Apple Final Cut Express 4 User Manual
Page 797
Chapter 51
Working with Freeze Frames and Still Images
797
IX
Since every non-square video frame size has an equivalent square frame size that will
look correct in SD video, it’s easy to create your graphics with a usable frame size. The
steps below tell you how.
See “
Pixel Aspect Ratios in SD Video Signals Versus Computer Displays
more background information on this topic.
Graphics for projects that will be output to HD video, or for video that will be played
only on computers and doesn’t use any captured SD video footage, simply need a
frame size that matches the sequence frame size. No alterations are needed.
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.
To select the correct frame size for your video format, see “
2
Create your graphic.
3
Do one of the following:
 Save your image from the graphics program to 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-pixel frame size
you created it with to the non-square equivalent shown in “
” on page 798. 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.
If your imported image dimensions match any of the SD digital video formats supported
by Final Cut Express (such as DV NTSC, PAL, or widescreen), Final Cut Express automatically
assigns the appropriate pixel aspect ratio associated with those dimensions. If you want to
change the pixel aspect ratio, you can change the image file’s Pixel Aspect property in the
Browser column or in the clip’s Item Properties window, as described in Chapter 21,
“