In Final Cut, it’s a pain to add the Widescreen effect to every clip, and then adjusting the offset individually by going to the filter parameters.. and worse, this actually creates an alpha channel on the clip, allowing video on a lower track to peek through if it’s a different size or aspect.
Fortunately, there’s a simple fix.
Below, i’ve provided pre-made mattes for common aspect ratios in a couple different formats. Take the matte of your choice, and put it on the highest video track, and lock that track.
Now, you’ve added your matte to every clip! To reposition the shot, enable Image + Wireframe and just drag the shot up and down in the canvas, no more going into each clip’s filter parameters! It’s much faster, and you avoid any accidental shots peeking in the gap that the widescreen effect left behind. In addition, with the track locked, you’re still able to ripple delete, or anything else you need to do as if the matte wasn’t there. if your video is longer than the file, just repeat it ad nauseum.
hope you find this helpful, I’m including the after effects project file i used to make these so you can make your own. I got my frame sizes by using Jon Chappell’s Aspect Ratio Calculator… He’s also got some other great resources there.. and there are even iPhone versions of a couple things..
Yes, yes, you do have to render, but you have to render the Widescreen effect as well.
I’m sure these will also work for Avid and Premiere.
Mattes:
NTSC 1.78
NTSC 1.85
NTSC 2.35
NTSC 2.40
720p 1.33
720p 1.85
720p 2.35
720p 2.40
1080p 1.33
1080p 1.85
1080p 2.35
1080p 2.40
Everything Zipped into one file.
enjoy!
3 Comments
Thanks for these files. They will definitely come in handy.
btw, Avid comes with a “Reformat” effect, so these mattes aren’t really necessary. The reformat effect can do pan ‘n’ scan, letterboxing, pillarboxing, and cropping, depending on what source and target aspect ratios you select. And since Avid can put effects onto filler (ie empty) tracks, you get all the same functionality with a realtime effect.
OK, so I’m really just saying “Avid FTW,” but I thought it was worth adding.
hey owen!
I knew avid had something similar, FCP is lacking in many areas.. no argument there. I remember back when i used to cut on avid putting a matte on the empty layer..
i like being able to repo with out going into an item’s parameters.. that’s really big for me..
Dude,
I like this. I’m not doing any editing at present, but can see how beneficial this would be. You da man.
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