Mixing ARs

[Hagaren Viper]

If you're making an AMV that uses multiple anime of different aspect ratios, how do you usually handle that?

My train of thought is to go with the majority - If you're using mostly fullscreen footage, then crop to fullscreen, and the same goes for the opposite. But I'm curious to know what other people might think - maybe just crop to widescreen regardless, as most sources are widescreen now?

Discuss and stuff.

[godix]

I'd suggest just making a 1600x480 video. You could claim any black space is 'artistic choice'.

[Enigma]

Make the 16:4 4:3, since even making 4:3 16:9 the right way just looks ugly...

[Knowname]

I reanimate it all

[Pwolf]

I always do widescreen, the format looks better IMO. Converting 16:9 to 4:3 doesn't require any resizing but I don't like the look of the 4:3 aspect and the resize after the crop from 4:3 (4:3 to 16:9) isn't really all that noticeable if you have good sources anyway, IMO.

All that aside, my main reason for sticking to 16:9 vs 4:3 is because the composition of the 16:9 sources are done in a way to that they utilize the horizontal aspect to it's fullest, thats why they use a wide aspect to begin with. when you chop off the sides, you're not getting the full horizontal view the director wants you to see. Which is why 4:3 pan and scan blows. By chopping the 4:3, you still get the full horizontal view of both sources and i that's more important then the 4:3's vertical aspect IMO.

[BasharOfTheAges]

If you're using a lot of small clips of sources, it's also a good idea to do your AR trimming in ways that keep the focus of the frame not looking deliberately cut off. i.e. if you're going 4:3 -> 16:9 and you have a character bust in frame, it's usually better to cut more from the bottom than the top (losing the top of a head can be more awkward than cutting at an arbitrary point on the shoulders).

[aganim]

I cut the top and bottom of 4:3 videos to make them "16:9".
And I adjust the y-axis scene by scene to get the best result. (cutting off heads f.e. would be stupid like Bashar menioned)

[Magnus]

I always do widescreen, the format looks better IMO. Converting 16:9 to 4:3 doesn't require any resizing but I don't like the look of the 4:3 aspect and the resize after the crop from 4:3 (4:3 to 16:9) isn't really all that noticeable if you have good sources anyway, IMO.

All that aside, my main reason for sticking to 16:9 vs 4:3 is because the composition of the 16:9 sources are done in a way to that they utilize the horizontal aspect to it's fullest, thats why they use a wide aspect to begin with. when you chop off the sides, you're not getting the full horizontal view the director wants you to see. Which is why 4:3 pan and scan blows. By chopping the 4:3, you still get the full horizontal view of both sources and i that's more important then the 4:3's vertical aspect IMO.

x2 on all this really.

[AaronAMV]

make it 666x666

[MycathatesyouAMV]

I stick the 4:3 into a wormhole and edit with what comes back on the other end.