Apple Final Cut Pro 6 - Manual (Page 1911)

428 Part V Appendixes
This image format is called 16:9 anamorphic because the intended aspect ratio is 16:9,
even though it appears as 4:3 (and therefore squeezed) under normal circumstances.
Traditional anamorphic film techniques use squeezing and stretching lenses for both
filming and projection. For anamorphic video, the squeezing can be achieved through
a lens or electronically in the camera charge-coupled device (CCD). For example, some
digital video cameras can capture a widescreen image on the CCD and then squeeze
the image width to 720 pixels for recording as NTSC or PAL. If you watch this image on
a standard definition (SD) monitor, it appears squeezed.
Why Use 16:9 Anamorphic Video?
16:9 anamorphic video provides NTSC and PAL compatibility but removes the
4:3 aspect ratio limitation. Anamorphic 16:9 video is becoming less common as high
definition (HD) video becomes affordable, offering native 16:9 aspect ratio and higher
resolution. However, HD video will not completely replace SD video for many years,
so you may still find yourself working with 16:9 anamorphic footage on occasion.
16:9 anamorphic video is used for three main reasons:
 For widescreen productions using SD equipment
 For film transfers to SD DVD to maintain the original film aspect ratio
 To create SD footage whose aspect ratio is compatible with 16:9 HD footage or film
16:9 anamorphic (squeezed into 4:3) 16:9 anamorphic (stretched to 16:9)