Question for you vid-making/vid-watching people

[sholio]

In a multi-fandom vid that uses clips from shows/movies with different aspect ratios (that is, newer widescreen clips and older, TV-screen-shaped clips, or widescreen clips of different widths), what do you think is the least intrusive way of handling it?

If it's different for you as a vidder or a viewer, I'd be most interested in knowing what works best for you as a viewer -- what you find least jarring when you watch a vid.

Poll #6737

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15

View Respondents

What to do with different-sized clips?

View Answers

Stretch or squeeze them so that all are the same size
0 (0.0%)

Letterbox some of them with black bars
4 (26.7%)

Crop some of them so that you lose a little of the picture but the image size is the same on all
14 (93.3%)

I never noticed or have no preference
1 (6.7%)

Another option that's not on the poll (say it in comments)
0 (0.0%)

Tick tick tick tick TICKYBOX!
2 (13.3%)

Separate polls posted to DW and LJ, since you can't crosspost a poll; the LJ entry is here. Answer wherever you prefer.

Comments

[mecurtin]

No stretching or squeezing! Improper aspect ratio makes the baby Jesus cry real tears!

[sholio]

*laughs* Yeah, I don't actually hate it myself, but it's my least favorite of the various ways that vidders deal with this problem.

[ratcreature]

I prefer the cropping unless something really important happens at the edge, but mostly that's not the case. I can live with letterboxing, but stretching or squeezing is awful, because it distorts the picture.

[sholio]

*nods* Typically I don't notice letterboxing on the first viewing of a vid; sometimes not until I've watched it a number of times. It's especially invisible if I have my media player in fullscreen mode, since it's all black around it anyway. But stretching/squeezing jumps out at me on the first viewing. (Which is kind of annoying since that's what iMovie does by default, so it's an extra hassle getting it *not* to do it, but probably worth it ...)

[rydra_wong]

Crop or letterbox, but DO NOT MESS WITH THE ASPECT RATIO! Characters never look their best when stretched or squeezed.

[ratcreature]

Characters never look their best when stretched or squeezed.

Except maybe Plastic Man....

[sholio]

*giggles* But he's an exception to the rule! (To just about EVERY rule, perhaps ...)

[sholio]

Yeah, I do think it's telling how overwhelmingly the poll results are coming out against stretching/squeezing. I don't hate it -- that is, I'll deal with it if I like the vid otherwise, but it's hard to look at.

[scrollgirl]

I prefer vids that don't stretch or squeeze the picture. I would rather a vid keep the different-sized clips and not even bother with cropping or letterboxing over a vid that messed with aspect ratios. Or if cropping or letterboxing is too much work, a strategic fade in/out between clips can help smooth the transition.

[sholio]

I think it's interesting how strong (and unanimous!) opinions seem to be about this ...

The frustrating thing is that iMovie stretches/squeezes by default, which adds an extra level of hassle to cropping or letterboxing clips. But it definitely looks a whole lot better.

[scrollgirl]

I think our brains just don't like that kind of visual distortion. We're fine with having a picture cropped/letterboxed--that's just one way of narrowing our focus, like making a window with our fingers. But messing with aspect ratios is a bit like looking in a fun house mirror--it's a lot more jarring.

But I'm not a vidder, so please make your vid however you want!