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AzzieScott
Known Participant
July 29, 2013
Question

How to create Black aspect ratio bars like in Final Cut Pro.

  • July 29, 2013
  • 6 replies
  • 56148 views

I would like to know the best way to create the black aspect ratio bars the same way you can in FinalCut Pro. For example a 2.35:1 bars. Can some one assist. I dont know why this is not already a installed preset. Premeire CC is supposed to make our life easier.

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    6 replies

    Inspiring
    July 29, 2013

    As you may need other sizes at some point (for example, "House of Cards" is framed 2.0-1 - that's right, 2-1, as it feels cinematic but doesn't leave as much of one's LCD unused), I fould this tutorial the best out there.  The kid sweetly mumbles through it, but for a non-Photoshop user like myself, I found it really easy to follow and make my own.  I even had to make a mask for a 1.85 4K file that was cropped 2.35.  Enjoy!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk41-MS2nCk

    Participating Frequently
    July 29, 2013

    It's much easier to do this within PPro itself -- just use the crop filter and either make a preset or create a new sequence and add the crop effect to an adjustment layer, then copy that layer into any subsequent sequence. 

    In both methods, you have to do the rudimentary math, so it's not as if you save yourself anything by going to Photoshop.

    And you don't have to listen to that insufferable kid.....

    BTW, the aspect ratio filter in FCP was, at least in the earlier versions, a big problem:  moving the footage around to reframe it reduced resolution in many cases.  The workaround was a garbage matte -- pretty much like the PPro method.

    Ann Bens
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    July 29, 2013

    And its so easy to make in the Titler for a 1920x1080 sequence.

    2 black rectangulars 1080 wide and 132 high (even numbers) placed top and bottom.

    Make into template and done.

    Legend
    July 29, 2013

    Here's another way to do things.

    http://adobe.ly/17bDeWt

    Participating Frequently
    July 29, 2013

    Agree with the others: edit in a custom sequence to allow pan & scan. Once you ready yourself for export with Media Encoder, you'll find that it will add black padding to fill the aspect ratio whether it be 16:9 standard HD or 4:3/16:9 SD, and so on.

    shooternz
    Legend
    July 29, 2013

    Instead of bars...why not work in an aspect ratio (of whatever your choice) without fake bars?

    Black bars were never part of any film. 

    IMHO: Its a pseudo aspect ratio  effect that is cliche becaused its not correct when done this way.

    The alternate way to advice given above is to work in a Custom Sequence.  This allows you to pan and scan your footage around to fit  (I assume it was not shot 2.35?).

    BTW: who ever told you this..

    Premeire CC is supposed to make our life easier.

    Legend
    July 29, 2013

    why not work in an aspect ratio (of whatever your choice) without fake bars?

    One reasons is because it may need to be delivered with bars, for example, Blu-ray or DVD.

    JaysonM-Y
    Participating Frequently
    July 29, 2013

    But... then you could just export the final file as 1080p or SD and it'll auto scale and give you a file with bars...

    Legend
    July 29, 2013
    AzzieScott
    Known Participant
    July 29, 2013

    awesome, I will try it. Thank you.

    JaysonM-Y
    Participating Frequently
    July 29, 2013

    AzzieScott wrote:

    Premeire CC is supposed to make our life easier.

    It does but you have an uncanny request. Even when using FCP I don't use 2.XX:X bars. I usually edit in native dimensions then export to whatever dimensions I want and tell compressor to scale or crop the dimensions to fit my export.

    You can create your bars with the title tool. One rectangle at the top and the other at the bottom.

    AzzieScott
    Known Participant
    July 29, 2013

    Now hold on, dont get it confused,  I love PP CC way better than FCP but im just suprised that some simple like apsect Ratio Bars are not pre installed.