Adobe 65021048 User Manual page 37

Pixel aspect ratio
Anamorphic 2:1 2.0
HDV 1080/DVCPRO 1.33
HD 720 (After Effects),
HD Anamorphic 1080
(Adobe Premiere Pro)
DVCPRO HD 1080 1.5
(After Effects only)
About square-pixel footage
Many graphics and animation programs generate square-pixel assets meant for display on square-pixel computer
monitors. Adobe Premiere Pro, however, typically generates files with non-square pixels for display on television
sets. Adobe Premiere Pro automatically conforms square-pixel assets to the project's pixel aspect ratio. After the
asset is conformed, however, it no longer has its original frame aspect ratio. Also, its frame aspect ratio is not likely
to match that of the project, even if it did before it was conformed.
For example, suppose you generate a square-pixel asset at 720x540 and import it into an Adobe Premiere Pro DV
project with an aspect ratio of 720x540. In this case, the asset will be wider than the screen when it is conformed.
You can use the Scale control to set the size of the asset's frame within the project's frame. However, to preserve the
asset's frame aspect ratio, Adobe Premiere Pro often needs either to crop the asset or to frame it within black bars.
You can prevent this kind of cropping and framing by generating assets from your square-pixel graphics or
animation programs in a frame aspect ratio that, when conformed, matches the project's frame size exactly. For best
results, use programs such as Adobe Photoshop® and Adobe After Effects® that include pixel aspect ratio settings,
and set the frame dimensions and pixel aspect ratio to match those of your project. If the pixel aspect ratio setting
is unavailable in your program, do not try to match the frame dimensions (for example, 720x540). Instead, ensure
that the overall frame aspect ratio matches that of your project (for example, 4:3 or 16:9). Adobe Premiere Pro
automatically adjusts the video so that it is not distorted.
If your square-pixel program requires frame dimensions, use the option that matches your project's output:
•
4:3 DV (NTSC) or ATSC SD—create and save the square-pixel file at 720x534.
•
4:3 D1 (NTSC)—create and save the square-pixel file at 720x540.
•
4:3 DV or D1 (PAL)—create and save the file at 768x576.
•
16:9 DV (NTSC)—create and save the file at 864x480.
•
16:9 D1 (NTSC)—create and save the file at 864x486.
•
16:9 DV or D1 (PAL)—create and save the file at 1024x576.
•
16:9 1080i HD—create and save the file at 1920x1080.
• 16:9 720p HD—create and save the file at 1280x720.
Using assets with various aspect ratios
Adobe Premiere Pro automatically attempts to preserve the frame aspect ratio of imported assets, sometimes
changing the pixel aspect ratio, the frame dimensions, or both so that the asset does not appear cropped or distorted
when used in a sequence. Assets created in an Adobe Creative Suite application contain metadata that allows Adobe
Premiere Pro to make the calculations automatically and precisely. For assets lacking this metadata, Adobe Premiere
Pro applies a set of rules to interpret pixel aspect ratio.
When to use
Footage was shot using an anamorphic film lens, or it was anamorphic-
ally transferred from a film frame with a 2:1 aspect ratio.
Footage has a 1440 x 1080 or 960 x 720 frame size, and the desired
result is a 16:9 frame aspect ratio.
Footage has a 1280 x 1080 frame size, and the desired result is a 16:9
frame aspect ratio.
April 1, 2008
ADOBE PREMIERE PRO CS3 31
User Guide