CompuServe Thread

#ntsc safe zone file

8 messages in this thread
#72371From: Debbie BerneDec 18, 1993 2:26 PM
Is there a file somewhere that has an NTSC safe zone box that an be popped into a flic? Thanks! Dave Renneker
#72386From: Dec 18, 1993 4:33 PM
Dave: You can figure on 10% for the safe zone, (actually, I guess that's 90% for the safe zone, 10% for the un-save zone, but you get the idea!). You would need to calculate this size depending on the resolution of your flic. (Of course 3D Studio does this automatically for you… <g>) Greg Pyros [Pyros Partnership, Inc] gpyros@pyros.com 18-Dec-93 at 2:22p PST
#72463From: Debbie BerneDec 19, 1993 10:32 AM
<<You can figure on 10% for the safe zone, (actually, I guess that's 90% for the safe zone, 10% for the un-save zone, but you get the idea!). You would need to calculate this size depending on the resolution of your flic.>> Thanks for your response. I guess I'm still a little bit confused about monitor resolution compared to T.V. resolution. How does a 640×480 image appear on a television screen? Is there extra space around all four edges? The reason I ask is because I was talking with someone about Targa boards, and he said they are specifically designed for t.v. production in mind, and work at a fixed resolution of (something like) 720×640. Does this discrepancy in resolution matter or is this somehow fixed in the rgb to ntsc conversion process? Thanks again for your response! Dave Renneker
#72472From: David TaffetDec 19, 1993 1:23 PM
The person you have been talking with about Targas is not well informed, if he says they have a resolution of 720×640. They go to 512×486, which is pretty good, but not as high as current network broadcast levels, which are 720×486. The 486 resolution is fixed, for TV, by the way. FWIW David Taffet
#72487From: Debbie BerneDec 19, 1993 3:03 PM
<<The person you have been talking with about Targas is not well informed, if he says they have a resolution of 720×640. They go to 512×486, which is pretty good, but not as high as current network broadcast levels, which are 720×486. The 486 resolution is fixed, for TV, by the way. >> So if I have an image that is 640×480 that is being transferred to videotape,what happens? Not only is the 720×486 size bigger, there not even the same aspect ratio. Will I get empty areas? Thanks Dave Renneker
#72521From: John TissavaryDec 19, 1993 6:54 PM
You have two options, depending on the hardware/software used to lay your animation to tape: You can rescale preserving your current resolution and get a full screen, but distorted image, or you can rescale preserving your current aspect ratio and get an undistorted image with black borders. ***There is a third option, which I _strongly_ recommend: re-render your animation with the following res and aspect: If you will be using a Targa+, then: 512×486 aspect ratio of 1.26 If you will be using a higher resolution card that can support 720×486 like the ATVista or Illuminator Pro: 720×486 aspect ratio .9 The formula for calculating aspect ratio is this: WIDTH ————— x 1.33 = aspect ratio 486 (<= 486 is fixed for NTSC) If you select the Null driver and enter the appropriate resolution and aspect ratio you can see the image in the CAMERA viewport in the keyframer change aspect. If you press ALT+E you will get yellow and green boxes that represent the NTSC safe frame within the current resolution. This will help you set your camera(s) correctly. Regards, John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
#72658From: David TaffetDec 20, 1993 10:13 AM
If you are planning to go to videotape, find out ahead of time what the output resolution will be and render to that resolution using the appropriate aspect ratio. As to what happens if you don't, others will have to tell you, as I've never done it. DT
#73069From: David WrightDec 23, 1993 6:32 AM
Actualy there are 2 (two) safe zones! 90% is refered to as safe Action (out side this is often cut off on most TV sets , but due to some what spherical face plate it is not exactly a box with staight line on every s. second is ~ 80% and known as Safe Title Zone – so if you have words you absolutely positivly want to see – stay inside this! I made my self a GIF file and a CEL that have markes made by using NTSC monitors and a bit of trial & error – but they are NOT to SMPTE standards ( and only for 640×480) I also used a pencile to make marks on computer monitor bezel at both action & title zones – then lay staight edge across if in question. What happens to stuff thats outside zone – it hides behind tv sets bezel some "Pro" monitors underscan so you can see it, or you can climb inside your set and twiddle some knobs (not recomended) hope this helps some dave wright – wyeknot, inc