Apple Final Cut Express HD - Manual (Page 765)

Chapter 53 Working With Still Images and Photographs 765
IX
To create graphics that look correct when output to video:
1 In your graphics application, create a frame size that’s the square pixel equivalent of the
video frame size of your sequence.
Use the chart below to determine the frame size you need. For example, if you’re
working in DV-PAL (which has a frame size of 720 x 576) your graphic should have a
frame size of 768 x 576 to look correct on an SD video monitor.
Important: Final Cut Express HD uses slightly different square-pixel image dimensions
than other video and still image applications. For the most accurate results, you can
avoid creating and converting square-pixel images by using a graphics application that
supports non-square pixel aspect ratios. These applications allow you to create and
preview your graphics at their native resolution.
2 Create your graphic.
3 Do one of the following:
 Save your image from the graphics program into your media folder on disk.
 In your graphics program, first save your image at the original dimensions with a
name such as MyGraphic_original (this is a working copy that you can always use to
make further changes). Then, rescale the graphic from the square frame size you
created it with to the non-square equivalent shown in the table in the first step. This
makes the image look distorted in your graphics application, but it will look right
when you output it to video. Save this resized graphic to the folder in which you
store your media.
4 Import your image file into Final Cut Express HD.
If your imported image dimensions match any of the standard definition digital video
formats supported by Final Cut Express HD (such as DV NTSC, PAL, or widescreen),
Final Cut Express HD automatically assigns the appropriate pixel aspect ratio associated
with those dimensions. If you want to change the pixel aspect ratio, you can change its
pixel aspect ratio property in the Browser column or in the clip’s Item Properties
window, as described in “
Working With Projects, Clips, and Sequences ” on page 261.
If you are using
this format The video sequence
frame size is Use graphics
with this frame size
DV-NTSC 4:3 720 x 480 720 x 540
DV-NTSC 16:9 Anamorphic 720 x 480 853 x 480
601/DV-PAL 4:3 720 x 576 768 x 576
601/DV-PAL 16:9 Anamorphic 720 x 576 1024 x 576
720p high definition 1280 x 720 1280 x 720
1080i/p high definition 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080