Apple Final Cut Express 4 - Manual (Page 794)

794 Part IX Effects and Color Correction
Considerations Before Creating and Importing Stills
Before you start creating graphics and importing still images for video, there are a few
things to be aware of if you are concerned about achieving the best possible quality in
your final product. These include:
 Creating graphics with the correct frame size
 Working with graphics clips of different sizes
 Considering the bit depth of imported graphics
 Scaling a graphic to fit the frame size
 Creating graphics with the correct color settings
 Flattening graphics with layers
 Using alpha channels for compositing
 Selecting fonts and creating line art for video
 Scaling images and clips to match a sequence
Creating Graphics with the Correct Frame Size for Video
When you’re preparing to import graphics into Final Cut Express, it’s important to be
aware of the implications of frame size, sequence size, and pixel aspect ratio. Ultimately,
the frame size of your output format determines the size of the graphic you create in
your graphics application.
Here are some examples:
 If you are working with NTSC DV video, your graphic needs to have the same
dimensions: 720 x 480.
 If you are working with 720p HD video, your graphic needs to be 1280 x 720 to match
your sequence.