anamorphic not same as 16:9 at DVinfo.net

fargogogo · September 24th, 2003, 09:39 AM

I'm putting together a DV widescreen project that was shot in MANY different formats. (normal 4:3, Masked 4:3, true 16:9)

And I have some footage that I think is 2:1 anamorphic.
When it's imported it doesn't look distorted, and it's the same width as the 16:9 frame, but it's shorter. If I enlarge the video to fit verticaly, I lose some of the horizontal edges. (and it gets blurrier from being blown up)

Anyone have any experience with 2:1 anamorphic? Any tips? Where is it used? Is there a way to import it so it matches my project size vertically?

Thanks all.

Ted Springer · September 26th, 2003, 11:55 PM

2:1 anamorphic would look distorted... hence the "anamorphic". It would have been shot with a special lens. With a 4:3 frame, expanding the image horizontally x2 would result in an image with approximately a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Many movies are shot this way. Are you trying to import footage from a commercial DVD, LaserDisc or videotape? I know of no 2:1 anamorphic lenses for consumer cameras.

By the way, what's with your member name? I thought we were supposed to use real names here.

Robert Bobson · September 27th, 2003, 04:54 AM

It must not be anamorphic, then. The producer had many camera operators with their own cameras on this project, and doesn't know who shot what or what cameras were used.

When imported into a "DV widescreen" project, it fills the screen horizontally, but is about 15% shorter vertically than it should be.

And it's not distorted.

I measured the size on the frame on the screen and the length is about twice the height, which fit one of my project settings in Premiere 6.5, "2:1 anamorphic".

And no, I'm not trying to copy any copyrighted material.
(what are you, a cop?)

Thanks for the reply.

Ted Springer · September 27th, 2003, 04:31 PM

Sounds to me like it's just 16:9 footage that's just letterboxed or "cropped" to give it a wider aspect ratio. There's nothing you can really do except zoom it in, and as you saw that destroys the picture quality. Or you could letterbox all of your other footage to match that clip. Of course that would probably be undesireable as well.

September 24th, 2003, 09:39 AM	#1
fargogogo Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 49	anamorphic not same as 16:9 I'm putting together a DV widescreen project that was shot in MANY different formats. (normal 4:3, Masked 4:3, true 16:9) And I have some footage that I think is 2:1 anamorphic. When it's imported it doesn't look distorted, and it's the same width as the 16:9 frame, but it's shorter. If I enlarge the video to fit verticaly, I lose some of the horizontal edges. (and it gets blurrier from being blown up) Anyone have any experience with 2:1 anamorphic? Any tips? Where is it used? Is there a way to import it so it matches my project size vertically? Thanks all.

September 26th, 2003, 11:55 PM	#2
Ted Springer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Glendale CA Posts: 328	2:1 anamorphic would look distorted... hence the "anamorphic". It would have been shot with a special lens. With a 4:3 frame, expanding the image horizontally x2 would result in an image with approximately a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Many movies are shot this way. Are you trying to import footage from a commercial DVD, LaserDisc or videotape? I know of no 2:1 anamorphic lenses for consumer cameras. By the way, what's with your member name? I thought we were supposed to use real names here.

September 27th, 2003, 04:54 AM	#3
Robert Bobson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 585	It must not be anamorphic, then. The producer had many camera operators with their own cameras on this project, and doesn't know who shot what or what cameras were used. When imported into a "DV widescreen" project, it fills the screen horizontally, but is about 15% shorter vertically than it should be. And it's not distorted. I measured the size on the frame on the screen and the length is about twice the height, which fit one of my project settings in Premiere 6.5, "2:1 anamorphic". And no, I'm not trying to copy any copyrighted material. (what are you, a cop?) Thanks for the reply.

September 27th, 2003, 04:31 PM	#4
Ted Springer Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Glendale CA Posts: 328	Sounds to me like it's just 16:9 footage that's just letterboxed or "cropped" to give it a wider aspect ratio. There's nothing you can really do except zoom it in, and as you saw that destroys the picture quality. Or you could letterbox all of your other footage to match that clip. Of course that would probably be undesireable as well.