First Light aspect rations: why on 4:3? at DVinfo.net

Laurence Kingston · March 27th, 2010, 02:42 PM

I appreciate that First Light will let you crop aspect ratios to match what you get with anamorphic film cameras. That's cool, but I would use a 4:3 crop a lot more.

Why you might ask in this era of progressive modes and 16:9 video? Because I do a lot of work for a local church with projectors and 4:3 screens. I usually end up doing 16:9 and 4:3 versions of every project.

What happens is that I'll do my 16:9 edit, then I'll do a 4:3 version when I'm happy with the 16:9 one. Then someone will look it over and suggest a few changes. At that point I have to go and make the changes twice: once in each version. It would be so much easier to crop the widescreen frames in First Light and move the centers for the 4:3 frames. Then I could do my 16:9 edit and switch between framings in First Light. Slight editing changes to both versions could be done once instead of twice.

Just an idea.

David Newman · March 27th, 2010, 08:18 PM

You're not the only one, 4:3 crop is on the list as film archives need it.

Laurence Kingston · March 28th, 2010, 09:33 AM

That is great news. I'll use that feature regularly when it is added.

March 27th, 2010, 02:42 PM	#1
Laurence Kingston Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Clermont, FL. Posts: 941	First Light aspect rations: why on 4:3? I appreciate that First Light will let you crop aspect ratios to match what you get with anamorphic film cameras. That's cool, but I would use a 4:3 crop a lot more. Why you might ask in this era of progressive modes and 16:9 video? Because I do a lot of work for a local church with projectors and 4:3 screens. I usually end up doing 16:9 and 4:3 versions of every project. What happens is that I'll do my 16:9 edit, then I'll do a 4:3 version when I'm happy with the 16:9 one. Then someone will look it over and suggest a few changes. At that point I have to go and make the changes twice: once in each version. It would be so much easier to crop the widescreen frames in First Light and move the centers for the 4:3 frames. Then I could do my 16:9 edit and switch between framings in First Light. Slight editing changes to both versions could be done once instead of twice. Just an idea.

March 27th, 2010, 08:18 PM	#2
David Newman CTO, CineForm Inc. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California Posts: 8,095	You're not the only one, 4:3 crop is on the list as film archives need it. __________________ David Newman -- web: www.gopro.com blog: cineform.blogspot.com -- twitter: twitter.com/David_Newman

March 28th, 2010, 09:33 AM	#3
Laurence Kingston Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Clermont, FL. Posts: 941	That is great news. I'll use that feature regularly when it is added.