ADOBE PREMIERE PRO 2.0
User Guide
33
About square-pixel footage
Many graphics and animation programs generate square-pixel assets meant for display on square-pixel computer
monitors. Adobe Premiere Pro, however, typically generates files with non-square pixels for display on television
sets. Adobe Premiere Pro automatically conforms square-pixel assets to the project’s pixel aspect ratio. After the asset
is conformed, however, it no longer has its original frame aspect ratio. Also, its frame aspect ratio is not likely to
match that of the project, even if it did before it was conformed.
For example, suppose you generate a square-pixel asset at 720 x 540 and import it into an Adobe Premiere Pro DV
project with an aspect ratio of 720 x 540. In this case, the asset will be wider than the screen when it is conformed.
You can use the Scale control to set the size of the asset’s frame within the project’s frame. However, to preserve the
asset’s frame aspect ratio, Adobe Premiere Pro often needs either to crop the asset or to frame it within black bars.
You can prevent this kind of cropping and framing by generating assets from your square-pixel graphics or
animation programs in a frame aspect ratio that, when conformed, matches the project’s frame size exactly. For best
results, use programs such as Adobe Photoshop and After Effects that include pixel aspect ratio settings, and set the
frame dimensions and pixel aspect ratio to match those of your project. If the pixel aspect ratio setting is unavailable
in your program, do not try to match the frame dimensions (for example, 720 x 540). Instead, ensure that the overall
frame aspect ratio matches that of your project (for example, 4:3 or 16:9). Adobe Premiere Pro automatically adjusts
the video so that it is not distorted.
If your square-pixel program requires frame dimensions, use the option that matches your project’s output:
•
4:3 DV (NTSC) or ATSC SD—create and save the square-pixel file at 720 x 534.
•
4:3 D1 (NTSC)—create and save the square-pixel file at 720 x 540.
•
4:3 DV or D1 (PAL)—create and save the file at 768 x 576.
•
16:9 DV (NTSC)—create and save the file at 864 x 480.
•
16:9 D1 (NTSC)—create and save the file at 864 x 486.
•
16:9 DV or D1 (PAL)—create and save the file at 1024 x 576.
•
16:9 1080i HD—create and save the file at 1920 x 1080.
•
16:9 720p HD—create and save the file at 1280 x 720.
To correct recurring misinterpretations
Adobe Premiere Pro automatically assigns pixel aspect ratios to files according to a file of rules. If a specific type of
image is consistently misinterpreted (distorted) when you import it, you can change the relevant rule.
1
Open a text editor, such as Notepad.
2
From within the text editor, go to the Adobe Premiere Pro Plug-ins folder.
3
Open the file named Interpretation Rules.txt.
4
Edit the rule that you want to modify, and choose Save.