Widescreen?

[A.M.]

What video editing software can take a full screen video and make it widescreen? Or does anyone know of a program that does this?

[Bad Monkey Movies]

Depends on your definition or requirement of widescreen.

If you want to electronically stretch (ie make people short and wide) then a lot of video editors will do this.

If you want to do it cinema way (ie cut off the top and bottom of the viewable screen) then you can use After Effects to create black bars.

[Morbidfilm]

Don't forget that by making a full screen video widescreen you are either going to have the squished look, or by adding black bars you may loose some important visuals at the top or bottom.
Unearthed Films tried it for my movie. Some shots looked amazing, but then we lost very important visuals in other shots. So we said screw it and left it full screen.

[Bad Monkey Movies]

Don't forget that by making a full screen video widescreen you are either going to have the squished look, or by adding black bars you may loose some important visuals at the top or bottom.


Agreed. The trick is to decide on the format in pre-production and then shoot it - ie, if you are going to electronically mask the top and bottom then frame the shot accordingly.

A trick I have found elsewhere (for those whose cameras don't add guide bars on the viewfinder) is to use an external monitor with masking tape across the top and bottom of the screen allowing proper framing. This seems a reliable method of good framing for the electronic method.

[as_i_lay_dying]

My sony camera, and other cameras as well can be set in the menu to shoot 16:9 (widescreen)

[Bad Monkey Movies]

True, but why have 16:9 when you can have 2.40:1 ?:)

[DawnOfTheDuke]

Vegas, Premiere, Final Cut Pro... all of the main video editing programs will do this easily.

What is the target format? If you just want to make a 4:3 video seem more 'cinematic' and you're going to deliver this in a 4:3 letterboxed or internet video, you'll be fine. If you're going to turn around and resize it to anamorphic widescreen, you're going to lose resolution.

[as_i_lay_dying]

My camera doesn't have 2.40:1, but I have my own little trick with settings on my camera to make it close to it. (And post editing) :)



But yea, you can achieve widescreen format various ways. (camera, post editing)

[Enigmawriter]

Shoot for Widescreen. Add more head room. You can add tape on the viewfinder of your camera, or add lines on top and bottom. If you use the in camera widescreen mode, I believe you'll lose some quality.

If you shot in fullscreen, keep it fullscreen. Nothing is wrong with it. There is no reason to change in. On your next project, shoot for widescreen.