Adobe AFTER EFFECTS CS3 PROFESSIONAL User Manual page 87

Remove 3:2 or 24Pa pulldown from video
When you transfer 24-fps film to 29.97-fps video, you use a process called 3:2 pulldown, in which the film frames are
distributed across video fields in a repeating 3:2 pattern. The first frame of film is copied to fields 1 and 2 of the first
frame of video, and also to field 1 of the second video frame. The second frame of film is then spread across the next
two fields of video—field 2 of the second video frame and field 1 of the third frame of video. This 3:2 pattern is
repeated until four frames of film are spread over five frames of video, and then the pattern is repeated.
The 3:2 pulldown process results in whole frames (represented by a W) and split-field frames (represented by an S).
The three whole video frames contain two fields from the same film frame. The remaining two split-field frames
contain a video frame from two different film frames. The two split-field frames are always adjacent to each other.
The phase of 3:2 pulldown refers to the point at which the two split-field frames fall within the first five frames of the
footage.
Phase occurs as a result of two conversions that happen during 3:2 pulldown: 24-fps film is redistributed through
30-fps video, so each of four frames of 24-fps film is spread out over five frames of 30(29.97)-fps video. First, the film
is slowed down 0.1% to match the speed difference between 29.97 fps and 30 fps. Next, each film frame is repeated
in a special pattern and mated to fields of video.
3 2
A
B
W S
When you apply 3:2 pulldown to footage, one frame of the film (A) is separated into two or three interlaced video fields (B) which are grouped
into video frames containing two fields each.
When importing interlaced video that was originally transferred from film, you can remove the 3:2 pulldown that
was applied during the transfer from film to video as you separate fields so that effects you apply in After Effects don't
appear distorted.
It's important to remove 3:2 pulldown from video footage that was originally film so that effects you add in After
Effects synchronize perfectly with the original frame rate of film. Removing 3:2 pulldown reduces the frame rate by
1/5—from 30 to 24 fps or from 29.97 to 23.976 fps, which also reduces the number of frames you have to change. To
remove 3:2 pulldown, you must also indicate the phase of the 3:2 pulldown.
After Effects also supports Panasonic DVX100 24p DV camera pulldown, called 24P Advance (24Pa). This format is
used by some cameras to capture 23.976 progressive-scan imagery using standard DV tapes.
Before you remove 3:2 pulldown, separate the fields as either upper-field first or lower-field first. Once the fields are
separated, After Effects can analyze the footage and determine the correct 3:2 pulldown phase and field order. If you
already know the phase and field order, choose them from the Separate Fields and the Remove Pulldown menus in
the Interpret Footage dialog box.
In the Project panel, select the footage item from which to remove 3:2 pulldown.
1
Choose File > Interpret Footage > Main.
2
3 2
S W W
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