Setting Output Format Preferences

Location:

The Render Manager > Scene Render Options
Choose Render > Render > Scene Options from the Render toolbar.
Tab: Scene Globals [Properties Reference]
Options: Scene Output Resolution and click the Output Formats button.

Or
Choose File Preferences from the main menu. In the preferences view, select Output Format.

The Output Format preferences provide access to a variety of camera, image-format and other parameters that are normally scattered throughout several other property editors.

You can modify all of these parameters from the Output Format property editor, and then apply the changes to all applicable parts of the scene. For example, you can change the camera picture standard and then update all of the cameras in the scene as well as the relevant render options.

This allows you to quickly make global changes to the most common settings, such as those required to switch from the NTSC picture standard to the PAL picture standard.

To set output format preferences

If you'd like, choose a Preset. You can choose NTSC, PAL, or Custom.
- Choosing NTSC or PAL will update the other preferences accordingly.
- If you choose Custom, you can then set the other preferences and click the Save Custom Preset button to save your settings as a new preset. Custom presets become available in the Preset drop-down list.

Set the Camera options:

Choose the picture standard at which you want to output your render. The following output formats are provided:

NTSC (default) D1 4/3 720 x 486
NTSC D1 16/9 720 x 486
Custom
Cine 35 1.37/1
Cine 35 1.66/1
Cine 35 1.85/1
Cine 35 Vistavision
Cine 70 Panavision
Cine 70 Imax
Cine 16
Cine Super 16

Slide 35 (24 x 36)
Slide 6 x 6
Slide 4 x 5/8 x 10
PAL D1 4/3 720 x 576
PAL D1 16/9 720 x 576
HDTV 480 640 x 480
HDTV 480 4/3 704 x 480
HDTV 480 16/9 704 x 480
HDTV 720 16/9 1280 x 720
HDTV 1035 16/9 1920 x 1035
HDTV 1080 16/9 1920 x 1080

The Picture Ratio appears beneath the Picture Standard list. Editing this value changes the X and Y resolution of your output image(s) and sets the Picture Standard to Custom.

Set the Image Resolution options:
- The Resolution X and Resolution Y values specify the width and height of the image in pixels.
  
  If you select Maintain Picture Ratio and change Resolution X, Resolution Y scales automatically, and vice versa, to maintain a proportional picture ratio.
- If necessary, adjust the Pixel Ratio. This ensures image compatibility with devices that use non-square pixels.
Set the Default Frame Rate options:
- The Frame Step sets the interval at which frames are played back in the viewport. For example, a value of 2 causes the viewports to display only every second frame in the viewport during playback.
- The Frame Format sets the speed at which frames are played back in the viewport (fps = frames per second). You can choose from an number of common formats.
  
  If you select Custom, you must define the number of frames per second in the Frame Rate text box.
- The Frame Rate is the selected speed at which frames are played back in the viewport. You can only change this value if the frame format is set to Custom.
  
  NoteIf the Update Play Control option is activated, changing these settings will automatically update the corresponding settings in the Play Control property editor.
The Pixel Ratio setting in the Rotoscope mode only options is automatically set according to the camera settings. However, if need be, you can deactivate the Use Camera Pixel Ratio option and set a custom pixel ratio.
Once you've set the parameters as desired, click the Apply Now button in the Update Scene Elements section. The following dialog box opens:

Choose the settings that you want to update:
- Updating camera settings affects all cameras in the scene.
- Updating render options affects all render passes in the scene.
- Updating Fx Tree settings affects all trees in the scene.
Click OK to close the dialog box and update the selected settings.