aspect ratio question (I think)

[sdsumike619]

I've been creating music instruction DVDs for the past few years now that sell all over the world. I've always shot NTSC 4:3 video, imported into Vegas, set the project up with the NTSC DV template and never had any complaints about anything looking funny. Now I'm doing a different kind of DVD that uses some still image references on the screen and I'm wondering if they're going to look right on all the different things out there. I started playing with the templates and stuff gets stretched, squished etc based on whatever I pick... All I have to test on is a regular 4:3 TV, but all the other stuff that exists with the wide scree, high def, etc. Should I just do as I've been doing?

[sdsumike619]

anyone? or was I too confusing with my question?

[guns1inger]

You should load them as-is into Vegas. I also use Photoshop CS2, which has built-in templates for video, including safe area guides, and the ability to work with non-square pixel display. This ensures stills display without distortion. I would concentrate on getting everything consistent within your chosen aspect ratio (4:3), as for everything else, the hardware will be in control. Windscreen displays will pillarbox as needed, HDTV will upscale. If users don't have their equipment set up correctly (and many do not) there is little you can do about it anyway.

[sdsumike619]

hmm I'm not sure if that answered my question or not actually. I'm trying to determine how these images will look on those widescreen TVs (I don't have one) See my post titled BMP or PNG in this forum for the images i'm talking about.. They look right on a 4:3 display, but will they look right on those wide displays.

[guns1inger]

If the equipment is set up correctly, and you have authored a 4:3 disc, then they will look exactly the same on a 4:3 and a 16:9 TV. The 16:9 TV will preserve the 4:3 aspect ratio by adding black bars to the left and right (pillarboxing).

[sdsumike619]

So in other words, just do what I've been doing and they should look fine..

[guns1inger]

yup

[sdsumike619]

alrighty, thanks

[Mrsash]

Interesting guns1inger. I would like to knoe if there is a TV out with PIP which can zoom in variably to make the picture utilize the entire screen? I letter box my dvd's since I use use vcd resolution I dont know how to use 16:9.
thanks

[guns1inger]

There are two parts to the equation, and both can be set to do different things. The player, if not set correctly, can send incorrect images to the TV, and the TV can be set to over-ride the player anyway. Many DVDs and widescreen TVs have some variation of a zoom function, specifically to deal with letterboxed material. For VCD resolution, the image is going to look pretty average zoomed to fill a widescreen TV, however you should be able to do it using either the player zoom, if it has one, or the TV settings. If you want 16:9 though, you have to go to full-D1 res on DVD.

[sdsumike619]

yeah that all went over my head!