Hello,

I'm sure there are lots of editors on here who have to deliver square format versions of the films they're editing.

I need to make some 1080 x 1080 content from some 4k cuts. 

I haven't quite nailed the best way to do this...

I was wondering if anyone could pass on some tips for best workflow, like:

- Do people tend to make a mask to lay over the sequence, and help recompose shots?

- Frameflex the best way to reframe shots?

- Best export settings?

Any other best practise appreciated!

Thank-you,

Dylan

Couple more questions:

Is it better to create a new project with the desired export format?

Any other resources out there? I've looked and found little of practical help

Thanks again

Dylan

I'm sure there's plenty of ways to do it. Depends on your tools/knowledge.

When we've done it, we've just stayed in our main 16x9 edit project, drop on a 1:1 mask, and then reframe underneath using either flexframe or image resize to dve left/right etc.

Then we've tended to export via our normal method (ama mxf export to dnx) then drop the mxf file into after effects in a 1080x1080 comp, then export from after effects to an mp4.

Thanks!

I've dropped on a mask - though I'm probably being dumb but not sure how to measure it exactly! Just judged a square by eye.

Reframed everything just fine.

Issue is with export - I guess I can't export a square? Do I have to go via After FX which I don't know? I'm sort of shocked that I can't seem to export a 1080 x 1080 sized file.

What am I missing?!

Dylan

Best option so far seems to be creating a custom 1080 x 1080 project and importing bins into that.

Very much open to better ideas though if anyone has any?

Hello Dylan,

for me the easiest workflow seems to be using mask margins. It allows to work in an existing 16:9 project. Be careful during export. MC takes the middle square of the 16:9 picture. You might need to reframe by using 3D warp in your sequence. As a Codec any of the ProRes family works great for 1:1 exports wrapped in a .mov container.

Using mask margins in a 16:9 project streamlines workflow, but export caution is advised as MC takes the middle square. ProRes codecs are recommended for 1:1 exports.story saver