need is a way to tell the program to save the image with rectangular pixels in order to maintain the wide screen appearance.

Hi

When taking a Snapshot. (Saving an Image)

If in ¡¥clip mode¡¦ (clip- save still image) the snapshot will use the original video files sizes.
If you are working with widescreen 16:9 then the image may be the wrong size.

If you use Project Playback mode (tools-save current frame as image) will save the view you see in the preview screen, and is probably the size you are wanting. Now use ¡¥Keep Aspect Ratio¡¦

[Trevor Andrew]

I dont have X3 but assume it to be simular to X2..........

I should also ask if you can confirm that there is no way of cropping an entire video clip as you would a still photo , so that the subject of occupies more of the frame?

Cropping may be the operative word.
There are several Video Filters that may do what you want.
Try the Video Pan & Zoom filter

Tip
When customizing , right click a key frame to select a paste option, this will paste the settings to other key frames.

[Peem]

Trevor, both your replies were a great help , although it seems in X3 the 'save current frame as image' under tools has now become 'take a snapshot under ' edit, but going to play back mode was the trick. Also,I always had my suspicions there must be something more I could do with key frames and it was only a simple right click away! I will be right clicking with abandon in future . I had discovered your tutorials a few days ago and found them very helpful. I always found the instruction manuals provided with earlier versions of V S to be frustrating , but they were still a step ahead of the nothing provided with X3. regards, Peter

[Peem]

Trevor, I might make one more comment although we seem to be getting a long way from aspect ratios. So far, I have not found a pan and zoom filter but I tried the video pan filter and the cropping filter which both produce a transition from one end of the clip to the other . However, I was wondering if there may be a method of cropping the area displayed throughout the entire clip in order to appeared to be closer to the subject, eg if you hadn't zoomed close enough to the subject when originally filming the scene? if you could freeze the zoom filter to be at its closest in throughout the entire clip , that would work . Thanks again , I will go back and revisit your tutorials on key frames . Regards Peter .

[Black Lab]

if you could freeze the zoom filter to be at its closest in throughout the entire clip , that would work .

That's exactly a job for key frames!

[Peem]

Yes Jeff, now I am right clicking in places Mr. Corel could never have imagined - just in case he has some more tricks hidden away.