Aspect Ratio and Image Size Problems

[Zytrex]

If I have Premiere set to 720x480 and I want to stick a little 300x100 logo on the end of a sequence, Premiere takes the animated logo and stretches it to 720x480. I can set it to maintain the aspect ratio, but then it is just stretches it to 720x240. How can I make Premiere leave the image or clip at it's natural size and just fill the rest with black or whatever?

 

[vickero007]

I would just paste the logo in a new image file created in paint that is 720x480 and then use that new image in Premiere.

-Volkoff007

 

[Zytrex]

Yeah...but that's a real pain when it is animated video. What if I have a bunch of little clips that I want to stick in different spots on the video? What? I have to stick them all in premiere, one at a time, export them with the new width, but old height, with aspect locked, then stick that in again with new width and height and aspect locked, and finally have a usable clip? That's stupid! With Photoshop being so cool and having so many great, intuitive tools, why is it that Premiere can be so stupid sometimes??

 

[Akribie]

For stills, pre-process in PhotoShop to give the relative size and position you want within an image size that matches output aspect ratio and with at least as many pixels (exporting a suitable background frame from Premiere to use as a background template is often helpful). Put your logo (or whatever) on a layer above the background, save in PSD format, import just that layer into Premiere and drag onto V2 or higher to get automatic Alpha Channel transparency.

You can use Motion in Premiere to move and zoom the overlay if you wish, but don't use Motion to zoom in because it sizes to project pixels before zooming so you get pixelation. Select 'use clips' transparency in Motion if using Alpha Channel.

To zoom into a bigger still image than frame size, use the Transform or Image Pan effects.

To generate moving Picture in Picture from video clips, use Motion on the inset clips to size and position as required. To make edges soft or a different shape from the default rectangle, use track matte transparency with a suitable mask on the next higher track.

 

[Zytrex]

Some of that sounds good, but I need some clarification. Are you saying that when using motion, an image will be stretched to fit the frame, and then any motion/zooming will be applied to the stretched image? If so, that really does not sound very good. I don't like the idea of Premiere stretching the image so it's too large, and then having to shrink it back down with an effect.

Forget about all the motion an picture and picture talk. Here is a simple, straight forward question. If the frame size is 720x480 and I have a clip that is 300x100, how can I place it on the timeline and have it be at its natural size? Again, it sounds like motion/zooming can only shrink the image back down from it's stretched version, and so the pixels would still get messed up. So how else can I do this?

Thanks again for the ideas, those of you who have responded.

 

[Akribie]

Motion does not scale unless you choose to alter the zoom setting inside the Motion setup window.

It's not such a great idea to mix video clips of different sizes in the same project since Premiere always tries to fill the frame with movie clips, just like it does with stills.

If you have a clip at 300x100, this will not match your project setting of 720x480 and Premiere will fill the output frame by stretching the smaller clip (using 'Maintain Aspect Ratio' if set by you on the timeline). You can use Motion (symmetric) or the Transform effect (height and width individually controllable) to return the clip to its original size if you wish.

If the final result is to return to the original size, you'll probably find that quality is preserved.

Worth doing some experiments to determine whether the final result is OK or not from your 300x100 source or whether you'd be better starting from something a bit bigger and letting Premiere do some downsizing.