Preferred resolution for image in PE 9

[Ted]

Hello all,

Back with another question.

I thought I'd like to try making some type of "cover/title" page for my movies... since I'll be doing it for my crafting hobby. Perhaps a .JPG (or other format) where I can insert it in front of my movie.

What are the desired dimensions and resolution for such an image? I'd use Photoshop Elements to make the image and figured that 72 resolution would suffice? Just not sure of the size of the image.

Sorry if this is a real newbie question.

Thanks!

[Chuck Engels]

Hi Ted,
You can use Photoshop Elements to create the graphic and use the Titler in Premiere Elements for any Text.

The pixel dimensions of your graphic will depend on your project, what are the the project settings?

[Ted]

Hi Ted,
You can use Photoshop Elements to create the graphic and use the Titler in Premiere Elements for any Text.

The pixel dimensions of your graphic will depend on your project, what are the the project settings?

Hi Chuck,

I appreciate your helping me out.

I'm not sure what the project settings are. How would I go about finding those out? Are you talking about resolution? It would be for YouTube mostly (not sure if that helps).

[Chuck Engels]

Hi Ted,
When you started your project you had to pick a format/project setting, what did you pick?
What format video are you using in your project?

[Ted]

Hi Again, Chuck.

Well, I already published this video to YouTube.

I was thinking more for the future. I guess I'd be needing the optimum settings for YouTube.

I thought, perhaps, that there was a "universal" resolution for graphics imported... or at least one size that wouldn't make a tremendous difference.

How many years have I been a member of Muvipix and I still haven't understood all this stuff.

That's why I'm even looking at Windows Movie Maker! LOL.... that seems pretty easy.

[Chuck Engels]

It is all based on your project Ted. If it is standard definition then there is one resolution, for widescreen there is another, for 720p there is another and there are multiple settings for High Definition.

Standard Definition video (USA): 720 x 480
Standard Definition Widescreen: 854 x 480
HDV 720p 1280 x 720
1080p HDV is either 1440 x 1080 or 19020 x 1080

So you see, depending on what resolution you are editing in will determine what size graphic/title you will need.

[Ted]

That's PERFECT information, Chuck...thank you!

I'm curious... if I go with the largest image, is there a problem with it "downsizing" to a standard video?

I know it would have some distortion with the widescreen, of course.

[Chuck Engels]

The HDV 1080p resolution is widescreen so that won't be a problem with anything other than the Standard Definition projects.
Now my question would be if you should use square pixels or not and if that would matter?
Someone else will have to answer that question

[Ted]

Hi Chuck (and anybody else willing to help out! ),

Okay... well I took your advice and created an image that is: 1440 x 1080 with 100 resolution (I figured since it was on the computer, it would only need 100 resolution).

Here's the finished product:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ibN-BWV7l8[/youtube]

As you see at the start, it isn't wide enough.

The preset I used was:

NTSC - AVCHD Full HD 1080i 30

I'm guessing my problem is that I should have a wider image?

Also, I see that the only option I have on Youtube is up to 480 resolution. I'm confused. I thought my project (which is an FLV file) was HD? Shouldn't it be higher than 480?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Dave McElderry]

In Properties, under Motion, adjust the Scale until the black sidebars are gone. Then adjust the vertical position (it's the one on the right of the two position indicators) until the graphic is positioned correctly. I think you have enough blank space at the bottom of your graphic to get away with this.

[Ted]

Wow, learn something new! Thanks, Dave, for the lesson. It worked!

The footer image I actually created with PSE and I'm wondering, for the future, what resolution/size I should use so that I can just plop it in there without adjusting the scale and position (not that I don't appreciate your help!)

Also, (somewhat related): I used "Celeste" font in PSE 9, but when I tried to use it in a title with PrEl 9, it became boxes. Is that because I tried to change the font AFTER I created the title? In other words, will Celeste work if I select it BEFORE I type the title?

Thanks again!

[momoffduty]

If you need a graphic for widescreen, go with square pixels 864x480.

Found a chart:

http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/Premier ... C5240.html

[Dave McElderry]

Cheryl's numbers give you the ratio (close) of the 16:9 widescreen, which is 1.78:1. That's what you're looking for to make your graphic fit properly into the widescreen project. Resolution is not critical, as long as it's high enough to give you clear results, and not so high as to make a huge file size for no good reason. So you can play with the dimensions, so long as they give you the 1.78:1 ratio and the quality that you need.

I have no answer for you regarding the Celeste font. I would think that what would work in PSE ought to work in PRE, but maybe someone else will be able to explain it.

[Bob]

what resolution/size I should use so that I can just plop it in there without adjusting the scale and position

Resolution is not used for video work at all -- you can specify anything, it will be ignored. All that matters is the size of the image in pixels and the pixel aspect ratio.

Photoshop Elements will only let you create images with square pixels, so you need to choose an image size using square pixels that is equivalent to the video frame size of the project you are creating which may be using rectangular pixels. That's where that chart that Cheryl found comes in handy. For example, If you are using an HDV project whose video frame size is 1440x1080 with a pixel aspect ratio of 1.333, the square pixel equivalent would be 1920x1080 pixels. If you create a PSE image 1920x1080 it will drop right into an HDV project without the need to scale and adjust position. Premiere Elements will take care of the job of converting the image from square pixels to rectangular pixels for you.

[Dave McElderry]

Bob is absolutely correct, of course. I should have used the term "size" or perhaps "number of pixels" instead of resolution. Graphics larger or smaller may still be acceptable, but will have to be resized in your project unless you have Scale to Frame Size turned on. Again, a smaller graphic may not produce a high enough quality; a larger one has to be scaled down. If it's way too large it's just wasted file size and may become difficult for the program to handle, especially if you have a lot of them in your project.

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