FCP 5 and 16:9 final output
 

Hello all. Quick question here. My source clips are 16:9 widescreen, shot with a Canon XL2 at 24p. When played alone, as QT files in fullscreen, they stretch all the way to the side of the monitor, true widescreen.

When the same project with those files edited is exported, the widescreen remains, but the sides are blacked out, as if it's 4:3 with a widescreen matte. How can I export my project to have it be "true" widescreen?

I understand it's in the settings, but I'm not sure exactly. Any help appreciated.

How are you exporting? What are you exporting to? If it's with Compressor and you pick a setting that does not say 16:9 in the title, QuickTime 7 web download for example, you will have to adjust the settings yourself.

It soudns like your editing in FCP was done with a 4:3 sequence. To check that just select your sequence in the browser and go to Sequence-Settings. There should be a checkmark in the anamorphic box, if not put one there. When you close the box your clips will looked stretched to fix that just Edit-Select All then Edit-Remove Attributes. Put a check mark in the distortion box and everything should look right.

William, yes it was exported 16:9, but I checked and saw that my sequence settings, as Nate said, were 4:3. Could have sworn they were 16:9. However, even with the sequence changed, and the thing exported as anamorphic, I still get the black bars on the side. They are matted top and bottom, so the picture isn't squeezed, but it isn't extending to the sides.