Getting Started > Player Essentials > Setting Player Display Options > 
Applying a Letterbox Format to a Clip
 
 
 

Use the Letterbox options to change the visible part of video clips. This is achieved by masking the top and bottom or left and right edges of the image in the Player (and not by applying an anamorphic effect to the image).

There are six predefined letterbox formats, and an option that allows you to create a custom format.

To apply a letterbox format to a clip:

  1. Click the Player Options tab.
  2. Enable Letterbox.

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  3. If multiple display options are enabled, select Letterbox from the Preview Setup box.

    The Letterbox controls appear.

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    (a) Preview Setup box  (b) Letterbox Format box  (c) Letterbox Offset field  

  4. Select a format from the Letterbox Format box.
  5. By default, the top and bottom letterbox masks are identical, and the image is centred in the image window. To offset the position of the letterbox masks, enter a positive or negative value in the Letterbox Offset field.
  6. If you selected Custom, enter a custom size in the Ratio field that appears.
  7. Optional: Use the colour pot to change the colour of the letterbox masks.

Removing the Letterbox Format Attribute

When you set a letterbox format for a clip in the Player, it becomes an attribute of the clip. It is saved with the clip, so every time you play the clip in the Player, the format is already there. Thus, each clip can have its own letterbox format.

When you output a clip with a letterbox format from the Output Clip menu, the Letterbox option in that menu is automatically enabled so that you can output the clip with the previously specified format. To output the clip without letterbox, disable Letterbox in the Clip Output menu prior to output. See Clip Input/Output Using a VTR.

To remove the letterbox format attribute from a clip:

  1. Select the clip.
  2. Display the Player.
  3. Click the Player Options tab.
  4. Disable Letterbox.

Saving and Loading Letterbox Formats

You can save a letterbox format separately from the focus clip, and then apply it to another clip.

To save a letterbox format:

  1. Click the Player Options tab.
  2. In the Letterbox controls, click Save.

    The file browser appears.

  3. Type a filename in the Save field, and press Enter.

To load a letterbox format:

  1. Select the clip to which you want to apply a saved letterbox format and display it in the Player.
  2. Click the Player Options tab.
  3. In the Letterbox controls, click Load.

    The file browser appears.

  4. Select a format from the File list.

    The letterbox format is applied to the focus clip in the Player.