5

Adding Multiple Display Aspect Ratios to a Template
When creating a template for Final Cut Pro X, you can build alternate versions that have
different display aspect ratios—all within a single template. For example, when you create
a template with a 16:9 aspect ratio, you can add an alternate version customized for 4:3
displays. When the template is applied to a clip Final Cut Pro, the editing application
chooses the version that matches its display aspect ratio. These alternate display versions
of a single template are called snapshots. Snapshots eliminate the need to create multiple
versions of the same template for multiple display ratios.
You should add display aspect ratio snapshots if you expect to apply templates to clips
of varying resolutions in Final Cut Pro, or to apply the same title or generator template
in multiple Final Cut Pro projects with different resolutions.
Note: If you expect a template to be applied to differently sized clips in Final Cut Pro,
perform the workflow described in this section before saving the template.
Sidebar
Pixel Aspect Ratio (PAR) is the ratio of the width of a pixel to its height. For example,
NTSC pixels are slightly taller than they are wide. They have a pixel aspect ratio of 10/11
(approximately 0.9091). Display Aspect Ratio (DAR) is a ratio of the final displayed image’s
width to its height.
For example, an iPad’s display aspect ratio is 1.3333 (also written as 4:3), but broadcast
NTSC has a display ratio of 1.3636. To calculate the display aspect ratio of an image from
its dimensions and pixel aspect ratio, multiply the pixel aspect ratio by the width and
divide by the height.
The most common aspect ratios are 4:3 (also referred to as standard, 4x3, or 1.33:1) and
16:9 (widescreen, 16x9, or 1.78:1). Older monitors and televisions are generally 4:3, so
the screen is 33 percent wider than it is high. Newer HD monitors and televisions are
78 percent wider than they are high.
To reconfigure a project for a different display aspect ratio
1 In the Layers list, select the Project object.
2 In the Project Inspector, click Snapshots.
The Display Aspect Ratio Snapshots list appears, showing the project’s current default
aspect ratio.
562 Chapter 11 Creating Templates for Final Cut Pro X