Using square-pixel footage for output to D1 or DV NTSC

You can use square-pixel footage in a D1/DV NTSC composition and generate output that does not appear distorted. Note that the pixel aspect ratio is identical between D1 and DV, but there is a slight difference in composition frame size. The steps that follow contain information about issues discussed elsewhere in this guide.

To use square-pixel footage when outputting to D1 or DV NTSC:

1. Prepare square-pixel footage that fills the entire frame using one of the following methods:
• If your final output is DV NTSC, create and save it at a 720 x 534 frame size.
• If your final output is D1 NTSC, create and save it at a 720 x 540 frame size.
• If your final output is D1/DV PAL, create and save it at a 768 x 576 frame size.
2. Import the file into After Effects.
• If your square-pixel footage was created and saved at 720 x 486 or 720 x 480, select it and choose File > Interpret Footage > Main. Then choose Square Pixels from the Pixel Aspect Ratio pop-up menu and click OK.
3. Choose Composition > New Composition, and then select one of the following:
• If your final output is DV, choose NTSC DV, 720 x 480 for Preset, and D1/DV NTSC (0.9) for Pixel Aspect Ratio.
• If your final output is D1, choose NTSC D1, 720 x 486 for Preset, and D1/DV NTSC (0.9) for Pixel Aspect Ratio.
4. Select your other Composition settings as desired, and then click OK.
5. Add your footage to the new composition.
6. Select the layer containing the square-pixel footage and apply the Shrink to Fit command: press Ctrl+Alt+F (Windows) or Command+Option+F (Mac OS).

Note: If your footage was created and saved at a frame size other than those noted in step 1, skip step 6.