Co-Pilot Video, Disk Recorder
Letter-boxing and more

The "Superimpose" buss on the Switcher screen has not been of much use when playing a Flyer project (yet), but it is incredibly valuable when first digitizing a video clip. All of the tricks that we used to do on the Toaster can still be accomplished and recorded. Such things as letterboxing, fly-in keys, imbedded CG, and two-layered effects are all possible. Here, we will look at letterboxing.

Certain types of projects lend themselves well to letterboxing, especially commercials and tapes to be played at tradeshows. Viewers feel that you shot with an HDTV camera or a wide screen film format. The impression is that you are seeing more of the picture (they are actually seeing less since some of the image is covered up).

The benefit to clients is that the entire project has space at the top and bottom of the screen for text and graphics throughout. For example, a company's name, logo and 1-800 number could all be on for the entire 30 seconds of a commercial instead of just appearing briefly at the end.

You may need to frame your camera work accordingly (draw a rectangle on your camera's viewfinder with a grease pencil for framing). On some shows, we shoot every shot with two framings. This way we can change our mind when editing. Also, don't overuse this on every project.

1. Create and save a Letterbox Framestore

2. Place the Letterbox Framestore into your Flyer project window. This is so you can get to it easily from the "Switcher view"

3. Start Co-Pilot Video's Disk Recorder (leaving it in pause). Then return to the Flyer (Switcher view)

4. Prepare the Switcher
- Double click on the Letterbox Framestore in the project window. Look at the "main" switcher buss and see whether it loaded into DV1 or DV2. (Note: If ever a Framestore will not load when in the "Switcher view", simply highlight any other crouton and then double click on the Framestore again.)
- Next, change the "main" program buss to your input video (probably input 1), and start your video source tape rolling
- On the "Superimpose" buss in the right corner, select the same DV1 or DV2 button that the Framestore originally loaded in to.
- Lastly, highlight the "white" box and adjust your "luminance key level" to somewhere between 025 - 050 (wherever the letterbox appears cleanest)

5. Digitize the clip with the Letterbox "super"
- Cue your video source again and start it rolling
- When ready toggle the Disk Recorder to roll, and then pause it again after the shot is complete.
- If you wish to letterbox lots of stuff, just cue the next shot and toggle the disk recorder again.
- Stop the Disk recorder when you are all finished.

Other ideas:

Letterboxing does not always have to be black. You could paint an ornate border or use any color that does not approach pure white. If you want white, then make the center rectangle pure black and set the luminance keyer to black instead.

If you want the client's phone number, logo or name to appear in the border, load the Framestore as a background screen in the CG program, and add the text or brush. Just avoid using pure white except in the "rectangular key area."

This is also a cool way to box any area of the screen. Black areas can add a flare to a project especially during the opening, in a collage, or for a credit roll that scrolls on one side of the screen while images appear on the other. Go for it.