topic Re: 16:9 resolution in 3ds Max Forum

16:9 resolution

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:37:49 GMT

hei hei,

I was wondering if there isn't a simple solution to render a scene in a 16:9 resolution (PAL DV, 720x576) for editing the final result in a editing prog?
I find it strange that there isn't a default solution because everything is widescreen these days...

thx

Re: 16:9 resolution

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:46:35 GMT

What version of max are you using? Max9 has a PAL D-1 video custom setting in the output pulldown with exactly what you're looking for, 720x576 with 1.0667 pixel aspect.

Re: 16:9 resolution

Tim_Wilbers — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:25:05 GMT

I may be way off on this, but...

Render Scene dialog:
Set Output Size to Custom
Width = 720
Height = 576
Scroll the Pixel Aspect field until the Image Aspect is 1.778 (16:9)

Or, set the height and width as above and type in 1.422 for the Pixel Aspect.

To keep this as your preset, use the Preset function at the bottom of the dialog.

Does that help?

Re: 16:9 resolution

JonasUssing — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:28:19 GMT

@jvanhulle: yes, it's odd that it's not a preset.
@focomo: your suggestion gives a 4:3 image, so that's a definite no-go. 🙂
@Tim: that's the way to do it.

Re: 16:9 resolution

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:32:14 GMT

hei hei

thx for the reply!
I've allready did it like Tim suggested and it works! thx

a friend of my suggested to make the whole scene as a HD movie (this is always 16:9) and after that, scaling in the editing prog

Re: 16:9 resolution

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:29:21 GMT

hei hei

a friend of my suggested to make the whole scene as a HD movie (this is always 16:9) and after that, scaling in the editing prog

Re: 16:9 resolution

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:19:15 GMT

Use a Custom Output Size:

Width = 1024
Height = 576
Image Aspect Ratio = 1.778 (16:9)
Pixel Aspect Ratio =1.0

This is the correct settings for 16:9 Standard Definition DV PAL.

Re: 16:9 resolution

JonasUssing — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:56:42 GMT

Width = 1024
Height = 576
Image Aspect Ratio = 1.778 (16:9)
Pixel Aspect Ratio =1.0
This is the correct settings for 16:9 Standard Definition DV PAL.

That's not entirely accurate...

Tim's suggestion is the single most correct answer in this thread.

<b>PAL is always 720*576, no matter if it's 4:3 or 16:9.</b>

Sometimes people work in square pixels before creating the 720*576 master, and if you do so, then yes, 1024*576 is the way to go, and not at all a bad thing to work in. But you'll still need to resize to 720*576 afterwards.

- Jonas

Re: 16:9 resolution

Tim_Wilbers — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:59:49 GMT

16:9 High Definition is a different matter, and Max does have prsests.

We don't have an HD DVD player, but I buy all the animated movies in "widescreen". It's 720x480 (or 720x486, I don't know which), and stretched to fit a 16:9 screen because of the pixel aspect ratio.

Similar to using amphomorphic lenses in cinema work. Takes a widescreen view and projects it to 4:3 on the film. You then project back through an amphomorphic lens so it looks correct on the screen.

Re: 16:9 resolution

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 06:01:06 GMT

If you are working with Standard Definiton DV PAL video footage than yes, the image aspect ratio is always 720 x 576 based on rectangular pixels. If you shoot 4:3 in this mode the pixel aspect ratio is 1.067. If you shoot 16:9 in this mode your pixel aspect ratio is 1.422. This is not really true widescreen as the image is squashed to fit into the 4:3 CCD. It is commonly known as Anamorphic Footage.

When producing images from a 3D application like Max or Maya you are working with square pixels.

So if you were to import your Standard Definition DV PAL 16:9 footage into Adobe Premiere Pro, Premiere corrects the pixel aspect ratio to display it properly in the Monitor Windows so that it doesn't look stretched. If you were to render out your Max footage at the output size I suggested before, and comp that with your DV footage then it works out correctly.

There are alternate solutions but what I suggested is acutally correct.