Customised Export but still black bars at top and bottom

AAProds wrote on 9/30/2024, 6:15 PM

I find the safest way to export at a customised frame size is to set up your movie settings (key E) to what you want, then arrange the objects with Section and SPR to fit. Putting the preview monitor onto 75% can help visualise the positioning and resizing (the three-bar menu icon at the top-left corner of the preview monitor).

I have tried to export customised parts of a video eg 16:9 movie setting, exporting 1:1 but it goes pear-shaped occasionally and I've not worked out why.

me_again wrote on 10/1/2024, 12:17 AM

@Xenofex2 @AAProds

To edit and export a vertical phone video it's best to set the movie size before you add any clips to the timeline.

Use one of the presets in Movie Settings, for some reason MS won't adjust after editing.

AndyW

CubeAce wrote on 10/1/2024, 4:38 AM

@me_again @Xenofex2 @AAProds

Hi Andy.

for some reason MS won't adjust after editing.

That's because the program has no idea of the intended use for the exported video. In the movie settings you have told the program the final ratio to render the video to. There is nothing to stop a person from putting more than one portrait style video into a landscape orientated video as Pips. I do that on a semi regular basis as part of the video.

Ray.

AAProds wrote on 10/1/2024, 4:52 AM

for some reason MS won't adjust after editing.

That's because the program has no idea of the intended use for the exported video.

I don't think it's a case of knowing the intended use, I suspect it's been programmed not to keep asking to "adjust" when that has already been answered in the negative when the first clip was brought in.

Xenofex2 wrote on 10/1/2024, 5:42 AM

Thankyou Andy and Ray,

Initially I kept looking at Andy’s answer and then to MEP and trying another Export and another and another. It does seem that with my version of MEP I could still go back to change the original Movie Settings. (Initially I had just ignored.) However it was another suggestion, that of reducing the Preview Monitor to 75% that helped me on the road to finding the solution. The final part of the jigsaw came when I kept looking at Ray’s video of Chatham Dockyard. It was obviously possible to do what I wanted so what was I doing wrong!

I then looked once again at my Project. I had a movie clip and two Images as a Background. With the Preview Monitor set at 75%, and then looking at the ‘Size/Position/Rotation’ Effect for each of the background items, the penny dropped. Put the cursor on each background clip/image, it was then I realised that I had black bars at top and bottom showing on the two Images. Stretch the Images and another Export and all was well. I had got there.

So thankyou Andy and Ray.

George

CubeAce wrote on 10/1/2024, 6:54 AM

@AAProds

Hi Al.

That's a fair point as I often change orientation or frame speed of my videos depending on final intended usage or lighting conditions, so I always set up the movie settings for each individual project. It has been habit forming for me so not a problem I have encountered. It would be extremely annoying to be asked each time if I wanted to change orientation, frame speed or resolution as I do mix all three from time to time.

Ray.

AAProds wrote on 10/1/2024, 7:43 AM

@Xenofex2

Initially I kept looking at Andy’s answer and then to MEP and trying another Export and another and another. It does seem that with my version of MEP I could still go back to change the original Movie Settings.

I think this is simply a case of lost in translation: Andy was referring to the "Do not adjust" message that you get when you bring a clip onto the timeline that is different to the movie settings. You can change the movie settings at will, whenever you like.

I often do this when I have exported a 16:9 movie for the family archives and then want to make a square version for Whatsapp: I just hop onto Movie Settings (key E) and change them to Square, then I do a quick re-arrange of my objects and then export Square. Sometimes, you need to manually change the export settings to match the new frame dimensions.

Xenofex2 wrote on 10/1/2024, 9:17 AM

think this is simply a case of lost in translation: Andy was referring to the "Do not adjust" message that you get when you bring a clip onto the timeline that is different to the movie settings.

Yes you are right. However it was as a result of keep reading the Answers, looking also at the project in MEP, and eventually all the answers helped me solve my problem.

George

browj2 wrote on 10/1/2024, 9:34 AM

@AAProds

Hi Al,

I often do this when I have exported a 16:9 movie for the family archives and then want to make a square version for Whatsapp: I just hop onto Movie Settings (key E) and change them to Square, then I do a quick re-arrange of my objects and then export Square. Sometimes, you need to manually change the export settings to match the new frame dimensions.

Why not just add a movie, copy/paste to it and change the settings for the movie. Each movie in a project can have different settings. Make your adjustments to the content for the settings. When you go to export, the movie settings are displayed by default for each movie.

Now, you keep both versions intact.

John CB

AAProds wrote on 10/1/2024, 9:44 AM

@browj2

Why not just add a movie, copy/paste to it and change the settings for the movie.

John yes, one could do that. I do have different movie settings in the same project; the reason I dislike the often-used term "project settings". They are really "movie settings". 👍