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Table Of Contents
To compensate for pixel differences between graphics and video, you need to build the
graphics at one size and then rescale them to the appropriate video dimensions, as shown
in the following table.
Rescale dimensionStarting dimensionAspect ratio
720 x 480 pixels720 x 534 pixelsNTSC 4:3
720 x 480 pixels864 x 480 pixelsNTSC 16:9
720 x 576 pixels768 x 576 pixelsPAL 4:3
720 x 576 pixels1024 x 576 pixelsPAL 16:9
Important: While DVD Studio Pro automatically rescales graphics that use the starting
dimensions above, it is strongly recommended that you rescale the graphics in your
graphics program. (Graphics that already use the rescale dimensions are imported without
any rescaling.) If you rescale the graphics in your graphics program, they will appear
distorted in the graphics program but will be correct when viewed in DVD Studio Pro as
rectangular pixels.
Using Later Versions of Adobe Photoshop
Later versions of Adobe Photoshop, including the CS versions, have presets that
automatically set Photoshop to display the graphic with 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios using
nonsquare pixels. Even better, these presets include title and action safe guides. For SD
assets, these presets include:
NTSC DV 720 x 480 (with guides)
NTSC DV Widescreen 720 x 480 (with guides)
PAL D1/DV 720 x 576 (with guides)
PAL D1/DV Widescreen 720 x 576 (with guides)
You can turn this feature off by choosing View > Pixel Aspect Ratio Correction (a
checkmark next to this indicates when the feature is active).
Note: See Shape Aspect Ratios for information on how DVD Studio Pro works with graphics
used in shapes, buttons, and drop zones.
HD Video Pixels
There are a variety of video resolutions supported by HD projects:
Rescale dimensionStarting dimensionSquare pixelsResolution
720 x 480 pixels864 x 480 pixelsNo (anamorphic)480p (NTSC; 16:9)
720 x 576 pixels1024 x 576 pixelsNo (anamorphic)576p (PAL; 16:9)
1280 x 720 pixels1280 x 720 pixelsYes720p (NTSC, PAL; 16:9)
1440 x 1080 pixels1920 x 1080 pixelsYes (anamorphic)1080i (NTSC, PAL; 16:9)
100 Chapter 6 Preparing Menu Assets