Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 5.5 Help Manual page 47

Adobe After Effects Help
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If a file uses rectangular pixels, After Effects displays the pixel aspect ratio next to the file's
image thumbnail in the Project window. You can change the pixel aspect ratio interpre-
tation for individual files in the Interpret Footage dialog box. By ensuring that all footage
files are interpreted correctly, you can combine footage with different ratios in the same
project or composition and generate output that plays correctly.
When you import footage with either the D1 resolution of 720 x 486, or the DV resolution
of 720 x 480, After Effects automatically sets the pixel aspect ratio for that file to D1/DV
NTSC. When you import footage with the D1 or DV resolution of 720 x 576, After Effects
automatically sets the pixel aspect ratio for that file to D1/DV PAL. However, it is always a
good idea to make sure that all files are interpreted correctly by looking in the Project
window or the Interpret Footage dialog box. For information about using interpretation
rules to automate the import process, see "Specifying interpretation rules" on page 27.
Note: Make sure to reset the pixel aspect ratio to Square Pixels when you import a square-
pixel file that happens to have a D1 or DV resolution—for example, an Adobe Photoshop
image with a resolution of 720 x 480.
Setting pixel aspect ratio
It is important to set the pixel aspect ratio for a footage file at its original ratio, not the ratio
of the final output. For general information about pixel aspect ratio, see "About D1, DV,
and various pixel aspect ratio footage" on page 46.
Set pixel aspect ratios for footage and compositions with these approximate values:
Square Pixels Uses a 1.0 pixel aspect ratio. Use this setting if your footage has a 640 x
480 or 648 x 486 frame size.
D1/DV NTSC Uses a 0.9 pixel aspect ratio. Use this setting if your footage has a 720 x 480
or 720 x 486 frame size, and your desired result is a 4:3 frame aspect ratio.
D1/DV NTSC Widescreen Uses a 1.2 pixel aspect ratio. Use this setting if your footage
has a 720 x 480 or 720 x 486 frame size, and your desired result is a 16:9 frame aspect ratio.
D1/DV PAL Uses a 1.0666 pixel aspect ratio. Use this setting if your footage has a 720 x
576 frame size, and your desired result is a 4:3 frame aspect ratio.
D1/DV PAL Widescreen Uses a 1.422 pixel aspect ratio. Use this setting if your footage
has a 720 x 576 frame size, and your desired result is a 16:9 frame aspect ratio.
Anamorphic 2:1 Uses a 2.0 pixel aspect ratio. Use this setting if your footage was shot
using an anamorphic film lens.
D4/D16 Standard Uses a 0.948 pixel aspect ratio. Use this setting if your footage has a
1440 x 1024 or 2880 x 2048 frame size, and your desired result is a 4:3 frame aspect ratio.
D4/D16 Anamorphic Uses a 1.896 pixel aspect ratio. Use this setting if your footage has
a 1440 x 1024 or 2880 x 2048 frame size, and your desired result is an 8:3 frame aspect
ratio.
To set the pixel aspect ratio for imported footage:
1 Select the footage in the Project window.
2 Choose File > Interpret Footage > Main.
3 Select a ratio from the Pixel Aspect Ratio pop-up menu and click OK.
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