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561Final Cut Pro User Guide
Choose a method of conforming frame size
You can choose how Final Cut Pro modifies the frame size of a clip to match the project’s
frame size settings. For example, you can have Final Cut Pro change the frame size of the
clip to fit within the longest dimension of the project’s frame dimensions, fill the entire
frame of the project (which usually results in cropping), or leave the clip’s frame size as is.
1. Open a project in the Final Cut Pro timeline, then add a clip whose frame size
(resolution) is different from the project’s frame size.
For information about adding clips to the timeline, see Intro to adding clips in Final Cut Pro.
2. Select the clip in the timeline.
3. If the inspector isn’t already shown, do one of the following:
• Choose Window > Show in Workspace > Inspector (or press Command-4).
• Click the Inspector button on the right side of the toolbar.
4. Click the Video button at the top of the inspector.
5. Click the Type pop-up menu in the Spatial Conform section of the Video inspector, then
choose a method of conforming frame size.
Note: If the clip you selected has the same frame size (resolution) as the project, the
Spatial Conform section does not appear.
• Fit: The default setting. Fits the clip within the project’s frame size without cropping
the clip’s video. Black bars appear on the sides of the frames that don’t match the
project’s frame size. In the case of a standard-definition (SD) clip in a high-definition
(HD) project, Final Cut Pro scales up the SD clip to fit the HD project’s frame size. In
the case of an HD clip in an SD project, Final Cut Pro scales down the HD clip to fit
the SD project’s frame size.
• Fill: Makes the clip’s video fill the project’s frame size. In the case of an SD clip in an
HD project, Final Cut Pro scales up the SD clip to fit the HD project’s frame size. In
the case of an HD clip in an SD project, Final Cut Pro scales down the HD clip to fit
the SD project’s frame size. In both cases, cropping occurs along the clip’s longer
dimension to allow the shorter dimension to fill the screen.
• None: Leaves the clip’s frame size unchanged. If the clip’s frame size is larger than
the project’s frame size, the clip appears cropped. If the clip’s frame size is smaller
than the project’s frame size, black bars surround the clip.