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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Choosing an aspect ratio

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Arnold F.

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What do I consider when choosing an aspect ratio? Why would I choose other than 16:9?
 
All depends on your deliverables and/or visual preference. Some folks love 2:40:1 aspect ratio, and if your final delivery is the big screen you can choose that aspect ratio, or the standard movie aspect ratio of 1:85:1. Most TV networks will only accept 16:9 these days. Where the same was true for 4:3 before the HD wave hit and the shape of TVs went from a square to a rectangle. Really there are a lot of reasons why people chose the aspect ratio they do, but the simple answer is taste and the ability to sell the project.

Now, maybe you are asking about the in camera options? The reason there are different options is probably because RED was able to squeak out more fps and lower compression if you could live with certain aspect ratios. That's because those aspect ratios are actually using less pixels, so the camera doesn't have to work as hard. 5KFF is a much larger file size than say 5K 2:1. Hence, the more options for lower compression and higher frame rates at 5K 2:1. Hope this helps. Peace.
 
Maybe a dumb question, but I can't seem to find the answer anywhere... are we able to change aspect ratios in the current Scarlet build? I haven't been able to find this, except of course 4KHD
 
I just assumed that you could, which prompted my question. So I just shoot at full 4K and set frame guides?

Trevor Meeks said:
Maybe a dumb question, but I can't seem to find the answer anywhere... are we able to change aspect ratios in the current Scarlet build? I haven't been able to find this, except of course 4KHD
Click to expand...
 
Scarlet has far less options than Epic does. Its part of the reason it costs so much less I believe. Either that, or they are going to enable more aspect ratios in future builds.

Arnold, yes to 4K with frame guides. Aspect ratio can be chosen later in the post process when making deliverables.
 
Cropping in post is super easy too. I have no problem shooting 2:1 all the time, it looks better to me than 16:9 anyway, and shooting 4KHD for 16:9 projects is great. I really have no problem with the "lack" of aspect ratios in-camera, but I was just curious.

Thanks Clint.
 
Trevor Meeks said:
Cropping in post is super easy too.
Click to expand...

This.

Michael Cioni gave a talk recently on how they took their 5K footage from shooting Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, and made all the deliverables. Shot 5K, used a bit of that as a sort of "look around", and cropped from the 5K masters down to the right aspect ratio for Theaters and for BluRay. Meaning that rather than center-cut what they made for Thaters for the BluRay, they instead took off a bit of the letter boxing on the top and bottom. So there are pixels on the BR that weren't shown in theaters.

This kind of workflow is possible thanks to recording footage that's larger than HD, as well as the forethought to set up your projects that way at the outset.
 
So, perhaps another stupid question. How do I compose? The deliverable aspect ratio of the little project I'm shooting on is unknown/undecided and, in any case, it's not for release. It's a for-everyone's-reel arrangement.

As a still photographer composition is nearly everything. I never, ever crop later. I can adapt to looser constraints in this department but don't wish to part ways with composition altogether and have someone compose in post. I'm not sure if I'm asking this question properly.

Perhaps it would be best to ask at what aspect ratio I should set my frame lines in order to compose and yet leave a little room in post to a) adapt to a common aspect ratio and, b) correct shake or breathing of my lenses, if desired. Is there a standard operating procedure for this?
 
Strongly suggest you and your cohorts choose an aspect ratio and stick to it. You can always set frame guides in camera that leave some "spare" pixels to allow for post stabilization, just be aware that if you do, you will have to crop even the stable shots in post which may add processing/render time. For demo reels I prefer 2:1 (letterboxed for 16:9 and other specced containers) as I think it adds perceived value - more arty, more cinematic. In any case, my advice is to think about who will be seeing the material, what kinds of jobs you would like to book, etc then choose accordingly.

Cheers - #19
 
Unfortunately Arnold, increasingly, there are less and less "rules" that "have" to be adhered to. It really comes down to, well, ultimately, who decides what the output is? Is it you? If so, then you decide what the aspect ratio will be. Is it a client? Does the client care? Does the client know enough to care? Depending on those answers, then it may STILL be you that gets to decide. Is the product going to Theaters? Broadcast TV? Web only? iPads? Android Phones? Art installation? Projected onto the side of a building?

Because you're right: to get the best composition, you need to be aware of all deliverable options before you start shooting. However, everyone is different, and will have different main avenues of delivery, which all have their own needs.

If you're making your own demo reel to show what you can do, then I would say YOU get to decide the aspect ratio.
 
Arnold F. said:
What do I consider when choosing an aspect ratio? Why would I choose other than 16:9?
Click to expand...

Some stories just play better in other formats. For example; 2:1 might better serve a drama about a divorcing couple, who are emotionally miles apart, than 4:3.

If you have the option, ask yourself will one format better lend itself to a composition that is meaningful to your subject matter than another? But don't forget your personal comfort level. Can you make good use of the real estate? Can you compose comfortably in the chosen ratio? Sometimes it just doesn't feel right.
 
2:1 sounds good to me. If I understand correctly, it could be cropped down to 16:9? I could set my frame lines to 2:1 and just be aware that my headroom won't change? I could have this all wrong.

Scott Crawley said:
Some stories just play better in other formats. For example; 2:1 might better serve a drama about a divorcing couple, who are emotionally miles apart, than 4:3.

If you have the option, ask yourself will one format better lend itself to a composition that is meaningful to your subject matter than another? But don't forget your personal comfort level. Can you make good use of the real estate? Can you compose comfortably in the chosen ratio? Sometimes it just doesn't feel right.
Click to expand...
 
Arnold F. said:
2:1 sounds good to me. If I understand correctly, it could be cropped down to 16:9? I could set my frame lines to 2:1 and just be aware that my headroom won't change? I could have this all wrong.
Click to expand...

2:1 is wider than 16x9 so you'll have to chop off a bit of the sides to get 16x9. Or if you want letter-boxed just output to a 16x9 format such as 1920x1080 and it will be the full 2:1 inside the 16x9 image.
 
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