Pixel size of storyboard panels for use in FCP 1080i sequence?

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Level 1

6 points

Pixel size of storyboard panels for use in FCP 1080i sequence?

Hi, I'm working in the default 1080i FCP video setting and would like to make storyboard panels of the same dimension as this 1080i sequence in Photoshop, for eventual incorporation into this FCP project.

What settings should I use in Photoshop to ensure the .psd documents are of the same resolution, dimension, and so on as the default 1080i FCP sequence?

Thanks (new to FCP)

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on May 13, 2009 6:49 AM

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Answer 1

oceanbluesky Author

Level 1

6 points

May 13, 2009 1:11 PM in response to oceanbluesky

cymk rather than rgb

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Answer 2

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

May 13, 2009 1:17 PM in response to oceanbluesky

You cannot use CMYK images in FCP. Doing so will cause an "Out of Memory" error.

Use the HDTV 1920 x 1080 template in Photoshop.

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Answer 3

May 13, 2009 1:19 PM in response to Nick Holmes

I think Ocean may have been responding to the wrong post.

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Answer 4

oceanbluesky Author

Level 1

6 points

May 13, 2009 1:36 PM in response to Nick Holmes

yes, the cymk rgb switch was in response to a different issue/post

but

"Use the HDTV 1920 x 1080 template in Photoshop."

This default setting of "square pixels" in Photoshop causes the resulting image to be "squashed" once imported into FCP. A new HDTV 1920x1080 document with its pixel aspect ratio switched to "HDV 1080/DVCPRO HD 720 (1.33)" looks perfect in FCP.

Is switching the pixel aspect ratio from the default square pixels to 1.33 the right workflow, if I am drawing storyboards first in Photoshop? Should the pixel aspect be switched after I've finished a drawing or at the start of working on a Photoshop document?

Also, to what extent would there be advantages/disadvantages in passing the .psd drawings through Motion first...to animate layers and so on? Is that a common storyboard workflow?

Thank you...new to FCP...slowwwwwwwly making progress, appreciate the help

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Answer 5

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

May 13, 2009 2:02 PM in response to oceanbluesky

I get the correct apect ratio using the Photoshop HDTV template with the following settings in FCP:

Depending on your local standard, you might want a different frame rate - I work in PAL, hence the 25fps setting.

You also want your Photoshop canvas to look the same as it will be diplayed on the TV screen while you are putting the graphics together -so don't mess with the aspect ratio in Photoshop.

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Answer 6

oceanbluesky Author

Level 1

6 points

May 13, 2009 3:45 PM in response to Nick Holmes

REALLY appreciate your thorough help. Very grateful.

Screenshot made all the difference...thank you.

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Answer 7

oceanbluesky Author

Level 1

6 points

May 14, 2009 10:57 AM in response to Nick Holmes

Do you have "correct for aspect ratio" checked in the Canvas?

thanks again

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