Resize clips

[mikeandm]

In vs x7 can you tell me how to resize clips after editing them. What I mean is that my preview window is showing the video clip (720 x 480) with black bars either side. If for example I do a pan and zoom then the clip itself is often larger than the original view in the preview window. I know that I can resize this to match the other clips using the distort button, but it is then doing that and distorting the picture. In addition, even though I have "fit to project size" selected, when I import stills it is showing these at a different size. This happens even if I take the still from the video clip.
Are there any settings I should select to get all the same?
Thanks

[lata]

Hi Mike

What are your project properties settings? (Alt = Enter)
What are you trying to make, a video for the internet or a DVD disc?

Your project will be using 16:9 ratio for a widescreen video.
To fill the screen with images without borders your images should be 16:9 ratio

If you do not wish to resize using Video Studio then you are best to use an image editing program to crop the images to the correct ratio.

Using the first 3 Sample library images you will notice they fit to screen without borders, they are using 1920px x 1080 px which is indeed standard for HD video (16:9)
Other samples are using 4:3 and will cause those borders.

There is always the overlay tracks that can be used for the images, do you need to fill the screen, sometimes a smaller image, maybe use two on the same frame works well.
You can then fill the background (top track) with other images to fill / cover those black bars. View the Graphics library for samples.